Press Release

Morgan Lewis Expands Global Investigations and Disputes Team with Two Partners in London

Thursday, June 1, 2017

LONDON, April 28, 2017: Morgan Lewis has announced that Chris Warren-Smith and Melanie Ryan are joining the firm as partners in London, strengthening the firm’s robust global team of white collar litigation and investigations lawyers. They will come to Morgan Lewis from the London office of another law firm, where Mr. Warren-Smith was global head of investigations. Mr. Warren-Smith will serve in a global leadership role in Morgan Lewis’s global white collar, corporate investigations, and sanctions practice. They join the firm June 1.*

The addition of Mr. Warren-Smith and Ms. Ryan deepens Morgan Lewis’s capabilities in advising multinational clients globally on government investigative and contentious matters, and follows recent partner and team additions to the practice in China, Dubai, Singapore, and the United States.

“Melanie and Chris are renowned in the global investigations space and will bring added recognition to our London office in the white collar arena,” said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “Like many of our partners in London, they share broad scope disputes experience and will expand our elite litigation team serving clients in the United Kingdom and throughout the world.”

Mr. Warren-Smith advises clients on corruption, fraud, financial crime, and other regulatory and compliance issues. He also represents clients in regulatory enforcement proceedings, corporate investigations, and commercial and international dispute resolution. With a focus on banking, financial services, and professional indemnity, he advises major financial and professional organizations and insurers in civil and regulatory proceedings. His investigations experience covers regulators in the United Kingdom, the United States, and many other jurisdictions.

Ms. Ryan has represented corporations, financial institutions, professionals, and other clients in corruption and securities investigations. She has significant experience in corporate and regulatory investigations and related enforcement proceedings, and advises clients across a range of sectors with a focus on banking, energy, and financial services. Many of her representations involved high-profile litigation and commercial disputes in Europe, the United States, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

“Chris and Melanie enjoy a stellar reputation among white collar and government investigations practitioners, clients, and regulators alike,” said Morgan Lewis partner J. Gordon Cooney, Jr., who leads the firm’s litigation practice. “With their exceptional knowledge of banking and financial services, they will be an outstanding addition to our team in London and around the globe.”

The White Collar Litigation & Government Investigations team at Morgan Lewis represents clients in a range of federal and state investigations, civil litigation, criminal trials, enforcement actions, regulatory inquiries, and internal investigations. The firm’s clients in this area include Fortune 100 companies, pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, technology companies, financial institutions, energy companies, retailers, defense contractors, insurers, public officials, executives, and others.

*This press release has been updated with Ms. Ryan and Mr. Warren-Smith’s arrival date.