Inside Risk & Compliance

Welcome to our podcast!

We created this podcast so that we can share with you the insights, experiences and stories of some of the most interesting people succeeding Inside Risk & Compliance.

Whether you work in this space, want to work in this space, or are just interested in risk and compliance this is the podcast for you. Join our host, Adam Spencer, Director of AJ Fox Compliance, as he speaks to the experts, thought-leaders and trail blazers working in the world of risk and compliance.

The podcast is available now wherever you get your podcasts. Find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, YouTube, and Pocket Casts. Enjoy!

Sponsored by the Interational Compliance Association

Our sponsor, the ICA, is the leading professional body for the global regulatory and financial crime community. Since 2001, ICA has enhanced the knowledge, skills and behaviour of over 170,000 professionals through their internationally recognised portfolio of professional qualifications, in-company training, continuous professional learning and world-class events. Get 10% off any ICA course with our discount code, AJFOX10.

We'd love to hear what you think, who you'd like to hear from and what compliance subject you'd like us to dive into next. Get in touch and let us know!

 

22. Navigating risk & compliance in complex, multidisciplinary legal businesses, with Alexandra Iliff

In this episode, we talk to Alexandra Iliff, COLP and Group Legal Compliance Officer at Shakespeare Martineau and AMPA Group, about navigating risk and compliance in complex, multidisciplinary legal businesses.

Alexandra shares her career journey from litigation to regulatory work at the SRA, and ultimately into senior in-house compliance roles, where she now oversees risk across a wide group of law firms and non-legal entities.

We explore what it means to lead compliance across brands, manage competing regulatory regimes, and preserve independence in a role that often requires difficult decisions and firm boundaries.

Whether you're just starting out or building towards a leadership role, Alexandra offers clear advice on getting a foothold in compliance, building trust with stakeholders, and recognising that in this career, the work is never really done.

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21. Building a people-first career in risk and compliance, with Henry Olsen

In this episode, we talk to Henry Olsen, Senior Business Acceptance Manager at Mishcon de Reya, about building a people-first career in risk and compliance, and why curiosity, culture, and trust matter more than ever.

Henry shares how a short-term role in financial crime sparked a lasting passion for compliance, and how his career has grown from analyst to leader by staying curious, embracing continuous learning, and investing deeply in his team.

We dive into the challenges and rewards of managing a global, hybrid compliance function, explore how to build dynamic training and foster collaboration across time zones, and hear why the human element of compliance is just as critical as the technical one.

Henry also opens up about his own experiences with toxic workplace culture, and why knowing when to walk away is just as important as knowing when to commit. This episode is a must-listen for anyone leading (or aspiring to lead) in risk and compliance.

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20. Australia’s new AML rules and what they mean for firms, with Amy Bell

In this episode, we welcome back Amy Bell,  Founder and CEO of Teal Compliance and AML Sorted, and chair of the Law Society’s Economic Crime Committee, to talk about the biggest AML reform you’ve probably not heard enough about: Australia’s long-overdue regulation of lawyers, accountants and real estate agents.

Amy shares insights from her recent work on the ground in Australia, where thousands of firms are scrambling to get AML-ready for the first time. From the pressure on tiny regional practices, to concerns about privilege, resourcing, and even threats from organised crime, this episode is packed with practical insight, cautionary tales, and a healthy dose of optimism about where compliance in Australia could go next.

If you haven't heard Amy's first episode with us yet, you can find it here - it's a fantastic listen!

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19. Challenging the outdated view of compliance as business prevention, and how keeping up with the news is vital for compliance professionals, with Mike Chapman

In this episode, we speak with Mike Chapman, Managing Director responsible for the Global Business Acceptance Team at A&O Shearman, about what it takes to build a long and impactful career in legal risk and compliance.

Mike reflects on his journey from entry-level analyst at Linklaters to senior leadership roles at firms like Dentons and A&O Shearman, sharing how the compliance function has grown in scope, visibility, and strategic importance along the way.

We explore how global risk teams navigate reputational and commercial challenges in a fast-moving world, the unique dynamics of Swiss Verein structures, and how compliance professionals can develop the confidence to contribute at the highest levels.

If you're early in your career or managing a growing team, this conversation offers valuable insights into how to build influence, stay commercially aware, and keep learning, all while helping your firm move forward safely and effectively.

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18. The real-world challenges of applying complex legalisation and the value of informal training, with Suzie Ogilvie 

Today, we're talking to Suzie Ogilvie, a seasoned financial crime consultant (OGIRO Risk) and former Global Head of Financial Crime and Sanctions at Freshfields, to explore a career at the intersection of law, policy, and purpose.

