Profile
Benjamin is a Local Partner in the White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice. He has significant experience advising regional and international clients on a range of complex and high-profile white-collar crime matters involving fraud, freezing and recovery of assets, anti-money laundering, bribery and corruption, sanctions and extradition. He brings a versatile combination of international outlook and capabilities, with first-hand, knowledge of the regulatory and criminal systems in the region, most notably in the United Arab Emirates and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Benjamin regularly acts for corporates, across various sectors, conducting sensitive local and cross-border investigations. Such investigations often require complex response strategies, including leading multi-disciplined teams across several jurisdictions, reporting to the competent authorities, and compliance framework remediation exercises.
Given the nature of Benjamin’s practice, he often provides compliance counsel to corporates and government authorities on their financial crime frameworks, drafting policies and procedures and delivering bespoke training on issues such as anti-money laundering, bribery and corruption and sanctions.
Benjamin also acts for UHNW and HNW individuals facing extradition proceedings and providing advice on mutual legal assistance. He regularly advises on INTERPOL Red Notice and Diffusion matters and has secured the deletion of such notices for his clients. In parallel, Benjamin is experienced in coordinating robust reputation management strategies, where he has instructed leading PR companies to deal with the media fallout in such situations, and removing adverse media from global databases and search engines.
Benjamin has previously authored and edited the UAE chapter of the International Guide to Corporate Internal Investigations published by the American Bar Association (2021), and regularly contributes to panel discussions on his practice areas, including for the Global Investigations Review and Thought Leaders 4 Fire Middle East.
Concentrations
- Anti-money laundering
- Bribery and corruption
- Fraud
- Sanctions and export controls
- White Collar and investigations
- Regulatory enforcement
- Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance
- Criminal defence
- Interpol
Capabilities
Experience
- Handled a large internal fraud arising out of an employee embezzlement scheme in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.°
- Conducted a complex internal fraud investigation for a global education provider.°
- Handled a large-scale bribery and corruption investigation (and issued subsequent criminal proceedings) on behalf of a pharmaceutical company.°
- Defended a large fin-tech corporation on enforcement proceedings for alleged money laundering deficiencies.°
- Acted for nine banks (both local and international) on bringing criminal proceedings in the UAE against a number of individuals for a $6 billion fraud perpetrated against them.°
- Brought criminal actions for fraud and embezzlement against employees of a large corporation in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Obtained criminal convictions, asset freezes and ultimate restitutionary awards.°
- Acted for a high-net-worth individual based in the UAE in relation to his defence against criminal proceedings in his home country, including successfully removing an Interpol Red Notice°
- Acted for several luxury fashion and jewellery brands on their anti-money laundering and compliance frameworks in the Middle East region, implementing large scale remediation exercises.°
- Greenzone work for clients including compliance and reputational defence for high-profile individuals and companies (e.g. World-Check challenges and representations before financial institutions).°
- Advised a high-net-worth majority shareholder of a cryptocurrency exchange with his obligations in the UAE and protective extradition advice vis-a-vis the United States.°
- Acted for the board of directors on numerous sanctions related matters, inducing on exit strategy and risk of sanctioned individuals.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Jones prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig Limited.
Recognition & Leadership
- Member, England & Wales Law Society
- Member, Fraud Lawyers Association
Credentials
- LPC, University of the West of England
- LL.B. (Hons), University of Southampton
- England and Wales
- Dubai Legal Consultant