Call 2009
“Clever, diligent, charming to deal with - a safe (and smooth) pair of hands.”
Legal 500
Mark O’Neill
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3777
Click here to email
Alfie Sweeney
Team Leader Assistant
+44 (0)20 3873 6855
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Robin Lööf is an experienced junior specialising in cases involving financial and economic misconduct, with a particular focus on sanctions and money laundering issues. He is also a member of the Paris Bar and is polylingual.
Equally comfortable acting in commercial, criminal, and administrative / regulatory disputes, Robin appears in high-stakes litigation before a wide range of English courts and tribunals, including as leading counsel up to and including in the Court of Appeal.
Robin primarily acts for companies and individuals in litigation involving allegations of serious misconduct, particularly in relation to sanctions violations, money laundering, financial regulatory violations, and corruption. His recent instructions include a multi-billion fraudulent trading claim before the ADGM Court, sanctions-related contractual claims in the Chancery Division, civil forfeiture proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and harassment claims in the High Court. Robin has a doctorate in EU criminal law, and as a qualified French avocat he appears before the EU courts.
Robin started his career at the criminal bar after which he joined the white collar defence team of a large international law firm, working out of their London and Paris offices. He is used to acting in multi-jurisdictional matters and has conducted internal investigations in a number of jurisdictions, including the UK, the US, France, Italy, Ivory Coast, and Armenia.
Acting for the administrators of the NMC Group in their USD 5 billion fraudulent trading claim against NMC’s founder, CEO, and main banking partner before the ADGM Court.
Acting for a major bank opposing an account forfeiture application by the National Crime Agency arising out of a major sanctions evasion investigation.
Acting for a nigh net worth individual in relation to public law challenges to aspects of multi-jurisdictional investigations into money laundering and sanctions violations.
Acting for the claimants, a financial services group and senior executives, in claims for harassment, breach of confidence, and contempt of court.
Acting for an investment fund against a south-east Asian commercial airline in relation to various aspects arising out of a collapsed aircraft leasing arrangement, including contempt of court and anti-suit proceedings.
Robin has acted for companies and individuals accused of serious economic and financial criminality in high-profile proceedings in England and abroad. He brings significant experience of both defending and prosecuting in the criminal courts, as well as having a senior role in the white collar litigation department (London and Paris offices) of a major, US law firm.
Robin frequently provides strategic advice to businesses seeking to mitigate compliance risks, particularly under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, be it as part of internal compliance reviews or M&A-related due diligence, or in relation to the structuring of business activities and regulatory interaction, particularly in the financial sector (e.g. the offering of cryptocurrency-related products and services, or the provision of banking services to high risk clients).
Robin is a regular case reporter and commentator for Lloyd’s Law Reports: Financial Crime.
Acting for a major bank that acted as the correspondent bank in a transfer of funds from a Russian financial institutions to a UK individual, opposing the National Crime Agency’s application to forfeit the funds (leading Kit Holiday).
Acting for a high net worth individual in relation to public law challenges to aspects of multi-jurisdictional investigations into money laundering and sanctions violations (led by Richard Lissack KC).
Advising investment firms on potential money laundering issues and risks arising in relation to various proposed corporate transactions.
Advising a former Caribbean head of government in relation to corruption allegations arising out of his time in office.
Advising a law firm acting for corporate bond-holders on the compatibility with MAR of certain novel and developing market practices.
Advising an academic institution on the application of export control rules to cross-border research co-operation involving potential military- and WMD use concerns.
Advising a foreign company and directors in relation to allegations of crimes against humanity (led by Tim Dutton KC and Richard Lissack KC).
Advising an exporter following a customs seizure of goods under the Russia sanctions regime.
Advising provider of forensic intelligence in relation to information-gathering practices (led by Richard Lissack KC).
Advising a tax advisory in relation to a money laundering investigation by HMRC.
Advising companies involved in logistics, commodities brokerage, and real estate on the implications of recently imposed and extended sanctions regimes.
Advising an Eastern European businessman in challenging conclusions in a UN Security Council expert panel report into embargo violations.
