Financial Conduct Authority Counsel to Join McGuireWoods in London

LONDON, Sept. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- McGuireWoods London LLP today announced that David Kirk, chief criminal counsel at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), will join the firm's Government, Regulatory and Criminal Investigations (GRCI) practice as a partner in London on January 2, 2014. Kirk will advise clients on matters of regulation, compliance and criminal investigation across the financial spectrum.

"I have had the pleasure of working with David in the past and I have enormous respect for him both professionally and personally," said partner Vivian Robinson QC, former general counsel at the Serious Fraud Office who joined McGuireWoods' London office in 2011. "His experience will enhance McGuireWoods' position to advise clients on financial regulation and compliance matters in the UK."

"With the expansion in investigation of conduct by a wide spectrum of businesses internationally, it is important for law firms to provide the best possible advice with regard to future conduct, as well as assisting clients in dealing with any past or current problems in this area," added Kirk. "I look forward to working with McGuireWoods to assist the firm's clients in this effort."

After joining the FCA in 2009, Kirk managed all aspects of criminal investigations and prosecutions conducted by the prosecutions team. He served as a liaison with foreign law enforcement authorities in Europe and the U.S., and represented the FCA as a member of the Economic Crime Coordination Board. His tenure at the FCA will end in November.

Prior to joining the FCA, Kirk served as director of the Fraud Prosecution Service from 2006 to 2009 after working nearly 20 years in private practice as a partner at Stephenson Harwood and then Simons Muirhead & Burton.

Ranked among the top 30 "Largest White Collar Practice Groups" in the world in 2012 by Law360, the firm's GRCI practice has represented clients in more than 60 countries in recent years. The team regularly conducts audits, investigations and training to resolve internal issues, defend external investigations, and establish and strengthen compliance programs. It provides counsel across major substantive areas, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the UK Bribery Act 2010, environmental enforcement, immigration enforcement, SEC and corporate compliance, internal investigations, False Claims Act, qui tam, energy enforcement, and congressional ethics and other inquiries.

McGuireWoods LLP is a full-service law firm with more than 900 lawyers in 19 offices worldwide. The firm's London office is located at 11 Pilgrim Street. For more information, visit www.mcguirewoods.com.

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