Katie is a partner at Bindmans and Head of the Crime, Fraud and Regulatory team. She advises and represents high profile, high-net worth individuals and organisations in a variety of complex criminal and financial regulatory investigations and proceedings.
Listed in the Legal 500 as a leading individual for General Crime and Fraud: White-Collar Crime, Katie is described as a “superb tactician”, and as having “excellent judgment and real gravitas”.
She is experienced in dealing with investigations and proceedings that are initiated by bodies such as the police, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), and professional and State Regulators. Katie also has special expertise in private prosecutions.
With over 25 years’ experience and unique expertise and tactical judgment, Katie has been retained in a wide variety of legal matters, involving allegations of both financial and general crime such as fraud, bribery and corruption, money laundering, complex high-profile general crime cases, sexual offences, homicide, inquests and cases with an international dimension.
Katie is experienced in defending people accused of committing offences connected with their work or who are subject to allegations that are related to their private lives that may threaten their career. She acts for clients in many sectors including banking, broking, insurance, professional services, education, public sector, manufacturing, engineering, sport, charities and NGOs, healthcare, journalism, and media and entertainment.
Katie also acts for and advises employees, directors, trustees and organisations in a business crime context, with experience of corporate manslaughter, gross negligence and unlawful act manslaughter, Health and Safety. Katie acts for individuals and organisations who are designated Interested Persons at Inquests.
She has established a particularly strong reputation for advising journalists and media organisations, especially in investigations relating to their work, breaching of reporting restrictions and contempt, arrests, searches, production orders, protection of journalistic material, whistleblowing, the Official Secrets Act, and undercover operations.
She regularly advises about the intersection of the criminal law with the work of journalists and hosted the Bindmans / UCL debate ‘State Security v Press Freedom’, which explored the implications of new anti-terror legislation on the work of journalists. She has also given talks to the National Union of Journalists explaining how The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) applies to journalists.
Katie has extensive experience of representing clients with vulnerabilities, including brain injury or mental health conditions.
Katie has special experience in advising in connection with allegations that relate to end-of-life decisions such as encouraging and assisting suicide, and ‘mercy killings.’
Her diverse caseload also spans acting for individuals and businesses in cases involving allegations of breaches of government regulations that can be prosecuted in the criminal courts, like those relating to property/houses of multiple occupation, fire safety, planning, and tree preservation.
She is regularly asked to speak at conferences; recent topics Katie has spoken on include white-collar crime, the legal definition of dishonesty, and journalism and public interest in criminal proceedings.
To make an enquiry, please call our Crime, Fraud and Regulatory team’s direct line number on +44 (0)20 7014 2020.
Experience
Katie’s cases include:
Fraud and financial and business crime
Katie has extensive experience in all matters of corporate fraud and commercial crime, including:
- Acting for suspects in high profile Serious Fraud Office (SFO) bribery and corruption and fraud investigations, including interviews under caution
- Acting for witnesses interviewed by the SFO under s2 CJA 1987
- Advising and individual in a Corporate internal investigation into fraud and misuse of confidential information
- Advised and Represented an individual in connection with criminal law aspects of a high value civil claim
- Recently acted for an individual in an FCA Preliminary Investigation – investigation closed after representations
- Recently acted for an individual in a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) investigation into insider dealing contrary to s 52 Criminal Justice Act 1993 and Article 14 of the Market Abuse Regulation. The FCA took no further action
- Instructed in cases involving allegations of misuse of confidential information in financial services sector
- Acting for former CEO in a private prosecution by a former employer – allegations of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, complex legal issues and allegations of abuse of process, and restraint and confiscation proceedings
- Recently acted for corporate landlord in connection with allegations of breach of HMO Regulations
- Acted for Terry Farr a RPM broker acquitted of conspiracy to defraud relating to Yen LIBOR, also involved in other high-profile banking/benchmark investigations
- Acted for one of several defendants in a complex criminal trial for insider dealing brought by FCA, including pre-charge interview advice and representation; client acquitted
- Acted in City of London Police investigation for misuse of company information for own purposes
- Advising in connection with searches and the production of information and material to investigators including “dawn raids” and production orders
- Advised in connection with allegations of financial impropriety against care home
- Advising former civil servant in connection with allegations of breach of Official Secrets Act- whistleblowing and public interest
- In team advising corporate in HSE Investigations into fatalities in an industrial setting; investigation, Inquest and HSE prosecution
- Advised employee of NGO in connection with trumped-up politically motivated allegations of serious criminal misconduct abroad
- Advised Charity in connection with allegations of criminal activity by an employee
- Regulatory advice and representation, particularly in cases with parallel allegations of criminal misconduct; Financial Conduct Authority, General Medical Council; PHE; English Football League; regulations relating to property ownership and management.