Suzie reflects on her move from private practice into the then-emerging world of law firm compliance, and how her interest in regulation and risk evolved into a long and rewarding career focused on AML, sanctions, and financial crime.

We discuss the real-world challenges of applying complex legislation, the value of informal training and peer collaboration, and Suzie’s experience influencing policy at the European level through her work with the Council of European Bars (CCBE).

Packed with practical advice for aspiring compliance professionals, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to build a career that combines technical expertise with meaningful impact.

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17. Humanising compliance on LinkedIn, and building a career that fits with you, with Eloise Butterworth

We’re joined by Eloise Butterworth, Senior Associate in the risk and compliance team at Foot Anstey and a Top 25 Legal LinkedInfluencer, to talk about career change, communication, and carving out your own path in compliance.

We explore the importance of self-awareness, storytelling, and speaking your stakeholders’ language, and how LinkedIn became not just a creative outlet, but a powerful tool for training, connection, and community-building.

Whether you're just entering the profession or looking to reignite your purpose, Eloise’s story is a brilliant reminder that there’s no one way to succeed, but many ways to thrive.

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16. Inside the Law Society's Monday Laundering Task Force, with Amasis Saba

Amasis Saba⁠ is our guest this week, Head of Business Acceptance at Simmons & Simmons. Amasis shared a wealth of information and advice and this episode is an invaluable listen for anyone wanting to build a meaningful career in this field.

We discussed dealing with fee earners as your customers, progressing to Head of level without being a qualified solicitor and the importance of deeply understanding the law to build influence and expertise. As a former chair of The Law Society's Money Laundering Task Force, Amasis also talked about what the task force does and how it shapes the AML landscape in legal practice. Amasis also shared insights on how to get involved and upskill yourself in this space.

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15. AML compliance challenges and digital currency risks, with Kate Burt

Kate Burt is with us this week, Founder and CEO of Hive Risk, a boutique consultancy supporting law firms with their approach to risk and compliance.

We talked about how difficult it is for firms to achieve 100% AML compliance and the importance of the compliance team not taking a query at face value and understanding the nuance behind it. Kate also explained Hive Risk’s expertise in digital currency and source of funds and why so many firms need support in this area.

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We were so excited to speak to James Rickett, Global Lead - Anti Money Laundering and Sanctions Compliance at The International Compliance Association. He did an absolutely incredible job of bringing this subject matter to life and putting it in real world terms, so we can really see the positive impacts this work has. A must listen!

We also talked about:

  • What are sanctions and do they work?
  • The role of the regulator and whether fines are just part of the cost of doing business
  • How accountable should senior management be?
  • The importance of culture and how to change it
  • What an ICA course can do for your career
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13. Navigating professional indemnity insurance, regulation, and legal privilege, with Frank Maher

This week, we spoke to Frank Maher, currently Partner of Legal Risk LLP, soon to be a partner at Keystone Law. We discussed Frank's journey to building Legal Risk LLP - the first firm of practicing solicitors to specifically advise law firms on PII and professional regulation and why legal privilege is so important to what they do.

We talked about navigating the successor practice rules and advising on bet the business liabilities, and why it's important to realise that when you think things are bad, they could be much worse!

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12. The pitfalls of outcomes-focused regulation and SRA guidance, with Jonathan Bray

This week, we spoke to Jonathon Bray, director of Jonathan Bray Limited, a specialist law firm compliance consultancy. Jon took us through the pitfalls of working with outcomes-focused regulation and what's lacking in the SRA guidance.

We discussed what an ABS is and how a business like this may approach compliance. We also talked about some of the new challenges on the horizon for law firms and their risk and compliance teams, such as the increasing focus on culture in compliance.

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11. Why compliance training fails and how to fix it, with Steve Brett

This week we spoke to Steve Brett, Co-founder of E3 Compliance Training, who is on a mission to rid the world of grudge training and box ticking.

Just because someone has completed the training, doesn't mean they've engaged with it. Did you know people have been known to pay their kids to do their compliance training for them?! Find out Steve's strategies for creating engaging training in this week's episode.

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10. Aligning risk and compliance with business strategy, with Ed Turner

This week, we spoke to Ed Turner, Strategic Risk Partner at Mishcon de Reya. It was fantastic to hear Ed's point of view on compliance and how it fits in with the wider business.

We talked about how measuring the success of a risk and compliance function on the right metrics, and not pigeonholing it with the wrong ones, and how creating alignment between the risk and compliance function and the business can give the firm a competitive advantage. Ed told us how he strives to empower subject matter experts in his team, and how the most important question he can ask is 'what do you think?'

