Michael Ruck is a partner in the firm's Investigations, Enforcement, and White Collar practice group. Michael has a broad range of experience including advisory, regulatory liaison and large-scale, complex multi-jurisdictional investigations. Throughout his career, including previously working in the FCA's Enforcement Division, he has led financial services regulatory projects, investigations and proceedings for a range of institutions, including asset and fund managers, insurance businesses and banks. His experience spans various regulatory issues and he has worked closely with a number of UK and foreign regulators, including the FCA, SFO, ICO, DOJ and IRS.
Michael also leads our European and UK sanctions team which is part of our Global Sanctions Practice. Michael has advised on various sanctions related issues, including financial and trade sanctions, along with obtaining specific licences and export authorisations. He has also led a variety of sanctions related investigations, including cross-border matters and those requiring interaction with various sanctions enforcement bodies, including the UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation and the US Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Michael has a deep understanding of a wide range of regulatory issues and procedures, making him a trusted adviser to his clients, often at board level. The Legal 500's 2024 directory describes Michael as “by far one of the leading regulatory defence lawyers for FCA enforcement investigations and both civil and criminal proceedings,” a “first-class advisor” on multi-jurisdictional criminal investigations and bringing “his FCA “in house” experience to his clients.” The team are also described as a “strong team with real experience of white-collar trial work,” which has “exceptional financial regulation experience and expertise.”
Michael is also Director – Regulatory and Government Engagement for ILAG (Insurance & Life Assurance Group) and the Chair of ILAG's Financial Crime Practitioner Group.
Prior to joining the firm Michael served as a partner in the London office of a UK firm, where he was a member of the financial services team. Through this role Michael supported clients on sensitive reputational matters and investigations. Michael has a broad range of experience including advisory, regulatory, and large-scale, complex multi-jurisdictional investigations.
Michael also previously spent six years in the Financial Conduct Authority’s Enforcement and Market Oversight Division, leading on a variety of regulatory and market related investigations.
- Recognised by The Legal 500 United Kingdom as a Recommended Lawyer in London, 2024-2025
- Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates) in London
- Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)
- Speaker, “Private Banking and Wealth Management Conference,” Goodacre UK, 5 March 2025
- Speaker, “Sanctions: How to Sleep at Night,” Airline Economics Growth Frontiers Global - Dublin, 15 January 2025
- Chair and Speaker, “Essential Compliance Update,” Goodacre UK, 14 December 2023
- Presenter, “Regulation of Cryptoassets in the UK – What’s Next for FCA Authorised Firms?” MBL, 21 November 2023
- Speaker, “2023 Sanctions Masterclass Series – OFAC or OFSI? Who you gonna call? – Understanding your disclosure obligations under international sanctions requirements," School of International Financial Services, 8 November 2023
- Speaker, “Failure to Prevent Fraud Offence Webinar," ILAG, 12 October 2023
- Presenter, "How to Engage with Regulators Successfully," MBL, 25 September 2023
- Speaker, “Essential Compliance Update,” Goodacre UK, 26 July 2023
- Presenter, “Regulation of Cryptoassets in the UK – What’s Next for FCA Authorised Firms?” MBL, 4 May 2023
- Presenter, "How to Engage with Regulators Successfully," MBL, 30 March 2023
- Presenter, “Regulation of Cryptoassets in the UK – What’s Next for FCA Authorised Firms?” MBL, 13 October 2022
- Presenter, "How to Engage with Regulators Successfully," MBL, 15 September 2022
- Speaker, "Wealth Management Forum: Why UK Sanctions Keep Me Up at Night," Goodacre UK, 14 July 2022
- Chair and speaker, "Sanctions & Russia: Understanding the Impact," ILAG, 12 July 2022
- Chair and speaker, "Sanctions & Russia: Understanding the Impact," Goodacre UK, 12 May 2022
- Chair and panel member, "6th White Collar Crime Forum," Opentext, 11 May 2022
- Speaker, "Understanding the implications of the Russia-Ukraine crisis," K&L Gates, 5 and 7 April 2022
- Speaker, "Aviation Disputes Webinar," K&L Gates, 5 April 2022
- Presenter, "How to Engage with Regulators Successfully," MBL, 23 February 2022
- Speaker, "Investigations in the UK - Best Practice and How to Avoid the Pitfalls," Mondaq, 30 September 2021
- Speaker, "Update on FCA and PRA Enforcement action in the UK," Goodacre UK, 26 August 2021
- “Cos. Must Monitor Sanctions Regime As Law Remains Unclear,” Law360, 15 December 2023
- “FCA's changing approach to enforcement: recent developments and emerging trends,” Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence, 17 October 2023
- Quoted, “Crackdown on Criminal Assets at the Fore of New UK and EU Drive,” Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence, 20 January 2025
- Quoted, “OUTLOOK 2025: Historic U.S. AML overhaul to land in hands of Trump administration, UK firms prepare for economic crime law challenges,” Thomson Reuters, 15 January 2025
- Quoted, “UK regulator reframes ‘naming and shaming’ plan following industry backlash,” Thomson Reuters, 28 November 2024
- Quoted, “Questions Surround EU’s New Russia-Related Due Diligence Rules, Lawyers Say,” Export Compliance Daily, 22 November 2024
- Quoted, “UK government faces enforcement challenge with new maritime sanctions,” Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence, 17 October 2024
- Quoted, “UK sanctions regime faces two-fold shake up,” Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence, 19 September 2024
- Quoted, “OUTLOOK 2024-Bribery and corruption high on law enforcement agenda in UK, U.S.,” Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence, 30 January 2024
- Quoted, “Banks to face greater scrutiny as PRA fines ex-Wyelands chief,” Global Trade Review, 24 January 2024
