Experience

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  Kpmg

  Jan 1995 - Jun 1997

  Associate | employee issues group

  Joined KPMG's Graduate Tax Programme and passed the ATT and Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA) qualifications. Worked in UK/US expatriate tax planning and the corporate tax team with a wide range of organisations and individuals to implement the tax approach that best suited their needs.

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  Ibb solicitors

  Sept 1997 - Jul 2001

  Solicitor | criminal team

  Qualified as a solicitor specialising in criminal litigation. Defended clients in police stations, Magistrates' and Crown Courts on a daily basis, for a wide range of criminal offences from financial crime and tax evasion, to theft, violence, drugs and sexual offences.

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  Irwin mitchell

  Aug 2001 - Jun 2019

  Partner | regulatory & criminal investigations group

  Led the Regulatory & Criminal Investigations Group. Defended in complex FCA investigations including civil, criminal, regulatory and internal investigation cases including Lloyds (LIBOR), Bank of England (SLS), Newton Investment Management, PCD Wealth. Financial Ltd and insider dealing cases of NeuTec Pharma, Saturn, Oce/Mizuho, AKO Capital and Logica.Advised on SMCR, mis-selling, systems and control failings, conduct, compliance, redress and remediation, customer contact exercises and RAO/perimeter advice. Seconded to FCA Enforcement Division.Advised suspects and witnesses relating to SFO criminal and internal investigations eg Bank of England SLS, Barclays LIBOR, British American Tobacco, GlaxoSmithKline, Quindell, Rolls-Royce and Unaoil Advised on range of regulatory issues including private prosecution, internal investigations, information requests, interview preparation, self-reporting and corporate cooperation, compliance monitoring, risk assessment, policies, training and M&A due diligence – in particular on bribery, AML, UWOs, POCA, sanctions and financial services regulation. Protected careers, reputations and managed risk whether suspect, whistle-blower, witness or victim from the financial services, pharmaceutical/life sciences, energy, engineering, aerospace and professional services sectors. Consulted by IM internal Risk & Compliance, AML and General Counsel teams on risk management and regulatory issues as well as team risk and compliance oversight.Won award for Regulatory Law Firm of the Year at the C5 Women in Compliance Awards 2018.Created and led workplace cultural change initiative from 2017 called ‘Modern Life’ engaging 2,500 workforce on inclusion, flexible working and mental health. Initiative used for talent recruitment, staff retention, HR campaigns and to build relationships with corporates and clients. Member of IM Diversity & Inclusion Board. Show less

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  Financial conduct authority

  Sept 2004 - Mar 2005

  Associate | enforcement and financial crime division

  Seconded to FSA Enforcement Division and investigated range of regulatory and criminal cases, some before the Regulatory Decisions Committee and Upper Tribunal.

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  Constantine law

  Jun 2019 - now

  ◆ About Constantine Law ►We are specialist regulatory, business crime and employment lawyers - experts in financial services regulation and criminal law. We are entrepreneurial, friendly and cost effective. ◆ My experience ►Extensive, acting in SFO, FCA, BOE, SRA, GMC, ICAEW, Insolvency Service and other regulatory or employer investigations, including criminal defence, compliance, remediation and conduct investigations.Practice includes internal investigations, regulator notifications and liaison, responding to information requests, interview advice and attendance, self-reporting, FCA FIT, SMF + COCON and other regulatory advice.◆ Who I help ►Clients can be suspect, whistle-blower, witness, victim or corporate investigator. Strategic, practical legal advice to protect careers, reputation and solve career and workplace crises. ◆ What I've done recently ► Advised C-suites interviewed or investigated by SFO, FCA, PRA/BOE, SRA, ICAEW, GMC, Insolvency Service. ► Advised regulated professionals re criminal, regulatory and internal investigations for sexual and racial harassment including drug, assault and rape allegations. ► Advised SMF/certified staff re F&P/Form A, conduct rules, regulatory references► Defended CEO prosecuted by ICO for data theft. ► Defended traders and CEO in listed companies and banks investigated for market abuse. ► Advised witness in high profile FCA fraud prosecution. ◆ What the Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 2025 say ►➞"She's always very thorough and very dogged in her defence of individuals. She is a really good fit with people who need someone to fight their case"➞ "Sarah has a fantastic eye for detail; she devotes so much time to her cases and is thoroughly brilliant"➞ “Without doubt one of the best regulatory lawyers in the country. She is completely brilliant" ➞"Has an impeccable eye for detail allowing her to see strategic moves that outsmart her opponents." "Sarah Wallace is a shrewd and tenacious lawyer" Show less

  • Regulatory, Corporate Crime + Investigations Expert

    Jun 2019 - now

  • Writer, Speaker and BBC ‘Expert Woman’

    Jun 2019 - now
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  Lloyds banking group

  Sept 2019 - Feb 2020

  Contentious regulatory lawyer

  Secondment to Contentious Regulatory legal team. Advised in relation to internal investigations, conduct and culture, operational resilience and digital disruption.