Chris Warren-Smith joined the London location of Fulbright & Jaworski International LLP as a partner in 2007. Chris advises on commercial and international dispute resolution, regulatory enforcement proceedings and corporate investigations across all sectors. Chris also practices in the financial services and professional indemnity fields, representing major professional firms and insurers in connection with civil and regulatory proceedings. He has a strong banking and financial services practice through extensive experience representing multi-national corporations, insurers and financial institutions.

Chris is Co-Chair of Fulbright's Global Litigation Practice Group, Head of International Financial Services Disputes and Co-Chair of Class Action, Antitrust and Competition and Subprime Practice Groups. He acts for financial institutions, corporations, professionals and insurers in all forms of mainstream and alternative dispute resolution and regulatory and professional investigations. His experience covers heavyweight litigation, arbitration and judicial review proceedings but also issues arising with a diverse range of bodies ranging from the Treasury Select Committee to the Financial Ombudsman Service. His experience of investigations ranges from the Financial Services Authority and Lloyd's of London proceedings in the UK to those of foreign regulators such as the US Department of Justice and the SEC, and includes regulators and professional bodies in many other jurisdictions throughout the world.

Recent matters include:

• Representing a global energy producer in connection with regulatory enforcement proceedings arising out of the restatement of oil reserves.
• Involvement in the Financial Services Authority 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
• Involvement in the range of issues and disputes arising from Overdraft Charges in the UK Banking sector
• Representing financial institutions in connection with claims and potential claims arising from investments in Collateralised Debt Obligations and related vehicles
• Defending civil fraud proceedings seeking €30 million brought in the UK and Italy against a major Italian manufacturer arising from third party fraud
• Involvement in multi-jurisdictional Corporate and Government investigations involving a wide range of issues, such as foreign corrupt practices, export control violations, whistle blowing, and related accountancy issues
• Handling the range of issues that arise in the competition arena ranging from threatened or actual litigation, to investigations, through to merger clearance
• Representing investment managers and stockbrokers in major litigation and other disputes arising from the "dotcom" boom and bust and stock market falls from 2000 - 2003
• Actual and threatened Judicial Review proceedings against a range of bodies including HM Treasury, the Financial Services Authority and the Financial Ombudsman Service
• Handling some of the largest claims faced by insurers in recent years, in many jurisdictions, including those arising from the collapse of Enron, World Com, Parmalat, RBG Resources and Box Clever
• Acting in DIS arbitration proceedings seated in Frankfurt arising out of an EC investigation into breach of anti-trust laws
• Financial Services Authority investigations into various issues arising in the insurance sector ranging from finite reinsurance to binding authorities, including individual authorisations and approvals
• Handling investigations and disciplinary investigations involving a wide range of bodies including the London Stock Exchange, Lloyd's of London and the Department of Trade & Industry
• Handling issues arising from the problems associated with Endowments misselling, ranging from the Financial Services Authority investigations to the Financial Ombudsman Service
• Defending the first ever Tier 2 Lloyd's of London Arbitration
• Acting for a major accounting firm in connection with Barings-related litigation and investigations
• Acting 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

Chris is recognised as a leading individual by Chambers 2008 in Banking Litigation and in Insurance: General Claims and by Legal 500 2008 in Banking Litigation - Investment Banking in Professional Negligence and in Financial Services.

Chris is a regular speaker at conferences throughout the UK and abroad. He writes regularly on a broad range of topics and is published widely.  Recent topics include: 

• Class actions
• Litigation funding
• Market abuse and insider trading
• Global regulation
• Claims arising from the "credit crunch"
• Regulation in the insurance industry

1988 - LLB, with honors, BA, University of Melbourne

Chris is qualified as a lawyer in England and Wales, and in Australia.