Client profile: David Fein, Standard Chartered Bank

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Client profile: David Fein, Standard Chartered Bank

The former law firm partner turned banking giant GC on his globally-demanding role

As a former senior staffer in the Clinton administration, David Fein has a tendency to chart his career and life against the backdrop of US politics. While working as a state district attorney, it was early in Barack Obama’s second presidential term that Fein found himself getting wistful for a new challenge, one that would see him become general counsel (GC) of the FTSE 100 banking group Standard Chartered in his first move in-house. ‘I was ready for a new challenge. I wanted something new and so I thought something I hadn’t done was be a general counsel.’

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‘Should be the end of the proposal’: Queen’s Speech reprieve for SFO as abolition move recedes

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‘Should be the end of the proposal’: Queen’s Speech reprieve for SFO as abolition move recedes

Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative manifesto pledge to incorporate the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) into the National Crime Agency (NCA) was absent from the Queen’s Speech yesterday (21 June 2017), with lawyers welcoming the prospect it could be shelved.

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End of the carrot and stick? Litigators react to legal privilege implications in SFO case

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End of the carrot and stick? Litigators react to legal privilege implications in SFO case

Last month the High Court ruled that documents prepared by mining giant Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) relating to a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation were not protected by legal professional privilege.

The SFO began investigating ENRC in 2013 over allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption. As part of its investigation, the agency requested relevant documents from ENRC. ENRC refused on the basis that the documents were privileged. But Mrs Justice Andrews ruled that the SFO was warranted in its request to see the documents, stating that there is a ‘recognised public interest in the SFO being able to go about its business’.

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‘A reaction’: Deutsche Bank to establish new EMEA anti-fraud, bribery and corruption team

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‘A reaction’: Deutsche Bank to establish new EMEA anti-fraud, bribery and corruption team

After being hit by a number of recent financial crime and anti-money laundering scandals, Deutsche Bank moved to establish a new anti-fraud, bribery and corruption team for the EMEA region last month.

The bank is looking to fill 400 positions this year globally in anti-financial crime and is recruiting for a new team in Europe to be led by regional head of anti-financial crime, Thomas Altenbach. The team will sit outside of the legal function, with four new recruits: one hire at director level and three other individuals with experience in anti-fraud, bribery and corruption matters. Deutsche Bank anti-fraud teams have historically comprised both legal and compliance professionals.

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HSBC deputy GC moves to ex-Barclays chief Jenkins’ start-up in latest GC switch to fintech

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HSBC deputy GC moves to ex-Barclays chief Jenkins’ start-up in latest GC switch to fintech

HSBC’s head of legal for worldwide operations and deputy general counsel (GC), Richard Given, has left the bank to join fintech startup 10x Banking as GC and company secretary. He is replaced internally by associate general counsel Stephen Cooke. Continue reading “HSBC deputy GC moves to ex-Barclays chief Jenkins’ start-up in latest GC switch to fintech”