James O'Hara, a Director at iLaw, regularly acts in complex business crime matters. He defends clients in applications brought by the SFO, FCA, NCA, and Insolvency Service, amongst others. His practice includes the entire breadth of financial crime, including fraud, money laundering, and insider dealing. He has significant experience in confiscation, enforcement receivership applications, and both civil and criminal HMRC investigations. He also acts in regulatory matters for corporates and individuals subject to civil matters, including account freezing and forfeiture applications and disclosure orders. His work is often of a cross-border, multi-jurisdictional nature.
James has extensive experience in advising lawyers, banks, and others within regulated sectors on their compliance within AML investigations and PoCA legislation, including the provision of expert advice on the making of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs).
His approach to legal practice is driven by a commitment to provide clear, expert advice, ensuring clients are well-informed and comfortable throughout high-stakes proceedings. James has a vast understanding of financial crime law and excels at applying this knowledge in real-world cases. His experience includes handling significant cases, including those covered in mainstream media and legal journals, showcasing his expertise in this area.
He has led a successful PoCA (Proceeds of Crime Act) and Financial Crime Department for over a decade, representing a significant number of clients in complex proceedings. His contributions as a co-author of "The Confiscation Manual" and recognition by Chambers and Partners as an expert in asset forfeiture and PoCA work further solidify his standing in the legal community.
Outside of his legal career, he is passionate about sports, particularly Gaelic football.
"He is robust in his arguments and fights for his clients, but he is not unrealistic and he knows when a point is not worth running."
"James is a real fighter who battles for his clients."
"James thinks of every possible angle and puts a phenomenal amount of work in. He has a collaborative approach and it is a joy to work with him."
