Overview

Eric Lewis practices in the areas of international litigation and arbitration, serious fraud, banking, international insolvency and complex securities litigation.  He has had a central role in disputes arising out of virtually all of the major international fraud and financial collapses of the last quarter century, including serving as counsel to the liquidators of Bank of Credit and Commerce International, Laker Airways, Carlyle Capital, Madoff International, China Medical, Akai Electronics, and Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi Brothers. He has served as lead counsel in numerous cases involving collateralized debt obligations and other complex asset backed securities.  He has advised sovereign governments with respect to recovery of the proceeds of corruption as well as defense of ICSID proceedings and attachment of sovereign assets.  He has also represented clients in major class action litigation, including Enron, WorldCom, TFT-LCD Flat Panel Litigation and Visa/MasterCard Payment Card Interchange Fee Litigation.  He advises and litigates on behalf of international banks and their owners facing regulatory and sanctions challenges, banking resolution entities in Europe, as well as hedge funds and large family-owned conglomerates.  He has advised major international clients in the automobile, energy, aviation, hospitality and beverage industries.  He has served as an expert on international extradition and enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards.  He has represented financial institutions and international charities in major public international law disputes.

Professional Affiliations

  • Elected Member, Council on Foreign Relations
  • Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center
  • Associate Tenant, Goldsmith Chambers, London
  • Honorary Overseas Member of the Commercial Bar Association of England and Wales
  • Elected Member of the American Law Institute
  • Chairman, Reprieve US
  • Observer with Special Consultative Status, 61st Meeting of United Nations High Commission on Human Rights, Geneva
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Representative Matters

  • Represented the Liquidators of BCCI in what was the largest bank collapse, largest multinational fraud and largest restitution in history.
  • Represented Australian hedge fund in a series of cases against major NY investment banks in fraud claims relating to Collateralized Debt Obligations.
  • Represented owner of Argentine airports in ICC arbitration regarding purchase of duty free stores.
  • Expert on behalf of senior FIFA official, head of international transparency group charged with releasing government documents, CEO of major private equity fund, accused member of international narcotics trafficking ring, accused importer of misbranded pharmaceuticals and alleged sanctions violators in international extradition proceedings.
  • Represented large Saudi merchant family in litigation against banks and others in $10 billion fraud.
  • Represents two global charities in 9/11 litigation.
  • Represents Middle Eastern regulator in enforcement of judgment against regulated financial institution suspected of currency manipulation.
  • Advise financial institutions, industrial companies and professionals regarding sanctions exposures.
  • Represented majority shareholders of European Bank in litigation against U.S. Government for wrongful closure under USA Patriot Act.
  • Represents largest financial institution in Yemen in U.S. sanctions proceedings.
  • Represented dissident shareholder in dispute over management of international bank.
  • Represented two Kuwaiti detainees in Periodic Review Board hearings at Guantánamo and obtained their clearance for release and repatriation.
  • Represented Chinese company in liquidation in dispute regarding internal investigation undertaken prior to collapse.
  • Represented former British detainees in civil claims for torture and religious abuse at Guantanamo.
  • Represented Egyptian conglomerate in construction arbitration against U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  • Advised various governments with respect to ICSID liability.

Publications & Events

In the News

Education

  • Yale Law School (J.D. 1983), Article and Book Review Editor of the Yale Law Journal
  • Cambridge University (M. Phil., Fulbright Scholar, 1980)
  • Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs (A.B. 1979)

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • New York
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second, Fourth, Ninth, Eleventh and D.C. Circuits
  • U.S. District Courts for the District of Columbia, the Southern District of New York, and the Eastern District of New York