Insights
What Russia Case Reveals About UK Sanctions Enforcement
October 17 2023
Maia Cohen-Lask
Partner
"Maia Cohen-Lask is an intellectual powerhouse, utterly committed to her cases and brimming with energy, as a result of which she often has the best grip on the facts of any team member and plays a crucial role in litigation."
THE LEGAL 500 2022
BIOGRAPHY & EXPERTISE
Maia Cohen-Lask specialises in both financial and general crime. She is ranked as a Rising Star for ‘Fraud: White-Collar Crime (advice to individuals)’ in the Legal 500 UK, and Up and Coming for ‘Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals’ in Chambers and Partners HNW 2022.
The Legal 500 UK 2023 describes her as “a first class lawyer whose mind scours through cases” and “an intellectual giant with a great sense of humour which makes her a real pleasure to work with.” Maia was promoted to Partner in April 2023.
Areas of expertise
Maia is experienced in advising clients across cases spanning both white collar and general criminal investigations.
Maia has represented clients in some of the largest and most high-profile financial crime cases in recent years. This includes cases being investigated and prosecuted by the SFO, NCA, and FCA, as well as cross-border investigations where clients are being investigated in multiple jurisdictions. Maia also advises clients facing the imposition and enforcement of sanctions.
In general crime matters, Maia regularly represents individuals at every stage from their first interview at the police station through to trial. Her experience covers a wide variety of cases including sexual offences, assaults, blackmail, and drug offences. This includes experience of representing high-profile individuals in sensitive cases with significant media interest.
Maia also has experience of advising individuals in relation to extradition proceedings, INTERPOL, restraint, confiscation, cash forfeiture, and civil recovery.
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
Securing the acquittal in June 2019 of a former Barclays Chief Executive prosecuted by the SFO in a case relating to the bank’s 2008 capital raisings.
Advising suspects in several ongoing investigations by both the SFO and NCA arising from allegations of international bribery / corruption.
- Representing a designated person bringing a legal challenge under the sanctions regime for the removal of their designation.
Advising clients investigated and interviewed under caution by the SFO in two separate investigations arising from alleged LIBOR manipulation. In both of these cases, the SFO decided not to charge.
Advising clients suspected of committing criminal breaches of the sanctions regime
Representing very high profile individuals suspected of a variety of criminal offences (including drugs offences and sexual offences).
Representing clients bringing Judicial Reviews of police search warrants.
Representing a company and its director in respect of a prosecution for corporate manslaughter.
Advising a suspect in a long-running and wide-ranging Metropolitan Police investigation into an alleged conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. The client was one of a small number of suspects not to face criminal charges.
Career
Maia completed her undergraduate degree at Oxford University, before going on to obtain a Distinction in her Graduate Diploma in Law, and an Outstanding in her Bar Professional Training Course. During her studies, Maia was awarded the Lord Brougham and Lord Denning scholarships by Lincoln’s Inn, as well as being named the runner up best overall student in her year on the Bar Professional Training Course.
Maia was called to the bar in 2012, prior to successfully undertaking pupillage, and subsequently practising as a tenant at a Band 1 ranked criminal set. Whilst at the bar, she both prosecuted and defended, appearing on behalf of her clients at every stage of proceedings.
Maia joined Corker Binning as an Associate in 2015, and became a Senior Associate in 2020.
Maia has spearheaded Corker Binning’s partnership with the Social Mobility Foundation, providing work experience to students who would not otherwise have access to such opportunities.
Maia is a member of Lincoln’s Inn, the Fraud Lawyers Association, and the Business Crime Committee of the International Bar Association
News & Insights
Insights
Prosecuting companies for criminality in their supply chains – an impossible prospect
June 3 2023
News
Corker Binning promotes two lawyers to its partnership
March 20 2023
Insights
Bloomberg LP v ZXC – a step towards greater fairness for uncharged suspects
August 5 2022
News
Maia Cohen-Lask featured in Solicitors Journal on the reporting of criminal trials
April 12 2022
News
Corker Binning announces Danielle Reece-Greenhalgh as a new Partner alongside two Of Counsel promotions
March 17 2022
Insights
Unaoil: A practical rebuke to the SFO, but no abuse
December 16 2021
Insights
GameStop: David, Goliath and the FCA
April 15 2021
News
Andrew Smith and Maia Cohen-Lask write for G+C Magazine on the risks for execs caught in the sights of a public inquiry
April 12 2021
News
Maia Cohen-Lask writes for The Barrister on adverse inferences
February 4 2021
Insights
To speak or not to speak: Adverse inferences and the Court of Appeal’s decision in R v Black
November 2 2020
News
Jessica Parker and Maia Cohen-Lask contribute to the Law Commission’s Consultation Paper on Search Warrants
June 7 2018
News
Maia Cohen-Lask discusses the Sentencing Council’s new guidelines in cases of Domestic Abuse in Criminal Law & Justice Weekly
March 3 2018
Comments
Maia Cohen-Lask’s statement on Vladimir Bukovsky’s judgment in The Times Law Brief, the Daily Mail and the Express & Star
February 12 2018
Insights
Cash Forfeiture: Insufficient Protections?
September 28 2017
News
Maia Cohen-Lask examines criminal cash forfeiture in Lawyer Monthly
September 28 2017
News
Maia Cohen-Lask examines the impact of the SMR on the recruitment of CCO’s in Thomson Reuters Accelus
September 18 2017
Insights
The Trial: A Murder in the Family (Part Five)
May 26 2017
Testimonials
“It is hard to rival Maia for energy, commitment and analysis. You want her on your side.”
Chambers HNW 2023
“Maia is a legal and evidential dynamo with an incredible work rate, excellent analysis skills and commitment to the case that is incomparable. She is a true pleasure to work with, and one to watch for the future.”
Chambers HNW 2023
"Maia Cohen-Lask – a first class lawyer whose mind scours through cases like Vim. An intellectual giant with a great sense of humour which makes her a real pleasure to work with too. I trust every single word that comes out of her mouth, as well as I trust my own memory."
Legal 500 2023
"great, very enthusiastic and very good with clients; quite confident and outgoing, gets done what needs to be done."
Chambers HNW 2022
"Maia Cohen-Lask is an intellectual powerhouse, utterly committed to her cases and brimming with energy, as a result of which she often has the best grip on the facts of any team member and plays a crucial role in litigation."
THE LEGAL 500 2022
"Senior associate Maia Cohen-Lask is a rising star in the team."
THE LEGAL 500 2022
Securing the acquittal in June 2019 of a former Barclays Chief Executive prosecuted by the SFO in a case relating to the bank’s 2008 capital raisings.
Advising suspects in several ongoing investigations by both the SFO and NCA arising from allegations of international bribery / corruption.
- Representing a designated person bringing a legal challenge under the sanctions regime for the removal of their designation.
Advising clients investigated and interviewed under caution by the SFO in two separate investigations arising from alleged LIBOR manipulation. In both of these cases, the SFO decided not to charge.
Advising clients suspected of committing criminal breaches of the sanctions regime
Representing very high profile individuals suspected of a variety of criminal offences (including drugs offences and sexual offences).
Representing clients bringing Judicial Reviews of police search warrants.
Representing a company and its director in respect of a prosecution for corporate manslaughter.
Advising a suspect in a long-running and wide-ranging Metropolitan Police investigation into an alleged conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. The client was one of a small number of suspects not to face criminal charges.