Chris Warren-Smith

Chris has both a regional and a global practice, with many years spent advising on matters in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe, and South America. He acts for financial institutions, corporations, professionals, and insurers in all forms of mainstream and alternative dispute resolution and regulatory and professional investigations. He also counsels on issues arising from a more diverse range of bodies in the United Kingdom, ranging from the Treasury Select Committee to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Chris frequently works on compliance and regulatory issues, including corruption, financial crime, economic sanctions, and fraud. He represents clients in a wide range of investigations, including UK proceedings conducted by the Financial Conduct Authority, the Serious Fraud Office, and Lloyd's of London, and those involving regulators such as the US Department of Justice and US Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as regulators and professional bodies in many other jurisdictions around the world.

Chris has experience over many years in both group actions and litigation-funded disputes. He acted for the first third-party funded claimant to go to trial in the United Kingdom, as well as in a landmark third-party funded group action. He also has experience in privacy and cybersecurity matters.

Clients praise his “commercial awareness, technical knowledge and ability to tackle prospective problems before they arise”’ his “reliable, sensible balanced advice”; and his “ability to dive into the detail and excellent communications skills.” Chris is described as “refreshingly personable and knowledgeable” while impressing clients with his “incisive analytical mind and rate of turnaround.”

Before joining Morgan Lewis, Chris served as the global head of investigations in the London office of another global law firm.

• Representing a client in the insurance industry in respect of investigations and claims arising from data misuse and privacy breaches involving ICO and FCA notifications, together with High Court litigation involving a £25m breach of warranty and fraud claim arising from a sale and purchase agreement
• Represented financial institutions in Europe and the US in disputes and regulatory investigations arising from issues such as collateralised debt obligations, LIBOR, FX, and other high-profile matters
• Represented clients in a wide range of matters arising from Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) activities including enforcement work, Section 166 appointments, and the production of independent reports for consideration of the FCA (and the Bank of England)
• Conducted multijurisdictional corporate investigations and managed government investigations involving a wide range of issues, such as foreign corrupt practices, bribery, export control and sanctions violations, payments to third parties, whistleblowing, improper trading, and accountancy issues. Handled litigation in the Commercial Court, Chancery Division, and Queens Bench Division, for UK and international clients over many years
• Represented clients in group actions in the UK in a range of areas, including financial services, tax, and competition, as well as class actions and collective actions in the US and many European and other jurisdictions
• Represented clients in Upper Tribunal hearings challenging decisions of the Financial Conduct Authority
• Represented investment and wealth managers and stockbrokers in a wide array of regulatory matters and litigation on issues including misselling, corporate finance, and the trading of complex financial instruments
• Handled regulatory and internal investigations for insurers and brokers arising from various issues in the insurance sector, including finite reinsurance, binding authorities, third-party payments, and individual authorisations and approvals 
• Represented clients in arbitrations before a range of Tribunals, including defending the first ever Tier 2 Lloyd’s of London arbitration
• Handled actual and threatened judicial review proceedings against a range of bodies, including HM Treasury, the FCA, and the Financial Ombudsman Service
• Represented a global energy producer in regulatory enforcement proceedings in multiple jurisdictions
• Defended civil fraud proceedings brought in the UK and Italy against a major Italian manufacturer arising from third-party fraud
• Handled some of the largest claims faced by insurers over many years, in many jurisdictions, including those arising from the collapse of Enron, World Com, Parmalat, RBG Resources, Box Clever, and the Madoff fraud
• Handled investigations and disciplinary investigations involving a wide range of bodies, including the London Stock Exchange, Lloyd's of London, and the (former) Department of Trade & Industry
• Involved in the FCA and Channel Islands investigations, Treasury Select Committee inquiry, Financial Ombudsman Service issues, and class action and other litigation relating to the collapse of the Split Capital market in the UK
• Involved in the range of issues and disputes arising from overdraft charges in the UK banking sector. Acted in DIS (German Institution of Arbitration) proceedings in Frankfurt arising from an EC investigation into breach of anti-trust laws
• Represented investment managers and stockbrokers in major litigation and other disputes arising from the “dotcom” boom and bust and stock market reductions
• Handled issues arising from the problems associated with endowments misselling, ranging from FCA investigations to complaints strategies with respect to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
• Acted for a major accounting firm in connection with Barings-related litigation, investigations, and public enquiries
• Acted for a major accounting firm in connection with Maxwell-related litigation and regulatory enforcement proceedings, including Serious Fraud Office and Department of Trade & Industry investigations