Advising a Bermudian physician in a challenge to his arrest and the search of his home which led to their quashing by the Bermuda Supreme Court (Sannapareddy v The Commissioner of the Bermuda Police Service [2017] SC (Bda) 51 Civ (23 June 2017)), a decision upheld by the Bermuda Court of Appeal (The Commissioner of Police v Sannapareddy [2020] Bda LR 21 (20 March 2020)).
Advising on several successful requests to delete INTERPOL Red Notices.
Advising Société Générale in securing a deferred prosecution agreement and first coordinated resolution between the DOJ and France’s Parquet National Financier regarding claims of potential corruption of foreign officials in Libya.
Advising a former Prime Minister of an Asian country in relation to several investigations arising out of his time in office.
Advising individuals in a challenge to a Crown Court Order freezing their assets at the request of a Middle Eastern government in the context of a multi-jurisdictional criminal investigation (including appeal to the Court of Appeal: A & A v Director of Public Prosecutions [2016] EWCA Crim 96).
Advising a hedge fund in allegations of market abuse and criminal investigations in three countries.
Advising a Monegasque bank targeted by a production order relating to several of its clients in the context of a multinational bribery and money laundering investigation.
Managing an investigation into suspected VAT-related misconduct by the West African subsidiary of a UK Plc.
In civil and commercial disputes, Robin specialises in claims involving allegations of serious fraud, and other financial and economic misconduct. His recent experience includes some of the highest value claims before the English and offshore courts.
In this context, Robin has significant experience in applications for injunctive relief and appeared as leading junior in a leading Court of Appeal case on the scope of the Court’s inherent jurisdiction to restrain abusive conduct by litigants. Downstream of such relief, Robin is sought after to act in contempt of court proceedings, including offshore where he acted on the first successful contempt of court application before the ADGM Court.
The NMC restructuring litigation before the ADGM CFI, including:
The Titan Group v Okunola litigation
Bringing proceedings for harassment, breach of confidence, and contempt of court on behalf of a financial services group and two of its senior executives (leading Marcus Field; [2024] EWHC 2585 (KB); [2024] EWHC 2586 (KB); [2024] EWHC 2718 (KB)). A first instance ruling on the Court’s ability to restrain egregious conduct by litigants ([2024] EWHC 2641 (KB)) led to a leading Court of Appeal authority clarifying the scope of the Court’s inherent jurisdiction ([2026] EWCA Civ 138, [2026] 3 W.L.R. 333).
The FWA v VietJet litigation
Acting for an investment fund against a south-east Asian commercial airline in relation to various aspects arising out of a collapsed aircraft leasing arrangement, including contempt and anti-suit proceedings (acting alone as well as led by Richard Lissack KC and Akhil Shah KC, and with Niamh Cleary, Jacob Turner and Orestis Sherman; [2024] EWHC 1904 (Comm); [2024] EWHC 1945 (Comm); [2024] EWHC 3337 (Comm)).
Acting for a European engineering contractor in a USD 1billion+ dispute before the Commercial Court arising out of the termination of a large infrastructure project in the context of the imposition of EU restrictive measures (led by Michael McLaren KC, with Christopher Knowles).
Acting for an investment company in a claim before the Commercial Court for breach of contract involving alleged violations of a non-disparagement clause in a financing agreement (led by Richard Lissack KC).
Advising numerous law firms in relation to acting on behalf of sanctioned entities in commercial litigation.
Advising several parties to litigation on the application of English privilege rules to their disputes.
Robin is an experienced sanctions lawyer. He is retained in all manner of sanctions-related proceedings, including UK- and EU designation challenges, sanctions-related commercial disputes, and enforcement actions. Robin is also frequently instructed to advise on the application of sanctions in high-risk and / or high-value transactions, including by law firms for their own account.
Robin also advises on EU sanctions and as a French avocat he is one of few members of the English bar able to appear in, and advise on, designation challenges before the EU courts. He has acted as an expert on EU sanctions law in arbitral proceedings.
Acting for a group of insurers defending a claim in the Chancery Division for payment under a settlement agreement by the liquidators of a sanctioned entity (leading Natalie Koh).
