Overview
Alex Melia's practice focuses on international financial crime compliance, investigations and enforcement defense related to the UK Bribery Act, other countries' anti-corruption laws, UK sanctions and export controls and anti-money laundering legislation. She regularly conducts internal investigations, financial crime compliance audits and risk assessments for clients operating in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe across a wide range of industries, including financial services, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and technology. Alex also defends clients in investigations and enforcement actions brought by the UK's Serious Fraud Office, Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Financial Conduct Authority and other law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
Alex has significant experience in advising clients on the design, implementation and evaluation of global compliance programs. She also helps clients develop effective financial crime compliance strategies, including establishing internal policies and procedures. Alex has extensive experience in conducting pre-investment financial crime due diligence and devising post-investment compliance integration plans for asset managers and private equity firms investing in high-risk sectors and countries as well as for companies as part of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other strategic transactions.
Alex gained valuable in-house experience during a year-long client secondment acting in the capacity of a de-facto Chief Compliance Officer for an oilfield services company. Alex's responsibilities included devising practical, business-focused solutions to a range of strategic and tactical compliance issues in a number of high-risk markets.
- Solicitor, England & Wales
- L.P.C., BPP Law School
- M.A., University of Edinburgh
Areas of Work
Speaking Engagements
- "AML and the Art Market," Art Law in Paris: Lecture Series, Paris and online, March 26, 2024
- "Sanctions Screening Challenges Amid an Unprecedented Rise in Global Sanctions," School of International Financial Services webinar, November 21, 2023
- "Safeguarding Against Sanction Evasion in the Russia Context," Informa Global Sanctions Forum, London, UK, October 17, 2023
- "Navigations Divergence: a Compliance Masterclass," WorldECR Export Controls and Sanctions Forum, London, October 5, 2023
- "Broadening Oil Price Cap – Europe’s Energy Defence," Sanctions and Export Control Conference, hosted by The Economic Crime, Sanctions & Export Hub, Amsterdam, May 15, 2023
-
"Financial & Trade Sanction Divergence", Informa Connect Global Sanctions Forum, London, October 19, 2022
- Co-chair, Economic Crime Prevention and Compliance conference, London, September 28-29, 2022
-
"Sanctions Updates from Around the Globe", LexMundi 2022 Cross-Border Investigations Practice Group Meeting, Brussels, September 22, 2022
- "Sanctions - Views from Around the Globe", Lex Mundi webinar, June 30, 2022
- Moderator, "Risk Management in Today's Environment of Increasing Sanctions", Lex Mundi conference, Edinburgh, April 28, 2022
- "Recent US, EU, and UK Sanctions on Russia", Reinsurance Association of America webinar, April 7, 2022
- "The Ukraine Crisis and Impacts on US Companies," US-China Business Council webinar, March 8, 2022
- "Implementing an Effective Export Control Program for Financial Institutions," IHS Markit webinar, February 16, 2022
- "Sanctions and Export Controls Due Diligence: The Key Issues," WorldECR Webinar, October 24, 2021
- "Why OFSI is set to get tougher on businesses that breach sanctions," School of International Financial Services webinar, July 13, 2021
- "International Sanctions on Myanmar," Lex Mundi webinar, March 23, 2021
News & Publications
Client Alerts
ESG and Sustainability: Key Considerations in the EU and the UK in 2024
