Richard Hodge defends companies and individuals in complex, cross-border investigations and enforcement actions brought by regulators including the UK Serious Fraud Office, Financial Conduct Authority and HM Revenue & Customs, and their U.S. and international counterparts, and represents clients in high-stakes commercial, financial and securities litigation in the English courts.
His practice spans the full life cycle of a matter, from risk assessment, internal investigations and voluntary disclosures through to negotiated settlements, contested enforcement proceedings and trial. He regularly advises on allegations of bribery, corruption, money laundering, fraud, tax evasion, financial sanctions, insider dealing and market manipulation, and on the design and effectiveness of anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance programs, including in M&A transactions. His litigation practice focuses on complex commercial, financial and securities disputes for banks, asset managers and corporates.
Mr. Hodge led the associate team advising Airbus SE in its global investigation into allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption and its coordinated settlement with the UK Serious Fraud Office, French Parquet National Financier, U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of State. Dechert’s representation of Airbus was named “White Collar Practice Group of the Year” by Law360, “International Litigation and Disputes Team of the Year” at the British Legal Awards, “Conduct, Enforcement or Business Crime Team of the Year” by The Lawyer, and “Most Important Development of the Year” at the Global Investigations Review (GIR) Awards. He has substantial experience managing complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations that proceed on parallel tracks before several regulators simultaneously, including coordinating a single client’s response across two or more agencies in a single matter.
Mr. Hodge is recommended by The Legal 500 UK, with clients describing him as “exceptionally available and responsive to all questions and issues” (2025) and “as sharp as they come, professional and hardworking, with a mastery of his cases” (2022). He has co-authored articles and guides on white collar crime and investigations, including for Global Investigations Review and The Legal 500. Prior to joining Dechert, Mr. Hodge served in the dispute resolution group of another major international law firm.
Enforcement and investigations
- Airbus SE, leading the associate team, 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.
- A group of proprietary futures traders, as co-leading partner, in parallel U.S. and UK regulatory investigations into alleged market manipulation, reckless trading and anti-competitive conduct in commodity futures, together with related civil litigation.
- One of the largest banks in the Middle East, as lead associate, in parallel investigations by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and a Middle Eastern regulator into alleged market manipulation, leading a comprehensive internal investigation and coordinating the client’s response across both regulatory agencies.
- A global pharmaceutical company, as the senior associate leading the matter, in an internal investigation into potential corruption and anti-competitive practices in its China operations, coordinating local counsel, internal compliance teams and document review workstreams across borders.
- A Southeast Asian cryptocurrency firm, leading the day-to-day conduct of the matter, in connection with a cross-border, multi-agency investigation into alleged cyber-fraud, human trafficking and money laundering.
- A prominent African businessman with respect to financial sanctions administered by the UK Government and the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control in connection with alleged bribery and corruption, leading the response strategy and advising on cross-jurisdictional sanctions exposure, licensing applications, asset preservation and delisting strategy.
Complex litigation
- A major UK bank, as lead associate, in the successful defense at trial of high-profile High Court LIBOR litigation involving claims of alleged misrepresentation and breach of contract, including significant determinations on legal professional privilege and without prejudice privilege. The case concluded with a successful outcome before the Court of Appeal.
- A UK telecommunications company, as the associate leading the matter, in a £70 million High Court claim brought by a sub-contractor for unpaid sums on termination of a government outsourcing services agreement, settled one week before trial.
- A Saudi Arabian company among the largest in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, leading the matter as associate, on claims against financial institutions for losses of approximately $600 million arising from a series of target redemption forwards.
- A Lebanese group of companies, taking the lead associate role, in the recovery of sums due on an outstanding arbitration award exceeding $1 billion against a sub-Saharan state, including enforcement strategy.
Pro Bono
- Extensive pro bono practice across civil and criminal matters, including wrongful conviction cases, immigration detention challenges and advocacy for vulnerable children. Working in partnership with several UK and international organizations such as Innocence Project, Freedom Now, APPEAL, Bail for Immigration Detainees, and Kids in Need of Defence.
Includes matters handled at Dechert or prior to joining the firm.
- 4th Annual Pharma & Life Sciences Risk & Compliance Conference – London, United Kingdom (October 1, 2026)
- Working With the FCA: A Practical Guide for U.S. and UK Practitioners, Practising Law Institute – Online (September 30, 2026)
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- University of Cambridge, Jesus College, MA (Cantab), History, 2006
- Nottingham Law School, GDL, 2007, Distinction
- BPP University Law School, LPC, 2008, Distinction
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- England and Wales