Financial Crime and Sanctions Associate

London – £86,000 - £105,000

If you want to work at the intersection of law, politics, and international finance — this is the role that gets you there.

You'll join one of the UK's most respected business crime and investigations teams, advising on sanctions, export controls, and financial crime compliance for clients facing intense regulatory scrutiny and reputational risk.

What You'll Do

• Advise multinational corporations, financial institutions, and investors on UK and international sanctions regimes, ownership and control assessments, and payment due diligence.
• Support clients in licensing, reporting, and enforcement matters — from OFSI applications and HM Treasury engagement to cross-border compliance strategies.
• Conduct internal investigations into potential sanctions breaches, AML failings, or bribery/corruption issues, providing clear, defensible advice to boards and compliance teams.
• Assist on litigation and enforcement actions arising from sanctions or financial crime allegations, often involving multi-jurisdictional elements.
• Collaborate with leading practitioners across the firm's business crime, fraud, and commercial disputes practices to deliver integrated advice.

 What You'll Need

• UK-qualified solicitor with 2+ years' PQE and demonstrable experience in sanctions, export controls, or financial crime compliance.
• Excellent analytical ability and attention to detail, capable of managing large datasets and complex factual scenarios.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills — able to distil regulatory and geopolitical issues into clear client guidance.
• Organisational skill to handle varied caseloads and multiple stakeholder demands.
• Genuine enthusiasm for the evolving world of sanctions, economic crime, and regulatory enforcement.

You'll be joining a top-tier disputes and investigations team recognised for its market-leading sanctions and financial crime expertise. The group advises across anti-money laundering, bribery and corruption, corporate investigations, and complex cross-border matters involving governments, financial institutions, and high-net-worth individuals.
 
Their lawyers are regularly cited in the Legal 500 and Chambers UK for their role in landmark sanctions and economic crime cases, including precedent-setting enforcement actions and de-listing challenges.
 
 
Why Apply

• Exposure to headline-making work involving governments, regulators, and global financial institutions.
• A genuinely collegiate and intellectually engaged environment — small enough for impact, large enough for global reach.
• Structured mentoring and technical development within one of the most respected sanctions teams in London.
• The chance to shape your career in a firm that combines legal excellence with a strong moral compass.

This is a rare opportunity to develop deep sanctions and financial crime expertise at the heart of one of London's most acclaimed investigations practices.

You'll be trusted early, supported by exceptional mentors, and exposed to work that genuinely matters — where the advice you give can influence regulatory outcomes, protect reputations, and shape global precedent.
 
If you're ready to work on the front line of financial crime and sanctions law, this is where you do it. Reach out to dalton@douglas-scott.co.uk for more information.