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This week, we spoke with Jessica Cook, a senior risk and compliance professional in the offshore world. She gave us a great insight into compliance at offshore law firms in places like the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands, the differing challenges that these firms face and how Hollywood has contributed to the misconceptions that surround them.

Jessica also spoke about the vital importance of developing soft skills such as building trust in the success of a compliance function.

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8. How to assess urgency when every matter is urgent, with Asal Heydari

This week, we are joined by Asal Heydari, Global Head of Business Acceptance and Conflicts Management at Clyde & Co. Asal has been in law firm risk and compliance since the industry began and has a fantastic perspective on how the space works.

She talked about how to assess urgency when fee earners bring their clients and matters to be cleared, and the benefits of not giving exact timeframes. The benefits of upskilling team members to perform total clearances, and whether AML and conflicts teams should be split, or combined.

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In this episode, we spoke to Charlotte Murray, Solicitor in Risk and Compliance at Clarke Willmott. Charlotte told us how she qualified as a solicitor via CILEX after years of unsuccessful training contract applications, and wishes she knew about this route sooner. After qualifying, she fell into the wonderful world of risk and compliance and has never looked back.

We talked about how valuable personal content can be on LinkedIn, and what it was like to go viral, as well as increasing awareness of the compliance department within a law firm, and challenges facing the legal profession and compliance in general.

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6. Driving investment and growth in law firms with internal audit, with Mark Penlington

In this episode, we spoke to Mark Penlington, Director of Risk and Internal Audit at Irwin Mitchell. Mark gave us some fascinating insights into what an internal audit function is and why it’s so important.

Internal audit is there to support you and get you the resources and help you need, rather than just looking over your shoulder and pointing out what you’ve done wrong, and how internal audit can actually help a firm grow and successfully reach its goals by steering investment to specifically where it is needed.

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5. The fairness of personal sanctions, and the value of 'I don't know', with Jessie Williams

This week, we spoke to Jessie Williams, Head of Risk & Compliance at Excello Law about her career in law firm risk and compliance.

We covered how compliance departments are perceived within a law firm and how this can be improved upon, how legal education seems to leave out the importance of risk and compliance, the fairness of personal sanctions, as well as Jessie’s most valued skill: never being afraid to admit when she doesn’t know the answer.

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4. Building a career in compliance without being a qualified solicitor, with Bea Berry

Our guest this week was Bea Berry, Risk & Compliance Advisor at Stevens & Bolton. Bea shared how she fell into risk and compliance, and we discussed whether you need to be qualified to succeed in this space (hint, you don’t!)

Bea explained how full-cycle project management brings a creative element to compliance, and it’s not always just about doing everything by the book - there’s a lot of creative thinking and problem-solving involved. We discussed how more importance is being placed on employee welfare and well-being in law firms, and how this is becoming part of the compliance team’s remit.

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3. Enterprise risk, risk appetite, and neurodiversity inclusion in law firms, with James Smither

This week, we spoke to James Smither, Head of Risk Management at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. The conversation covered some huge topics such as: what is enterprise risk and why is it important, how and why should we think about risk appetite, being unapologetically proud of your role as a risk and compliance professional, and how to make the legal profession more inclusive for neurodiverse people.

James helps coordinate the Legal Neurodiversity Network, where now over 40 law firms are working together and having conversations around this topic. Find out more about them on LinkedIn.

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2. The real world value of compliance, and remembering why we do what we do, with Pekka Dare

We spoke to Pekka Dare, President of the International Compliance Association. In this fascinating conversation, Pekka explained how compliance and commerciality go hand in hand and that doing the right sort of sustainable business is likely to be more profitable in the long run.

We discussed how the beauty of a career in compliance is that it isn’t just theoretical, the work relates to very real threats and holds real-world value, and how compliance training must be grounded in why we do what we do to be most effective. Pekka spoke about how firms should be investing in the ongoing development of their staff and keeping them up to date with new threats and trends and shared some fantastic resources, including the ICA’s webinars, The OCCRP, Global Witness, Global Financial Integrity, and Transparency International.

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1. Why compliance controls and culture matter, and why they work, with Amy Bell

We had the honour of speaking to Amy Bell, Founder of Teal Compliance. Amy let us in on her compliance framework that works, why it’s vital to have controls in place to check policies and procedures are actually working, and how to create a culture that supports compliance within a law firm.

Amy shared her struggles with stress and mental health while working as a solicitor as a result of the pressure she was under and the fear of making mistakes in the law firm environment. She explained how vital it is to create a culture where people are allowed to not know the answer, otherwise, mistakes are more likely to occur, be hidden, and escalate.

Find out more about Teal Compliance on their website, follow Amy on LinkedIn for top compliance content, and look out for the upcoming release of her book, Compliance That Works.

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