Barry Vitou
Partner
Barry Vitou leads HFW's Global Investigations and Enforcement practice. Barry's 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 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 has taken him all over the world. Barry’s matters frequently involve non UK law enforcement agencies.
More about Barry
Barry Vitou leads HFW's Global Investigations and Enforcement practice. Barry's 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 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 has taken him all over the world. Barry’s matters frequently involve non UK law enforcement agencies.
Barry 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.
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 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 UK engineering PLC internally investigating allegations of ESG violations made by a whistleblower.
See our Global Investigations and Enforcement page here
London
Friary Court
65 Crutched Friars
London EC3N 2AE
United Kingdom
Office Telephone: +44 (0)20 7264 8000
Office Fax: +44 (0)20 7264 8888
Direct Dial (London): +44 (0) 207 264 8050
