Christian T. Becker’s practice focuses on white collar criminal defense, internal investigations, and complex commercial litigation. He has represented a wide variety of clients in both federal and state courts in New York and around the country. He has represented individuals and companies in civil and regulatory actions concerning white collar criminal behavior. He also has represented investment funds, international banks, and a U.S. government agency in litigation arising out of complex financial products including collateralized debt obligations, credit default swaps, interest rates swaps, and residential mortgage backed securities. Christian has been recognized on the Benchmark Litigation Under 40 Hot List.
Work Highlights
- Trial counsel for MF Global Holdings, a former global financial derivatives broker, in a $3 billion lawsuit against its outside auditor, PwC, which settled during trial.
- The CFO of a company facing criminal investigation for public corruption and racketeering.
- A major private equity firm in a regulatory inquiry related to a former employee and purported Dodd Frank whistleblower.
- A pro bono client terminated from a top Wall Street bank after 30 years of service because of a poorly-worded federal regulation and faulty court records related to a 40 year-old criminal charge; in a matter of weeks, we located the correct court records in the New York City Municipal Archives, satisfied the FDIC, and got our client back to work at the bank.
- Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”), as conservator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the “GSEs”), in several actions against some of the world’s largest financial institutions for rescission or damages arising from defendants’ misrepresentations concerning pools of mortgage loans underlying residential mortgage-backed securities sold to the GSEs.
- The Parker Meridien Hotels in New York and California in an internal investigation and subsequent defense of a civil action in federal court brought by the brand owner concerning claims for fraud and breach of license agreement.
- Le- Nature’s Liquidation Trust, formed from the bankruptcy of a nationwide beverage manufacturer, resulting in the prosecution of a multi-district litigation against insiders, auditors, financial advisors, and other third parties.
- National Australia Bank in seeking to enforce a $60 million judgment for breach of an interest rate swap agreement.
- Chicago Fundamental Investment Partners, a billion dollar investment fund, in recovering funds misappropriated from a trust holding its cash collateral in a $45 million regulatory capital relief transaction effectuated through a credit linked note structure formed around a portfolio credit default swap; case settled favorably on the eve of trial after defeating the Citigroup defendants’ summary judgment motion and winning dismissal of all counterclaims.
- The special committees of publicly-traded companies, including video-game maker Take-Two Interactive Software and semiconductor manufacturer Emcore Corporation, in connection with internal investigations into potential stock option backdating.
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