About me

Address: London: Eighth Floor, Ten Bishops Square, London E1 6EG

Areas of Focus: White Collar Defense & Government Investigations; Financial Services Regulatory; Disputes & Investigations; International Disputes; National Security & Global Investigations; Securities Enforcement & Litigation; Corporate Governance

Biography:
Joe is ranked in both Chambers UK and The Legal 500 where clients describe him as an “extremely effective lawyer that is easy to work with on a personal level.”
Joe is a member of Akin’s global white collar practice and the London financial services regulatory team. He advises financial institution and investment management clients, including their C-suite executives, in connection with investigations and proposed enforcement action brought by the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and other financial regulators. He has recent experience defending clients before the Regulatory Decisions Committee, Upper Tribunal (Tax & Chancery) and the Court of Appeal.
Joe works closely with Akin’s white collar team in the U.S. on cross-border investigations and disputes, including those pursued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Department of Justice (DOJ), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
Joe also regularly conducts internal investigations, which often arise through whistleblowing, both in the financial services sector and beyond.
In addition to his investigations work, Joe has experience of advising clients on the application of the U.K. regulatory framework. This includes counselling on transactional matters, including change in control applications, authorizations and approvals, regulatory change projects, and market conduct and governance.

Representative Work:
- Represented BlueCrest Capital Management (U.K.) LLP in connection with an enforcement action brought by the U.K. FCA.
- Conducted an internal investigation on behalf of a global firm into allegations of accounting improprieties and fraudulent behaviour at multiple subsidiary entities.
- Represented a large U.K. firm in respect of proceedings pursued by HM Revenue & Customs.
- Advised a senior individual at a global investment bank in connection with an internal investigation into allegations of bullying and harassment.
- Advised a leading financial institution in a significant CFTC investigation arising from regulatory reporting and supervision issues.
- Represented British citizens (as witnesses and defendants) in multiple proceedings brought by the U.S. Department of Justice.
- Represented a significant financial institution in connection with a regulatory enforcement action pursued by the U.S. SEC and the U.K. FCA.

Credentials:
Education: L.P.C., BPP University Law School, England, 2011; LL.B. with Business, University of Birmingham, 2010
Bar Admissions: Solicitor, England and Wales, 2014

Recognitions:
- Chambers UK , Financial Services: Contentious Regulatory, 2025-2026.
- The Legal 500 UK, Next Generation Partner: Financial Services: Contentious, 2026.

Affiliations:
- Joe supports the firm’s work with City Year U.K., where he acts as a mentor to young people. In 2019, he was awarded the U.K. “Bridge Builder of the Year” and in 2023 he received City Year’s inaugural “Outstanding Contribution to the Bridge Builder Programme” award.

Insights:
- UK Regulators’ Co-operation Renewed on Sanctions: The FCA and OFSI/OTSI Memorandum of Understanding & Intensified Enforcement Landscape (June 30, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/uk-regulators-co-operation-renewed-on-sanctions-the-fca-and-ofsiotsi-memorandum-of-understanding-and-intensified-enforcement-landscape
- Akin Partner Joe Hewton Named a 2026 Rising Star of European Finance by Financial News (April 14, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/awards-and-accolades/akin-partner-joe-hewton-named-a-2026-rising-star-of-european-finance-by-financial-news
- January 2026 – February 2026: EU/UK Regulatory Round-Up (March 24, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/january-2026-february-2026-eu-uk-regulatory-round-up
- UK Whistleblowing Updates (March 10, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/uk-whistleblowing-updates
- The UAE Anti-Money Laundering Landscape – More Enforcement to Come? (February 26, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/the-uae-anti-money-laundering-landscape-more-enforcement-to-come
- UK Financial Conduct Authority Permitted to Name a Claims Management Company under Investigation (January 21, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/uk-financial-conduct-authority-permitted-to-name-a-claims-management-company-under-investigation
- UK and EU Asset Management 2026 Regulatory Outlook (January 16, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/uk-and-eu-asset-management-2026-regulatory-outlook
- November 2025 – December 2025: Regulatory Round-Up (January 9, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/november-2025-december-2025-regulatory-round-up
- Akin Promotes 12 Lawyers to Partnership (January 5, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-promotes-12-lawyers-to-partnership
- UK Financial Conduct Authority Consults on Fund Tokenisation (October 29, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/uk-financial-conduct-authority-consults-on-fund-tokenisation
- Chambers UK Recognizes Akin Lawyers and Practices in 2026 Guide (October 17, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/awards-and-accolades/chambers-uk-recognizes-akin-lawyers-and-practices-in-2026-guide
- FCA Consultation Paper on Motor Finance Redress Published (October 14, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/fca-consultation-paper-on-motor-finance-redress-published