Malaysia's anti-corruption body investigates White & Case's London offices over alleged false documentation in the 1MDB-linked JV deal as the $1.8 billion claim moves closer to trial

Malaysia's anti-corruption body is investigating the London offices of international law firm White & Case in connection with alleged 'false or misleading information' produced in relation to a deal involving fugitive financier Jho Low. The investigation concerns a joint venture transaction structured in September 2009, when Low arranged for parties to fly into London for what was presented as a major commercial deal. The anti-corruption probe runs in parallel with a $1.8 billion civil claim filed by 1MDB — Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund at the centre of one of the world's largest financial fraud scandals — against White & Case in the Malaysian courts in 2024. That claim alleges White & Case knew the relevant joint venture was a 'sham'. The firm has rejected those allegations as baseless but declined to answer questions about the due diligence checks it conducted on the transaction structure. The Observer has previously reported separate concerns about the firm's conduct in connection with the 1MDB matter. White & Case has not yet responded to the latest anti-corruption investigation announcement. The combination of a regulatory investigation by Malaysia's anti-corruption authority and a live $1.8 billion civil claim creates significant exposure for the firm across multiple fronts: criminal regulatory risk, civil liability, and reputational damage in a market where 1MDB remains politically and judicially live. For the UK legal market, the investigation into London offices specifically raises questions about the reach of Malaysian anti-corruption jurisdiction over conduct by English-registered law firms advising on transactions with a London nexus.

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