Barry Vitou
About Barry
Barry Vitou leads HFW’s Global Investigations and White Collar practice. Barry is one of the best known and respected lawyers in this field in London, his practice focusses on the representation of corporations and individuals in white collar criminal investigations and other internal investigations into suspected misconduct all over the world. Barry also advises clients on remediation of problems and compliance. His work is often cross border and Barry’s matters frequently involve non-UK law enforcement agencies.
Barry is experienced in successfully dealing with adverse media interest and defamation matters which are often linked to his Investigations and White Collar practice.
Barry represents and has successfully represented clients in many of the largest white collar matters and has a formidable track record in obtaining the closure and resolution of criminal investigations without charge. Barry also represents and has represented clients in other workplace investigations.
He is one of just eight experts in The Legal 500’s ‘Hall of Fame’ for regulatory investigations and corporate crime and is regularly requested to comment in the media.
The Legal 500 2021 testimonials include ‘Barry Vitou is a pleasure to work with. He is sharp as a tack and very good strategic thinker. He is also a great person and has wonderful manner with clients’. ‘I would single out Barry Vitou. Barry is a big name in corporate crime litigation who has a flair for representing big corporates and their executives in major cases of the day. He fights for the win, is sophisticated, and you want him on your side in challenging cross border cases’.
Barry is recommended and recognised as a ‘global leader’ by Who’s Who Legal for investigations, business crime defence – corporates, and business crime defence – individuals.
Barry is also recognised and profiled by Financier Worldwide Magazine in its “Power Players: Investigations & White-Collar Crime 2024 – Distinguished Advisers” feature.
Barry’s Investigations and White Collar work is often high profile and the subject of media interest. He has successfully represented clients the subject of intrusive adverse media interest pre-publication so that if a story is written it is not defamatory. If a defamatory article has been published Barry has a successful track record of the removal of the defamatory article by the relevant publisher and helping clients in repairing any collateral damage done. Barry has also successfully defended defamation proceedings.
Barry is qualified in England and Wales.
Experience list
Barry’s notable work includes:
- Represented a large US international engineering and construction company under investigation by DOJ, SEC and SFO for FCPA and Bribery Act violations in the Unaoil investigation. The multi year investigations were closed without charge.
- Obtained landmark Supreme Court victory in favour of his corporate client against SFO challenging the SFO’s claimed extraterritorial powers to compel information using Section 2 Notice compulsion powers.
- Represented corporate broker in LIBOR benchmark manipulation criminal investigation and C suite executive at major Swiss Bank in connection with FOREX benchmark manipulation criminal investigation. No criminal action taken.
- Represented construction company subject to SFO investigation into bribery in UAE and the first corporate prosecution for failure to prevent bribery under Section 7 of the Bribery Act.
- Represented client in first civil recovery order under Part 5 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 sought by the SFO in relation to dividends received flowing from corrupt contracts involving a construction company.
- Represented mining company subject to SFO preliminary investigation using their Section 2 A Powers into bribery in Africa. The investigation was closed without charge.
- Represented various clients the subject of adverse media interest from UK and other well known media publications prepublication and after publication resulting in non defamatory stories. Where a defamatory story has been published he has successfully obtained the removal of the offending publications.
- Successfully defended client sued for defamation following appearance on national broadcaster. Proceedings were withdrawn by the Claimant following challenges on fact and law.
See our Global Investigations and Enforcement page here