Michael Halepas Email & Phone Number

London Area, United Kingdom

Specialising in consulting, training, advocacy, and keynote speaking, at the intersection of digital assets, financial crime, and anti-money laundering.

St. Helier, Jersey

Legal Adviser in the Economic Crime and Confiscation Unit:o Reviewed cases involving largescale and complex money laundering. Helped to secure convictions in Jersey's first “irresistible inference” money laundering case. o Liaised with foreign law enforcement agencies and revenue authorities to obtain evidence from abroad and to prosecute multi-jurisdictional financial crimes.o Rights of audience to present matters before the Jersey Magistrates' Court.o Reviewed Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR) filed in Jersey. Advised the FIU in consent requests made by reporting institutions. o Advised the FIU in preparation of changes to SAR reporting brought about by legislative amendments.o Lead crypto-crime prosecutor. Represented the LOD at international crypto conferences. NFT.NYC speaker. Maintained an up-to-date knowledge of the latest developments with digital assets, and the challenges encountered globally by law enforcement agencies.o Advised the Viscount's Department on identification, seizure, and custody of digital assets. o "Blockchain and Digital Assets" trainer to Jersey's law enforcement authorities.o Advised the Government of Jersey on FATF-compliant legislative amendments for Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers.o Drafted the "Digital Assets" section of Jersey's law enforcement investigation and prosecution manual. Managed the virtual assets curriculum for FIU staff and helped to increase their understanding of the subject.o Researched and assisted the preparation of the Attorney General's Guidance on Parallel Financial Investigations. o LOD's representative in Jersey's VASPs National Risk Assessment Working Group. o Member of the Legal Services Panel for the Government of the Virgin Islands. Financial Crime - Money Laundering - Confiscation - Mutual Legal Assistance - Blockchain & Digital Assets - Suspicious Activity Reports

London, England, United Kingdom

Investment Fraud - Ponzi Scheme - VAT and Excise Duty Evasion - Data Protection - Intellectual Property - Bribery and Corruption - Cyber Fraud - Crypto - Money Laundering - Restraint and Confiscation of Criminal Property - Disclosure Management

London, United Kingdom

Responsible for the prosecution of a large (70+) and varied Crown Court caseload. Case files routinely alleged serious offences and occasionally attracted media attention. One such matter was a conviction that attracted national media attention. The case concerned a zombie knife attack on a busy London street and concluded with a successful Attorney-General's reference ([2019] 1 WLUK 323).Work focussed on:o Serious violence and attempted murder.o Firearms, knives and offensive weapons. o Drug importation and distribution.o Large-scale commercial burglaries.o Fraud and money laundering.o Domestic abuse.o Public disorder.Completed CPS training on:o Communication with vulnerable victims.o Controlling and coercive behaviour.o Fingerprint and DNA profiling.o Forensic analysis of firearms.o Youth Court procedure.o Cyber crime.o Hate crime.Responsibilities included:o Review of evidence and the public interest in pursuing a prosecution.o Handling the disclosure of sensitive and non-sensitive material.o Guiding police and NCA officers on investigations.o Assisting the fair trial process of each defendant.o Communicating with victims of crime.o Liaising with foreign authorities.

As a police station accredited representative, gained wider experience of the criminal justice system. Represented detainees at police stations across London and the South East. The role demanded strong communication and interpersonal skills alongside a solid knowledge of criminal law, human rights, the PACE Codes of Conduct and the rules of evidence. On each police station visit I:o Held a disclosure meeting with the police constable/detective in the case.o Checked on the welfare of the client.o Liaised with mental health professionals and appropriate adults.o Conducted confidential consultations with the client and informed of the interview options, relevant law and individual rights. o Explained police procedures including identification parades and DNA testing.o Ensured that each client had a fair police interview without oppression and/or coercion.

I was a member of the SFO teams that investigated and prosecuted: i) International manipulation of LIBOR and EURIBOR benchmark rates.ii) Bribery and corruption in the Oil and Gas industry. My responsibilities as disclosure counsel included: o Assisting with the preparation of position papers and building disclosure schedules.o Analysis of alleged fraudulent conduct by bank traders/submitters/management.o Evidential review of audio and documentary evidence totalling over 60,000 documents, including the review/translation of private discussions conducted in Greek.o Formulation of presentations for team meetings.o Providing advice on charging decisions.o Preparation of suspects' interviews.

I occupied the role of in-house counsel as part of the firm's advocacy team. I provided advocacy training to solicitors and delivered professional development programs on the topics of Magistrates’ Court trials and Youth Sentencing. During my time at the firm, I:o Acted as advocate in cases involving a wide variety of offences.o Gained exposure on trials for such serious offences as rape, robbery, fraud, violent disorder, firearms possession, drug importation and distribution. o My clients included both career criminals and vulnerable individuals: those with learning disabilities, mental health issues and youths.o Was instructed on several “Certificate for Counsel” cases concerning youths charged with sexual offences.o Represented numerous defendants caught up in the 2011 London Riots.o Made successful appeals against sentence in the Court of Appeal.o Advised on general conduct of cases both orally and in writing, drafted legal opinions and skeleton arguments.o Supervised the work of trainee lawyers and paralegals.

London, England, United Kingdom

Prison law paralegal.

Bar Vocational Course, Law

Gdl (Law Conversion Course)

Llb Hons, Eastern Mediterranean History And Modern Greek Studies