Mark Hunting, Partner at Bracewell — On White Collar Crime, In-House vs Private Practice and the Future of AI in Law

In this episode, Mark Hunting, partner at Bracewell in London, shares his journey from training at Hogan Lovells to building a career spanning private practice, in-house at bp and back into private practice.Mark specialises in white collar crime, investigations and regulatory compliance, working on matters including bribery, corruption, fraud, money laundering and sanctions, with a particular focus on the energy sector.He reflects on his early career in disputes, the value of hands-on advocacy experience and why being in the office plays a critical role in developing junior lawyers through exposure, mentorship and informal learning.The conversation explores his move to Ropes & Gray, where he joined a small and entrepreneurial London team, gaining early responsibility in business development and client relationships.Mark then shares insights from his time in-house at bp, including the increased responsibility, decision-making exposure and commercial impact that comes with working inside a global organisation, as well as the differences in career progression compared to private practice.The episode dives into his return to private practice at Bracewell, where he is building a white collar crime and investigations practice in London within a highly specialised energy-focused firm.Mark also provides a detailed look into his practice area, including internal investigations, dealing with regulators such as the Serious Fraud Office and Department of Justice, and the increasing complexity of sanctions and global compliance.The conversation explores major trends shaping the legal landscape, including geopolitical tensions, supply chain risk, sanctions enforcement and the growing challenges of operating across multiple jurisdictions.Mark also shares insights into the energy sector, including innovation in oil and gas, the rise of renewables and the increasing risk of fraud in areas such as carbon credits and sustainability-linked projects.A significant part of the discussion focuses on AI and legal tech, where Mark explains how he uses AI in practice, from document review and investigations to coding in Excel and improving efficiency, while cautioning against over-reliance on AI for core legal reasoning and advocacy.Finally, Mark offers practical advice for junior lawyers, including the importance of mastering detail, gaining broad experience early in your career and investing in long-term relationships both inside and outside the firm.00:00 Introduction  00:20 Meet Mark Hunting: Career Overview  01:00 Training at Hogan Lovells & Early Career  03:00 Life as a Trainee & Importance of Office Culture  05:00 Moving to Ropes & Gray  06:30 Working in a Small, Entrepreneurial Team  08:00 Moving In-House to bp  10:00 Responsibility, Decision-Making & Meritocracy  12:00 In-House vs Private Practice  13:00 Returning to Private Practice at Bracewell  14:00 What Bracewell Does & Energy Focus  15:30 Overview of White Collar Crime & Investigations  17:00 Global Work: Africa, Middle East & Energy Sector  18:00 Role as a Magistrate & Early Responsibility  20:00 Geopolitics, Sanctions & Global Compliance  23:00 Supply Chains, Regulation & Risk  26:00 Energy Transition, Renewables & Fraud Risks  30:00 Innovation in Oil & Gas  33:00 AI in Legal Practice: Use Cases & Limitations  38:00 AI, Efficiency & Investigations  43:00 Training Lawyers in an AI-Driven World  48:00 Pricing, Billing & Law Firm Economics  54:00 Advice for Junior Lawyers  58:00 Building Relationships & Career Development  01:00:00 Final Reflections & What’s Next