Serious and general crime
- Represents high profile and HNW individuals in connection with reputation and career threatening allegations of criminal misconduct, including sexual assault and rape and abuse of position of influence
- Representing individuals in Official Secrets Act investigations
- National Security: advised in connection with border stops under Schedule 3 CTBSA and Schedule 7 Terrorism Act
- Importation, supply and possession of drugs, including street drugs, novel psychoactive substances and banned substance promoted for use in suicide
- Numerous sexual misconduct allegations – consent in issue
- Cases involving clients with brain injury or mental ill health including investigations of fitness to give instructions/fitness to plead
- Young and vulnerable people – representations to divert from the criminal process
- Allegations arising in a family context including allegations of assault and child cruelty with parallel family and Children Act proceeding
- Acted for GP accused of sexual assault/multiple allegations of unnecessary medical examinations on patients; GP accused of supplying street drugs
- Cybercrime – misuse of social media; stalking, harassment and malicious communications
- Possession of firearms, offensive weapons and bladed articles, and noxious substances.
‘Mercy killings’ and encouraging or assisting suicide
- Katie has acted in many sensitive cases involving ‘mercy killings’ and allegations of encouraging or assisting suicide. She most recently acted for Ann Whaley – interviewed in connection with allegations of encouraging or assisting the suicide of her husband who had MND. This case has been reported widely, highlighting the issues around dying with dignity with Ann campaigning for a change in the law.
Inquests
- In recent years, Katie has represented individual and corporate Interested Persons in sensitive and high-profile inquests, including persons accused of causing or contributing to death.
Media, journalists and reporting restrictions
Bindmans is well known for its work assisting the media and for its reputation of media law. We are trusted by numerous senior politicians, publishers and trade unions, high profile actors and musicians as well as ordinary people. Cases include:
- Numerous cases involving journalists/breach of court reporting restrictions
- Undercover investigations – arrests, interviews and public interest representations
- Protection of journalistic materials in searches and opposing or applications to set aside production orders.
Proceeds of Crime
- Acts for suspects and affected third parties in confiscation and restraint proceedings, and asset freezing
- Advised third parties in connection with their rights in confiscation
- Advises in connection with compliance with Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and Money Laundering Regulations
Recent directory and client quotes
Chambers and Partners 2025
- Katie is ranked Band 4 in Crime & Band 3 in Financial Crime: Individuals.
- “Katie Wheatley is fantastic.”
- “She is incisive, asks the hard questions and gets to the core of the issues straight away.”
- “Katie has a sharp mind.”
- “Katie is great with her clients and is highly robust in her approach.”
- “She is a kind and compassionate lawyer with an edge of steel when it is needed.”
Legal 500 2025
- Katie is listed as a “Leading Partner” in Crime: General & Fraud: White-collar crime (advice to individuals).
- “Katie Wheatley and Kate Goold are both superstars who command widespread respect.”
- “I consider Katie Wheatley to be a standout individual, particularly in cases involving journalism / free speech issues.”
- “Katie Wheatley is a master tactician who explores every option for clients before giving clear and definitive advice.”
Chambers and Partners 2024
- Katie was ranked Band 4 in Crime. & Band 3 in Financial Crime: Individuals.
- “Katie gave us sophisticated and detailed yet very clear and accessible advice. She made sure that we had a good grasp of all the key facts and prepared us extremely well.”
- “Katie is so highly spoken of.”
- “She has been absolutely astounding in her level of commitment to the client and the case. She can piece her way through really complex issues.”
- “Katie is a powerhouse of a lawyer with excellent client communication skills.”
Legal 500 2024
- Katie was ranked as a ‘Leading Individual’ in Crime: General & Fraud: White- Collar Crime (Advice to Individuals).
- “Katie Wheatley has a nationally renowned niche in cases related to media and press freedom. Clients know that they’re getting the best advice possible. She is attentive to the needs of clients and provides frank and cogent advice. Her exceptional relationships with leading counsel mean that clients are capable of securing silks at short notice who would normally be unavailable for months.”
- “Katie Wheatley is a highly committed senior lawyer who will expertly fight the corner of an individual investigated for fraud.”
- “Katie Wheatley is calm, efficient and pragmatic, handling demanding clients with ease and ensuring the case stays firmly on the right track.”
- “Katie Wheatley is excellent; a very thoughtful lawyer who is collaborative in common interest situations.”
- “Katie Wheatley leads a very strong and competent team that has a dominant position in a series of industry niches. They are particularly strong at the complex intersection of crime and public law.”
- “Katie Wheatley is calm, efficient, knowledgeable and pragmatic as well as being excellent on the technical side.”
Publications and press releases
- Katie Wheatley comments in The Independent on Lucy Letby’s lawyers requesting fresh appeal – Dec 2024
- Katie Wheatley shares her thoughts on the recent Terminally Ill (End of Life) Bill vote – New Law Journal; the Law Society Gazette; Canadian Lawyer, Dec 2024
- Katie Wheatley shares her thoughts on the Serious Fraud Office’s extra funding – the Law Society Gazette, Nov 2024
- Katie Wheatley quoted in New Law Journal: Tough action on fraud – Nov 2024
- Katie Wheatley writes for Fraud Intelligence: Filter tips – SFO guides reporting – Nov 2024
- Katie Wheatley recognised in Citywealth Disputes and Defence Leaders List 2023 – Dec 2023
- Press release: LXP v CCC – Nov 2023
- Comment: do the UK’s anti-money laundering measures need a complete reset?
- Business crime investigations: understanding negotiated settlements
- State Secrets Espionage and Reform of the Official Secrets Acts
Professional memberships
- Financial Services Lawyers Association
- The Fraud Lawyers Association – committee member
- London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association
- International Bar Association
