Chris Webber

Chris Webber specializes in resolving financial services disputes and regulatory investigations. He represents clients including banks, broker dealers, corporate trustees, bondholders, issuers, mortgage servicers, borrowers, insolvency office-holders, regulatory bodies, investment funds, and individuals. He also acts for corporate clients in contractual, investment, and shareholder disputes.

Firm/Organization: Squire Patton Boggs

Blogs: Brexit Legal, UK Finance Disputes and Regulatory Investigations Blog

Latest Articles

UK Finance Disputes and Regulatory Investigations Blog

English Court of Appeal judgment recognises the importance of industry standard ISDA Master Agreement terms when challenged by a competing jurisdiction clause in a financing agreement

By Jeremy Ladyman, Thomas Bowie & Chris Webber on September 12, 2019

The Court of Appeal has confirmed that a jurisdiction clause that elects the English courts in an ISDA Master Agreement prevails when the underlying swap transaction forms part of a wider financing arrangement that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Turin courts: BNP Paribas SA v Trattamento Rifiuti Metropolitani SPA [2019] EWCA Civ 768.…

UK Finance Disputes and Regulatory Investigations Blog

Doubling down? FCA contemplates more criminal AML investigations

By Chris Webber & Katherine Wakeham on May 8, 2019

When FCA Director of Enforcement and Market Oversight Mark Steward spoke in London last month, his comments could hardly have been more timely. Hot on the heels of his remarks on dual-track (civil and criminal) AML investigations came a significant fine arising out of a firm’s AML systems and controls. It also came as the countdown to entry into force of the fifth AML directive continues; and his observations on escalation protocols highlight the continuing…

UK Finance Disputes and Regulatory Investigations Blog

FCA hands out second large fine in as many weeks for transaction reporting failures

By Jeremy Ladyman, Chris Webber & Thomas Bowie on April 10, 2019

The Financial Conduct Authority has imposed a fine of £34,344,700 on Goldman Sachs International (“GSI”) for breaches of transaction reporting obligations. The fine comes just over a week after the FCA imposed a £27,599,400 fine against UBS (which we considered in an earlier blog post). Both fines result from breaches of obligations imposed by MiFID (the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (2004/39/EC), as well as a breach of Principle 3 of the FCA’s Principles…

UK Finance Disputes and Regulatory Investigations Blog

FCA puts the spotlight on debt management firms in second thematic review

By Chris Webber & Alice Moserova on March 29, 2019

In 2014 the FCA took over responsibility for regulation of consumer credit. In 2015 it conducted its first thematic review of the debt management sector, looking at commercial and not-for-profit firms that provide debt advice and administer debt management plans. The FCA’s goal was to improve outcomes for customers in what is perceived to be a high risk sector in terms of potential customer detriment. In its 2015 review, the FCA identified significant concerns with…

UK Finance Disputes and Regulatory Investigations Blog

UBS fined £27.6m for transaction reporting failures

By Chris Webber & Thomas Bowie on March 27, 2019

The Financial Conduct Authority has imposed a fine of £27,599,400 on UBS AG for breaches of transaction reporting obligations imposed by MiFID (the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (2004/39/EC), as well as a breach of Principle 3 of the FCA’s Principles of Business, which requires regulated firms to take reasonable care to organize and control their affairs responsibly and effectively, with adequate risk management systems.…

UK Finance Disputes and Regulatory Investigations Blog

HM Treasury advisory notice on money laundering and terrorist financing controls in high-risk jurisdictions

By Chris Webber & Dinuka Kottegoda on March 26, 2019

Overview HM Treasury published an updated advisory notice on money laundering and terrorist financing controls on 26 February 2019, identifying risk ratings and measures to be adopted by the UK regulated sector when dealing with high-risk countries. The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 require the UK regulated sector to apply enhanced customer due diligence measures and enhanced ongoing monitoring to any business relationship or transaction with…

UK Finance Disputes and Regulatory Investigations Blog

Basel Committee Statement on Crypto-Assets

By Chris Webber & Katherine Wakeham on March 25, 2019

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has released a statement setting out its position on crypto-assets, becoming the latest in a line of supervisory and regulatory bodies to consider these assets. …

UK Finance Disputes and Regulatory Investigations Blog

FCA Releases Final Brexit Guidance to Financial Sector

By Chris Webber & Thomas Noble on March 5, 2019

Overview The Financial Conduct Authority published a policy statement on 28 February 2019 setting out near-final rules and guidance that will apply to financial services firms in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Most notable is the introduction of a 15-month ‘grace period’ for firms to comply with rule changes in the event of a no-deal Brexit on 29 March 2019. The FCA has been in the process of converting EU rules into domestic rules…

UK Finance Disputes and Regulatory Investigations Blog

New Disclosure Pilot Scheme – Now In Force

By Chris Webber & Katherine Wakeham on January 8, 2019

Think of a fairly common situation; you receive an email from a third party with three colleagues in copy, you forward this email to your colleagues with comments, one responds and you then reply to the third party. Later, a dispute between your company and the third party arises. When you consider that this short exchange alone created more than 15 documents between you and your colleagues it begins to explain how the disclosure exercise…

UK Finance Disputes and Regulatory Investigations Blog

FCA – “Unacceptable” Low Levels of Suitable Pension Transfer Advice

By Chris Webber & Katherine Wakeham on December 13, 2018

The FCA’s latest update on its review of pension transfer advice does not make for happy reading. The stats As part of its ongoing review of the pensions transfer industry, the FCA reviewed advice on 154 transfers made by 18 firms (out of a total of 48,248 potential transfers advised on by these firms in the period under review). Just over 50% of the total transfers advised on resulted in actual pension transfers, though the…

Chris Webber

English Court of Appeal judgment recognises the importance of industry standard ISDA Master Agreement terms when challenged by a competing jurisdiction clause in a financing agreement

Doubling down? FCA contemplates more criminal AML investigations

FCA hands out second large fine in as many weeks for transaction reporting failures

FCA puts the spotlight on debt management firms in second thematic review

UBS fined £27.6m for transaction reporting failures

HM Treasury advisory notice on money laundering and terrorist financing controls in high-risk jurisdictions

Basel Committee Statement on Crypto-Assets

FCA Releases Final Brexit Guidance to Financial Sector

New Disclosure Pilot Scheme – Now In Force

FCA – “Unacceptable” Low Levels of Suitable Pension Transfer Advice

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