Stuart Alford KC

Stuart Alford KC advises leading corporations, high-growth companies, and financial institutions in a range of financial crime and regulatory matters, particularly corruption, money-laundering, and fraud, as well as in connection with shareholder disputes.

A seasoned trial lawyer, Mr. Alford KC draws on three decades of experience in private practice and as one of the UK’s leading prosecutors to help clients navigate high-profile investigations, prosecutions, and disputes. He handles matters on behalf of corporate and financial services clients, often in a cross-jurisdictional context. Mr. Alford KC also regularly advises on issues concerning shareholders and directors, including in boardroom disputes arising in a hostile environment.

Mr. Alford KC combines strengths as an advocate, negotiator, and strategist to help clients achieve favorable outcomes in contentious situations. He leverages his substantial track record of engaging with law enforcement and regulators around the world to navigate cross-border issues of investigations, data privacy, and competing laws.

His distinguished governmental and international experience includes some of the most consequential criminal matters in the UK and globally in recent decades. From 2012 to 2016, he served as Head of the Fraud Division at the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), where he was responsible for overseeing many of the UK’s landmark white collar cases. Prior to joining the SFO, Mr. Alford KC spent two decades in private practice as a Barrister in London focusing on national and international criminal law. During this time, he was appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of Special Advocates with clearance to handle cases concerning national security. From 2001 to 2003, he served as a Prosecutor for the United Nations in East Timor, and from 2006 to 2008 he served as Legal Adviser to the judges on the Saddam Hussein trial. From 2008 to 2013, Mr. Alford KC chaired the War Crimes Committee of the International Bar Association.

Mr. Alford was appointed King's Counsel in 2014.

Mr. Alford KC is active in diversity and professional development initiatives in the legal profession. He previously chaired the SFO Management Board’s Equality and Diversity Working Group.

Mr. Alford KC has also held a number of firm leadership roles. He currently serves as the firm’s Senior Compliance Officer for anti-money laundering across Latham’s European offices. He previously served as Co-Chair of the firm’s London Litigation & Trial Department.