Harriet Parsons is founder and Director of HSPL.  Harriet is a litigator and financial services specialist of more than 25 years’ experience, as external counsel and in-house at two major financial institutions, including as Head of EMEA Litigation, Enforcement & Investigations.  In partnership with global eDiscovery specialists Consilio (http://uk.consilio.com) and with access to a network of leading experts and professional services firms, HSPL was established to provide a bespoke, cost-effective solution for firms and individuals.

Throughout her career, Harriet Parsons has earned the trust and respect of peers and advisors at some of the leading financial institutions and most prominent professional services firms in the world.  She is a seasoned lawyer accustomed to handling multi-dimensional exposures (civil, criminal, regulatory and reputational), requiring effective dialogue with multiple internal and external stakeholders.

At Citi throughout the financial crisis, as Head of EMEA Litigation, Enforcement & Investigations at BNY Mellon and subsequently as independent counsel, Harriet has worked closely with senior management in what has been an increasingly challenging legal and regulatory environment: a trusted advisor, who appreciates the nuances of a changing regulatory landscape, encompassing policy changes that are designed to promote individual accountability. 

Harriet has an intimate understanding of the structure, governance, management and controls framework of financial services firms - from large global banks to small boutiques. She has worked across the full range of business lines for corporate and investment banking, issuer services, investment management, retail banking and private wealth.  Working closely with senior management, business lines, business partners, and with external counsel and other professional service providers, Harriet has handled internal investigations, litigation and enforcement and advised on governance, regulatory change and risk mitigation programmes.  Harriet is familiar with debt and equity capital markets and the structuring and issuance of complex financial instruments.  She has advised on a broad range of litigation, contentious regulatory and white collar criminal issues, including breach of contract, negligence, misselling, breach of trust, directors’ duties, civil and criminal fraud, securities litigation, bribery and corruption, money laundering, client assets, systems and controls issues, market conduct issues and anti-trust infringements.  In connection with these situations she has thoughtfully managed associated civil litigation, criminal, regulatory and reputational risk.  From 2003, and in particular throughout the financial crisis of 2008-2009, she advised on impaired credits (restructuring and enforcement) and a number of major cross-border insolvencies, including parallel civil, criminal and administrative proceedings.

At the start of her career, Harriet spent six years at Allen & Overy, where she qualified into the Banking & Finance Litigation Group in London. At Allen & Overy, she advised a broad spectrum of clients, from pro bono work for individuals, to complex cross-border cases for large multi-nationals.  She trained at The College of Law in London and holds a BA (Hons) in English from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

Consilio

Any investigation or proceeding can involve a significant amount of data that may need to be analysed.  As part of a strategic partnership with global eDiscovery specialists Consilio (http://uk.consilio.com) we can offer our clients technical support in areas including data identification and extraction, eDisclosure and litigation management, digital forensic expertise and document review services.

Drawing on our combined expertise, we work closely with our clients to ensure they have the most appropriate support and advice needed for each step of the matter whilst delivering a streamlined and professional service.