Biography
Ed Pearson is a senior associate in the global international trade practice in London. Ed has significant expertise in the area of UK sanctions, advising sovereigns and companies operating in the private equity, financial services, technology, oil & gas, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, mining, and other sectors in relation to high-stakes and high-value transactions, including with respect to due diligence, negotiating contracts, sanctions compliance, and compliance uplifts.
As well sanctions and export controls, Ed advises on a wide variety of other financial crime and regulatory issues, including money laundering, bribery and corruption, fraud, and the facilitation of tax evasion.
Ed has significant experience of conducting internal investigations and responding to government and regulatory investigations relating to a broad range of sanctions and other financial crime issues. He is experienced at dealing with UK and foreign Government authorities in the context of investigations, self-reporting, licensing applications, and threatened enforcement action, including the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI), the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), His Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), National Crime Agency (NCA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
Ed has spoken at conferences on UK sanctions and other areas of financial crime including the City & Financial Economic Sanctions Summit and ABC Minds. He has co-authored various chapters in relation to sanctions, ABC, and AML, including the UK chapters of ICLG Sanctions, Lexology Panoramic AML, and Lexology Panoramic ABC, as well as GIR's Guide to Sanctions "Sanctions extraterritoriality and overlapping jurisdictions: new horizons in US, EU and UK law".
Experience
Sanctions & Export Controls
Applying for and obtaining licences from OTSI in relation to a high profile acquisition of oil and gas assets owned by a Russian company.
Advising a private equity company on the acquisition of a multinational group of companies formerly owned by a UK asset freeze target.
Negotiating sanctions and export controls clauses in facility agreements, off-take agreements, and a Shareholders Agreement relating to infrastructure projects in the Middle East.
Advising a medical devices company on the export of restricted items to Russia and applying for licences from OTSI and HMRC in respect of the same.
Representing a UK company in respect of a self-report made to HMRC in relation to the export of restricted items in potential breach of the UK's sanctions on Russia.
An internal sanctions investigation for a client in the technology sector and advising on a voluntary report to OFSI.
Sanctions and export controls due diligence for a wide variety of private equity clients and sovereign wealth funds in relation to the potential acquisition of companies and other assets.
Designing and implementing a sanctions and export controls compliance programme for a multi-national pharmaceutical company.
Conducting a cross-border internal investigation for a corporate client further to allegations of fraud and sanctions violations in relation to a DOJ investigation of a Chinese telecoms group.*
Bribery & Corruption, Money Laundering, Facilitation of Tax Evasion, and Fraud
Conducting a risk assessment and implementing changes to the compliance programme for a state-owned oil and gas company.
An internal investigation relating to allegations of bribery and fraud for a multinational company.
Conducting facilitation of tax evasion & fraud risk assessments for a global pharmaceutical company and drafting policies and procedures in respect of the same.
Advising a private equity client on the risks associated with various allegations of bribery and fraud related to the acquisition of a target group of companies in the oil and gas sector.
Advising a multi-national natural resources company in relation to an SFO investigation of alleged bribery and corruption in Africa.*
Representing a senior executive in relation to an SFO investigation of a multi-national mining company.*
Acting for the Financial Director of a UK aviation company in relation to an investigation into accounting irregularities by the Financial Reporting Council.*
* Experience prior to joining White & Case
