Sara Lawson will join the public body in May, where she will provide oversight, advice and quality control on SFO cases and preparations for trials. Mr Milford left the SFO to join Kingsley Napley in September 2016, after six years working for the body.

A-lister

Ms Lawson became QC in 2017, and was previously working at Red Lion Chambers as a barrister. She has also worked for the Insolvency Service as standing counsel and as member of the Government Regulatory A List, prosecuted on behalf of the Health & Safety Executive, the Office of Rail & Road and the Environment Agency. SFO director Lisa Osofsky, a former FBI lawyer who joined the SFO in June last year, said Ms Lawson is ‘a highly qualified and experiences barrister,’ who will provide ‘invaluable insight’ in the role.

Steep learning curve

Ms Lawson said, ‘I am delighted to take up this position and eager to join the SFO’s fight against serious economic crime.’ Louise Hodges, head of criminal litigation at Kingsley Napley, commented ‘a seasoned prosecutor, Sara’s experience lies mainly working with the Health and Safety Executive, Insolvency Service and HMRC. Her direct SFO prosecution experience is limited so she will be on a steep learning curve to get to grips with the SFO’s current portfolio of work.’