Zia Ullah

Zia Ullah is Co-Global Head of Corporate Crime and Investigations at Eversheds Sutherland and a Board Member of Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP.

Zia is a globally recognized authority in International Sanctions and has led multiple cross-border sanctions investigations. He advises on all aspects of corporate and financial crime and was previously the Global Head of Sanctions at Barclays. Zia is a current FCA ‘Skilled Person’ for Financial Crime.

Zia and his team have provided strategic advice to over 100 global institutions with respect to the legal, regulatory and commercial issues arising from the expansion of UK, EU and US sanctions against Russia following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. His team has also advised on the impact on sanctions compliance frameworks, divestment activity in Russia, the application of exemptions and licences, and the reporting requirements in light of potential breaches of sanctions.

Zia and Victoria Turner co-authored a chapter for Global Investigations Review’s first ever book on sanctions compliance - “The Guide to Sanctions” – Zia’s team also publishes the only global guide on international sanctions setting out details on over 70 jurisdictions sanctions compliance requirements. Zia’s team also created the Global Sanctions Tool which was nominated as Best Client Innovation in The Lawyer Awards 2024.

Zia is co-chair of the UK Finance Associate Members’ Sanctions Committee and is also a member of HM Treasury’s Senior Implementation Group, a body comprised of all government departments with responsibility for the UK’s sanctions regime. Zia is also a committee member at the Fraud Lawyers’ Association.

Zia is ranked in Band 1 of Chambers for Financial Sanctions, is ranked in the Global Elite in Who’s Who Legal for sanctions and recommended for business crime and asset recovery. Zia was included in the Lawyer’s Hot 100 for 2023.