Speaker details

Biography

Karolos Seeger is a partner in the firm’s White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group and International Dispute Resolution Group, based in the London office. His practice focuses on white collar crime and internal investigations, in particular regarding compliance with corrupt practices legislation, conducting compliance assessments and creating and implementing appropriate compliance programmes and procedures. Mr. Seeger also focuses on complex litigation and international arbitration matters. Mr. Seeger has deep experience in the field of internal investigations, compliance advice and white collar crime, as well as in a variety of English High Court and international arbitration matters in a wide range of sectors. He is ranked as a leading individual by The Legal 500 UK (2017) for Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime, with sources describing him as “outstanding” and noting his “sound personal judgement along with high-calibre legal advice”. Chambers UK (2018) ranks him as a leading lawyer for Financial Crime: Corporates. Sources have said that he offers “experience that is tough to match, having led some of the largest and most complex bribery investigations in Europe and the UK.” He also wins praise for “a brain which has seemingly limitless capacity,” as well as his “intelligent, thoughtful and practical advice, and pleasant demeanour.” Previous editions of the guide have described him as “an incredibly reliable and informative expert, who has a very calm manner and presents extremely effectively in high-risk, high-stakes matters.” The directory has also stated that he “receives glowing praise for his dexterous handling of multi-jurisdictional issues.” Sources “observe that he is ‘absolutely on top of his subject’ and ‘hugely industrious,’ and ‘takes a very pragmatic approach’ to complex matters.” Chambers Europe (2015) also lists him as a notable practitioner for Corporate Investigations. Mr. Seeger has represented corporate and individual clients in international criminal and regulatory investigations in a variety of areas, from allegations of market abuse to allegations of global-wide corruption. This includes representing clients before several investigating and prosecuting agencies and regulators, including the Serious Fraud Office (“SFO”) and the UK Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), as well as equivalent foreign agencies (including in the U.S., Germany, Greece and Brazil). Most recently, he represented a European national in connection with a mutual legal assistance request by the SFO to a European authority in connection with an investigation into allegations of corrupt payments via business consultants, a leading global energy group in connection with an SFO investigation into payments made in Africa, including as to quantification and potential exposure under UK accounting legislation, as well as a former CFO of a FTSE 100 company in connection with a fraud investigation by the SFO. Mr. Seeger also advised clients on Bribery Act and UK money laundering issues arising in connection with M&A transactions, as well as reviewed and devised compliance manuals, programmes and policies to comply with the requirements of the Bribery Act. Mr. Seeger’s wide-ranging dispute resolution experience also includes arbitrations under the LCIA, UNCITRAL and the City Disputes Panel Rules, a jurisdictional challenge in the High Court to a derivative shareholder action and proceedings relating to an alleged monopoly contravention. Additional cases on which he has advised include the co-ordination of a defence strategy for a major online gambling provider across various European jurisdictions for alleged breaches of local licensing legislation, including a complaint to the European Commission. Mr. Seeger has published numerous articles and frequently presents and lectures on corporate crime enforcement. Recent publications include “English High Court Considers Status of Internal Investigation Interview Notes,” Compliance & Enforcement (April, 2018), “First French DPAs for Corruption Offences,” Compliance & Enforcement (March, 2018), “The Use of Foreign Compelled Testimony in Cross-Border Investigations – The Impact of the Second Circuit’s Allen Decision,” The International Comparative Legal Guide to Business Crime, 2018 (8th edition) (September, 2017), “UK Criminal Finances Act 2017,” New York University School of Law Compliance & Enforcement Blog (May, 2017), “Extending SMCR To All UK Financial Services Firms,” Law360 (February, 2017), “Debevoise Looks At UK’s Initial Move To Expand Corporate Criminal Liability,” The CLS Blue Sky Blog (February, 2017), “Important English Bribery and Corruption Cases,” Financial Fraud Law Report (January, 2014), “Advice of Counsel Defense,” The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Business Crime, published by Global Legal Group (October, 2015), “U.K. Financial Conduct Authority Imposes Fine on Besso Limited,” Financial Fraud Law Report (May, 2014), “Deferred Prosecution Agreements Enter Into Force In The UK,” Financial Fraud Law Report (April, 2014), “Sentencing Guidelines For Corporates: Giving Teeth To The DPA?,” Practical Law Company Magazine (February, 2014), “U.K. Sentencing Guidelines For Organizations: Implications For Violators Of The U.K. Anti-Bribery Regime,” FCPA Professor (February, 2014), “Introducers And Associated Corruption Risks In Commercial Broking,” Thomson Reuters Accelus (February, 2014), “Definitive UK Sentencing Guideline for Corporate Offences Published,” Main Justice (February, 2014), “Post-Election Zimbabwe and the Current State of Sanctions,” Law360 (September, 2013), “Elections and Sanctions,” Mining Journal (August, 2013), “DPAs Explained,” Commercial Dispute Resolution Magazine (June, 2013), “Bribery Law Rethink is a Distraction,” The Lawyer (June, 2013), “The FCPA in Review: Release of the Government’s Guidance Caps a Year of Disparate Developments,” Parts I and II, Financial Fraud Law Report (April and May, 2013), “U.K. Serious Fraud Office Issues New Bribery Act Policies,” Financial Fraud Law Report (February, 2013), “Inside the UK’s Latest Bribery-Related Settlement,” Law360 (November, 2012). Mr. Seeger’s recent speaking engagements include “Broken Windows and New Frontiers: the Increasingly Long Arm of Anti-Corruption Law,” 21st Annual IBA Transnational Crime Conference (May, 2018), “Grow a Backbone: The Distinction Between the American and British Approaches to Cross Border Investigations,” GIR Live London (April, 2018), “Anti-Bribery and Corruption,” ABAC Training (April, 2018), “A Look Inside Recent FCPA & UKBA Key Enforcement Cases and Practical Lessons for Your Global Anti-Corruption Programme,” Advanced Conference on Anti-Corruption – The Nordic Edition (November 2017), “Justice for Sale? DPAs, NPAs and Other Negotiated Settlements,” IBA Annual Conference ( October, 2017), “Negotiating and Coordinating Multi-Jurisdictional Settlements: How to Achieve A Global Agreement with Many Enforcement Agencies,” C5 Anti-Corruption London Conference (June, 2017), “Question Time Panel,” GIR Live London (April, 2017), “How Approaches to Compliance with the UK Bribery Act Have Evolved within Leading Multinational Companies Two Years On,” C5 European Forum on Anti-Corruption (January, 2013), “Ensuring UK Bribery Act Compliance Post-Guidance,” C5 European Forum on Anti-Corruption (January, 2013), and “Adequate Procedures for Private Equity Firms and their Portfolio Companies,” C5 Communications Ltd (June, 2013). Mr. Seeger is a Solicitor-Advocate (Higher Rights of Audience). He received his M.A. (First Class) in Jurisprudence (Law with Law Studies in Europe) from the University of Oxford in 1996 and his Diplome d’Etudes Complémentaires du 2eme cycle en Droit Européen (Grande Distinction) from the Institut d’Etudes Européennes, Université Libre de Bruxelles in 1997. He is admitted to practise in England and Wales (2000) and is an accredited Mediator with ADR Chambers. He is fluent in German and Greek and speaks French.