LAWYER
John Bedford
Partner | London
John Bedford

John Bedford is an experienced litigator and investigations lawyer who advises leading financial institutions, corporations and high-net-worth individuals on financial crime compliance, commercial litigation, white collar investigations and international arbitration. Mr. Bedford has over a decade of experience representing clients in domestic and international disputes and investigations covering a wide range of industries, including financial services, e-commerce, payment services, manufacturing and life sciences.

The Legal 500 UK lists Mr. Bedford in their Commercial Litigation: Premium, Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation and Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime rankings (2024), describing him as "very commercial and switched on", also noting his ability to "distill vast levels of information and command market-leading disputes" (2024). Previous editions have recommended Mr. Bedford for "investigation-heavy litigation", describing him as "very forensic… very good at investigating possible irregularities", and "one person worth following" with "a strong academic background" and "full of common sense". He is also described as a "hardworking, intelligent and experienced [litigator] who work[s] well with the bar."

Mr. Bedford has advised corporations and board committees on the conduct of investigations into allegations of bribery, corruption, money laundering, fraud and breach of domestic and international sanctions and/or export controls. These matters have involved prosecutors, regulators and enforcements agencies, including the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the National Crime Agency (NCA), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Parquet National Financier (PNF). He also has extensive experience on corporate compliance monitorships.

Mr. Bedford regularly undertakes financial crime compliance advisory work, including drafting and implementing policies and procedures and advising Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLROs) on their reporting obligations under the SAR regime. He also conducts training sessions for clients on these topics.

In addition, Mr. Bedford maintains a general dispute resolution practice and his cases are frequently multi-jurisdictional and involve issues of significant importance. He has particular experience litigating disputes relating to complex financial products and issues arising in restructuring and insolvencies.

Prior to joining Dechert, Mr. Bedford served in the dispute resolution group of another major international law firm.

Investigations

  • Advising and assisting Dame Elizabeth Gloster in her capacity as the independent investigator in respect of the FCA’s regulation and supervision of London Capital & Finance plc which collapsed in January 2019, putting at risk approximately £230 million invested by over 11,000 retail investors.
  • Airbus SE in a global investigation into allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption, and subsequent coordinated settlements with the UK Serious Fraud Office, French Parquet National Financier, U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of State.
  • The Monitor of HSBC, appointed under a Deferred Prosecution Agreement, on the Monitorship and Skilled Person’s Review of HSBC’s global business.
  • A leading pharmaceutical company on its interactions with the Serious Fraud Office and U.S. Department of Justice arising from allegations of bribery made by a whistleblower concerning the activities of the company’s Chinese subsidiary.
  • A multinational medical device manufacturer in connection with allegations of bribery and financial irregularity arising from a claim filed in the English Employment Tribunal.
  • A payment services provider in an investigation into allegations of bribery at a target company.

Litigation

  • An online vertical search service and an online mapping provider in their separate stand-alone claims against Google, alleging loss and damage suffered as a result of Google’s abuse of dominant position in the related markets of online search and search advertising. These matters were named in The Lawyer’s “Top 20 cases of 2015: global disputes in the English courts.”
  • Mastercard Europe in relation to judicial review proceedings before the English and EU Courts regarding aspects of the EU’s Interchange Fee Regulation and the Second Payment Services Directive.
  • A financial institution in connection with a stakeholder application concerning assets valued at approximately US$2 billion, and litigation regarding ownership of the assets.
  • A Bermudian insurance company in obtaining an injunction preventing the sale of a Lloyd’s platform in connection with the alleged expiry of an exclusivity arrangement.
  • Two hedge funds in a dispute concerning the recovery of funds invested in a project in Indonesia.
  • A life sciences company in a judicial review action to challenge the validity of certain European legislation.

International Arbitration

  • A manufacturer of equipment used in the fabrication of semiconductors in an arbitration before the ICC. The dispute concerned the ownership of certain intellectual property rights in a new technology.
  • A Bermudian reinsurer in an ad hoc arbitration against a Lloyd’s Syndicate in respect of Japanese insurance business.
  • UK and US fund managers in relation to their claims worth over US$30 million in consolidated arbitrations under the Arbitration Rules of the LCIA arising out of a Russian aircraft leasing company's default under a loan agreement.
  • A hedge fund in an arbitration before the LCIA involving the successful application to the English Court for a worldwide freezing injunction.

Includes matters handled at Dechert or prior to joining the firm.

Services Industries
    • Keble College, University of Oxford, B.A., 2004
    • Oxford Institute of Legal Practice, Legal Practice Course, 2005
    • England and Wales