Appearing as an expert witness in an LMAA arbitration on the scope of the EU’s coal carriage prohibition.
Advising several persons on challenges to their UK sanctions designations (alone and led by Robin Barclay KC and Clare Sibson KC).
Representing a high profile former Eastern European politician in an application to the General Court of the EU to annul his sanctions designation.
Advising a Middle Eastern businessman on challenging his EU sanctions designation.
Advising companies involved in logistics, commodities brokerage, and real estate on the implications of recently imposed and extended sanctions regimes.
Advising an Eastern European businessman in challenging conclusions in a UN Security Council expert panel report into embargo violations.
Advising numerous law firms in relation to various issues arising when acting on behalf of sanctioned entities.
Advising Russian-owned UK ltd on securing auditors following refusal by insurers to extend PII for audit work.
Advising insurance companies on the winding down of transactions with sanctioned entities under an OFSI general licence.
Advising financial institutions on whether customer entities are “owned and controlled” by persons designated under UK and EU asset-freezing legislation.
Robin’s experience in financial services regulation includes acting on three of the latest FCA enforcement actions against banks for failures in their AML compliance systems and controls, including appearing before the FCA’s RDC. Robin has also advised in relation to PRA enforcement action for a range of alleged Fundamental Rule violations, including lack of integrity. In offshore financial regulatory enforcement actions Robin takes instructions both for the defence and the regulators. He also regularly advises on the scope and application of financial regulations.
Acting for several financial institutions in FCA enforcement actions for violations of anti-money laundering systems and controls requirements (Al Rayan Bank, ADM Investor Services, and Metrobank), including in a successful challenge to the RDC against a proposed financial penalty (ADM Investor Services) (led by Robin Barclay KC).
Advising the management of a challenger bank in relation to serious allegations under the PRA’s fundamental rules, including lack of integrity (led by Richard Lissack KC).
Advising an offshore financial regulator in relation to several enforcement proceedings.
Advising an outsourcing company on regulatory requirements for debt recovery and payment services.
Advising an insurance company in a successful informal settlement with the FCA relating to long-standing allegedly unfair consumer contract terms.
Advising Russian-owned UK ltd on securing auditors following refusal by insurers to extend PII for audit work.
Advising insurance companies on the winding down of transactions with sanctioned entities under an OFSI general licence.
Advising a plc on a complaint to the FCA on violations of regulations around margin trading (led by Richard Lissack KC).
Advising financial institutions on whether customer entities are “owned and controlled” by persons designated under UK and EU asset-freezing legislation.
Advising a large Middle Eastern bank on the jurisdictional competence of an offshore financial regulator (led by Bankim Thanki KC).
Advising a crypto wallet provider on the structuring of its general terms and conditions (including their articulation with French law), as well as the terms and conditions of a crypto credit product offer.
Advising the London branch of a foreign bank on its obligations in relation to deposits by the Afghanistan central bank following the Taliban takeover, including considerations of financial sanctions, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing laws.
Advising two financial services providers on their AML and sanctions policies.
Advising employees of a leading investment bank in US and UK investigations into alleged manipulation of the foreign exchange market.
Building on his experience in financial regulation, Robin has experience in matters involving their application to cryptoassets. He is the author of two chapters in a forthcoming legal handbook on cryptoassets.
Advising a large crypto exchange on its application for registration under the MLR 2017 and attendant AML programme modifications.
Advising a crypto wallet provider on the structuring of its general terms and conditions (including their articulation with French law), as well as the terms and conditions of a crypto credit product offer.
Advising a crypto exchange on the FCA’s refusal to authorise.
Advising a fintech in relation to the UK regulatory status of the cryptocurrency it created.
Author of chapters on the criminal law and criminal procedure in a forthcoming handbook on cryptoassets.
The fraud-related proceedings brought in the ADGM and England by the administrators…
On 24 June 2025, the Court of Appeal (Popplewell, Asplin and Zacaroli…
The Court of Appeal has recently refused permission to appeal an order…
Mark O’Neill
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3777
Click here to email
Alfie Sweeney
Team Leader Assistant
+44 (0)20 3873 6855
Click here to email
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