January 22, 2024
By: Ruxandra Cana, Eva Monard, Eléonore Mullier, Alexandra Melia, Zoe Osborne, Byron Maniatis
Client Alerts
Regulatory Landscape in the EU and the UK: Key Considerations in 2024
January 22, 2024
By: Renato Antonini, Eva Monard, Byron Maniatis, Yongqing Bao, Elli Zachari, Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier, Alexandra Melia, Zoe Osborne, Guy Soussan, Anne-Gabrielle Haie, Maria Avramidou, Charles Whiddington, Yumiko Takahashi, Zanda Romata, Darren Abrahams, Tom Gillett, Roman Spangenberg, Jonathon Egerton-Peters, Michael Lee
Client Alerts
Sanctions and Export Controls: Key Considerations in the EU and the UK in 2024
January 22, 2024
Media Mentions
Global Investigations Review Quotes Alexandra Melia on New OFSI Guidance on Ownership and Control
November 24, 2023
Steptoe Blockchain Blog
The UK’s Regulatory Roadmap for Stablecoins: A Closer Look
November 27, 2023
Steptoe Blockchain Blog
UK Government Extends Financial Promotions Regime to Cryptoassets
November 27, 2023
Press Releases
Seven Steptoe Lawyers and the Real Estate Practice Recognized in Chambers UK 2024
October 19, 2023
International Compliance Blog
September 18, 2023
Resources
Client Alerts
FCPA/Anti-Corruption Developments: 2020 Year in Review
January 19, 2021
By: Lucinda A. Low, Zoe Osborne, Brigida Benitez, Alexandra Baj, Christopher R. Conte, Alexandra Melia, Ali Burney, Fernando Q. Merino, Wendy Wysong, Rachel B. Peck, Jefferson Klocke, Veronica Ganzitti, Jingchun (Cherry) Huang, Troy Shephard, Lin Yang, Bo Yue, Lucas Caiado (International Regulation & Compliance Intern), Jordan Cannon (Law Clerk), Marcia Pulcherio (International Trainee)
Client Alerts
FCPA/Anti-Corruption Developments: 2019 Year in Review
January 21, 2020
By: Lucinda A. Low, Brigida Benitez, Wendy Wysong, Zoe Osborne, Steven J. Barber, Alexandra Melia, Ali Burney, Fernando Q. Merino, Rachel B. Peck, Alexandra Baj, Jefferson Klocke, Veronica Ganzitti, Troy Shephard, Lin Yang, Bo Yue
Client Alerts
FCPA/Anti-Corruption Developments: 2018 Year in Review
February 28, 2019
By: Lucinda A. Low, Brigida Benitez, William L. Drake, Alexandra Melia, Fernando Q. Merino, Alexandra Baj, Rachel B. Peck, Evan T. Abrams, Katherine M. Dubyak, Lin Yang, Bo Yue, Troy Shephard
Client Alerts
June 29, 2017
By: Lucinda A. Low, Brigida Benitez, Peter Jeydel, Alexandra Melia, Stephanie W. Wang, Zhu (Judy) Wang, Bo Yue
Client Alerts
February 16, 2017
By: Lucinda A. Low, Brigida Benitez, Evan T. Abrams, Peter Jeydel, Alexandra Melia, Stephanie W. Wang, Bo Yue
Client Alerts
March 8, 2016
By: Lucinda A. Low, Brigida Benitez, Peter Jeydel, Alexandra Melia, Stephanie W. Wang, Bo Yue
Events
Seminars & Events
Global Trade and Enforcement Symposium in Hong Kong
June 1, 2023
Speakers: Renato Antonini, Yongqing Bao, Brigida Benitez, Brian G. Burke, Ali Burney, Henry Cao, John Caracappa, Boyd Cloern, Robyn C. Crowther, Brian J. Fleming, Coy Garrison, Stacie R. Hartman, Zoey Hong, Stanley C. Kuo, Amy J. Lentz, Michelle L. Levin, Patrick F. Linehan, Lucinda A. Low, Jamie Lucia, Alexandra Melia, Cáitrín McKiernan, Eva Monard, Darryl Nirenberg, Gwendolyn Prothro Renigar, Angus Rodger, Guy Soussan, David M. Stetson, Grace Wang, Philip R. West, Charles Whiddington, Wendy Wysong, Lin Yang, Bo Yue, Wilson Zhao
Webinars
Investigations & Enforcement Webinar Series
April 21, 2022
Speakers: Iris E. Bennett, Christopher R. Conte, Stacie R. Hartman, Paul R. Hurst, Lucinda A. Low, Alexandra Melia, Michael Campion Miller, Wendy Wysong, Rachel B. Peck
Webinars
Possible Sanctions Against Russia: What You Need to Know
February 9, 2022
Speakers: Meredith Rathbone, Edward J. Krauland, Alexandra Baj, Matthew Coleman, Alexandra Melia, Guy Soussan, David M. Stetson
Noteworthy
- Chambers UK, Sanctions (2024)
Professional Affiliations
-
Young Fraud Lawyers Association