WilmerHale

Asia ; Crisis Management and Strategic Response ; Class Actions ; Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force ; Cross-Border Investigations and Compliance ; Federal Inspector General Investigations ; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Anti-Corruption ; International Litigation ; Investigations ; Litigation ; Professional Services ; Securities Enforcement ; Securities Litigation ; Trials ; White Collar Defense and Investigations

Partner

Vice Chair, Securities & Financial Services Department

Christopher Davies has more than 20 years' experience representing clients around the world in challenging circumstances. He has experience in complex civil, criminal and administrative matters, often involving crisis management.

In just the past year, Mr. Davies has represented, among others: a global energy trading company in parallel DOJ and CFTC investigations concerning alleged corruption and market manipulation; Indian auditors in US regulatory inquiries; a UAE entity in investigations and litigation arising from the failure of the largest private equity firm in the Middle East; media entities sued in Florida for supposed violations of Helms-Burton; a Greek auditor in investigations and litigation concerning a fraud perpetrated by a Greek marine fuel company; an Israeli entity sued in a US class action; a US mass mailing co-op in a DOJ consumer fraud investigation; a London-based multinational in a US anticorruption investigation; and PRC-based auditors in SEC investigations.

Mr. Davies has extensive international experience and has represented non-US-based entities based in Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, and South America in both US and non-US proceedings.

Government Investigations

Mr. Davies has represented clients before federal and state regulatory and law enforcement agencies, including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, multiple US Attorneys' Offices and Main Justice. Investigations have concerned allegations of: securities, accounting, tax and other frauds; insider trading; corrupt payments; financial reporting and disclosure improprieties; noncompliance with professional and regulatory standards; environmental crimes; pretexting; anti–money laundering violations; and discriminatory conduct.

Internal Investigations

Mr. Davies has led and participated in internal investigations concerning: improper document destruction; misrepresentations; obstruction of government inquiries; potential corrupt payments; misappropriation of assets; misvaluation of securities and investments; discriminatory conduct and harassment; financial and tax fraud; non-compliance with legal and regulatory obligations; and insider trading.

Litigation

Mr. Davies has litigated cases in federal and state trial and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court. He has also advised clients on civil, administrative and criminal litigation in non-US jurisdictions. Matters have included: securities fraud, derivative actions, breaches of contract, unfair competition and other business torts; False Claims Act violations; discriminatory conduct; violations of professional standards; and breaches of duty.

Counseling

Mr. Davies counsels clients on: cross-border discovery, privilege matters, compliance and other risk management policies and practices, audit and accounting matters, document retention protocols and practices, and regulatory and risk management questions.

Pro Bono

Mr. Davies has served as outside general counsel to a Washington DC–area private school for more than 15 years; represents indigent defendants in state criminal appeals; has recovered assets stolen from a nonprofit mental healthcare provider through litigation in DC courts; has represented a nonprofit healthcare entity in private litigation and in a suit against the DC government; has sued Richmond for pervasive noncompliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act in its schools; has served as Complaint Examiner for DC Police Complaints Board; and has advised the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and filed briefs on its behalf concerning right to counsel and due process, expert testimony in financial fraud cases, attorney-client privilege and structuring.

Mr. Davies is a vice chair of the firm's Securities Department.

Professional Activities

Mr. Davies has been a panelist and speaker at events concerning auditor liability, financial statement fraud, government enforcement priorities, internal investigations, privilege and the SEC's policy on corporate penalties. He also serves on the Stanford Law School Board of Visitors and is a member of the National Chamber Litigation Center's Securities Litigation Advisory Committee, which advises the organization on when to become involved as an amicus in securities litigation

District of Columbia New York

JD, Stanford Law School, 1996 BA, Wesleyan University, 1993 Beijing Normal University