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Benjamin Britz

Benjamin Britz

Partner

101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Suite 900
Washington, D.C., 20001
benjamin.britz@nelsonmullins.com

Benjamin represents clients in government and internal investigations, domestic and international white-collar criminal matters, and high-stakes shareholder litigations.

Deeply experienced in high-profile corruption and financial fraud investigations, Benjamin regularly represents clients in enforcement inquiries, including before the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, Attorney General offices, and Multilateral Development Banks.  He also assists companies in...

Benjamin represents clients in government and internal investigations, domestic and international white-collar criminal matters, and high-stakes shareholder litigations.

Deeply experienced in high-profile corruption and financial fraud investigations, Benjamin regularly represents clients in enforcement inquiries, including before the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, Attorney General offices, and Multilateral Development Banks.  He also assists companies in preventing and identifying compliance issues by designing, administering and improving anti-corruption, integrity compliance, anti-money laundering and corporate governance programs.

A veteran litigator in the corporate governance arena, Benjamin has successfully defended numerous companies and their directors and officers in class and derivative actions as well as M&A-related litigations, and he advises boards of directors and senior executives on fiduciary duties and governance matters.

Benjamin’s practice also includes pro bono work, particularly on matters of press freedom. He was honored with the International Pro Bono Excellence award by the Vance Center for International Justice for work on behalf of Proética, the Peruvian chapter of Transparency International, in connection with a project on crimes against humanity.

Benjamin Britz

preventing and identifying compliance issues by designing, administering and improving anti-corruption, integrity compliance, anti-money laundering and corporate governance programs.

A veteran litigator in the corporate governance arena, Benjamin has successfully defended numerous companies and their directors and officers in class and derivative actions as well as M&A-related litigations, and he advises boards of directors and senior executives on fiduciary duties and governance matters.

Benjamin’s practice also includes pro bono work, particularly on matters of press freedom. He was honored with the International Pro Bono Excellence award by the Vance Center for International Justice for work on behalf of Proética, the Peruvian chapter of Transparency International, in connection with a project on crimes against humanity.

Benjamin represents clients in government and internal investigations, domestic and international white-collar criminal matters, and high-stakes shareholder litigations.

Deeply experienced in high-profile corruption and financial fraud investigations, Benjamin regularly represents clients in enforcement inquiries, including before the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, Attorney General offices, and Multilateral Development Banks.  He also assists companies in... preventing and identifying compliance issues by designing, administering and improving anti-corruption, integrity compliance, anti-money laundering and corporate governance programs.

A veteran litigator in the corporate governance arena, Benjamin has successfully defended numerous companies and their directors and officers in class and derivative actions as well as M&A-related litigations, and he advises boards of directors and senior executives on fiduciary duties and governance matters.

Benjamin’s practice also includes pro bono work, particularly on matters of press freedom. He was honored with the International Pro Bono Excellence award by the Vance Center for International Justice for work on behalf of Proética, the Peruvian chapter of Transparency International, in connection with a project on crimes against humanity.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Anti-Corruption and Corporate Compliance

  • Representation of a world-leading aerospace and defense company in connection with criminal investigations by multiple jurisdictions related to its historical use of third parties
  • Representation of a multinational “supermajor” oil and gas company in connection with a worldwide risk-assessment and compliance audit, in coordination with a compliance monitor
  • Conducted a multi-year global compliance review on behalf of the corporate compliance monitor appointed by the US Department of Justice, the SEC and the UK Serious Fraud Office for a multinational specialty chemical manufacturer
  • Conducted a global risk assessment for world-leading aerospace and defense company
  • Conducted worldwide compliance systems review regarding use of third-party sales intermediaries for a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company
  • Representation of a multinational financial services firm in conducting anti-corruption and anti-money laundering M&A due diligence
  • Representation of a large Asian global infrastructure contractor in connection with its establishment and implementation of an integrity compliance program
  • Representation of a CAC 40 French multinational oil field services company in connection with a worldwide review of activities and coordination with their compliance monitor
  • Representation of a NYSE-traded company in FCPA inquiry related to business in Nigeria West Africa, including in connection with SEC, DOJ and US Senate inquiries
  • Representation of a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company in conducting anti-corruption M&A due diligence

Securities Class/Derivative and General Litigation Matters

  • Successful representation of former media CEO in class action and derivative litigation stemming from merger activity
  • Successful representation of former media COO in high-profile dispute and resulting litigation regarding defensive measures to proposed merger.
  • Successful representation of former directors of major staffing industry company in shareholder class action and derivative litigations stemming from financial collapse of the company, including dismissal with prejudice of securities complaint as to all clients
  • Successful representation of publicly-traded fracking services company and certain of its directors in federal securities class action and derivative litigations in the Western District of Texas
  • Successful Representation of publicly-traded energy exploration company in common law securities fraud claim
  • Successful representation of a casino in federal and state proxy disclosure litigations
  • Successful representation of Trustee of major financial institution in various unwind litigations relating to the liquidation and bankruptcy of the entity
  • Successful representation of private equity firm in a shareholder lawsuit related to alleged breaches of fiduciary duty stemming from proposed acquisition
  • Successful representation of CAC 40 French multinational in a federal securities class action relating to NYSE-issued American depositary receipts, and ordinary securities stemming from alleged financial misstatements and omissions

White Collar and Regulatory Defense

  • Representation of numerous corporate directors and officers in various confidential investigations related to suspected financial misconduct, insider trading, #metoo allegations, and related corporate governance issues
  • Successful representation of a Russian political activist in dismissed litigation with related to a cyber-hack
  • Successful representation of energy exploration company in SEC enforcement action related to financial and internal controls matters
  • Successful representation of Indian IT giant in SEC enforcement action related to financial reporting, embezzlement, and auditor independence issues
  • Successful representation of world-leading commercial printing company in an internal investigation for its audit committee related to allegations of financial misconduct
  • Successful representation of an NYSE-traded company in an SEC insider trading investigation

World Bank Group and Other International Financial Institutions

  • Successful representation of French consulting companies and individuals in contested proceedings before the World Bank’s Sanctions Board; obtained acquittal on all charges by the Sanctions Board, reversing the decision of the Office of Suspension and Debarment and terminating suspension and proceedings
  • Successful representation of French consulting companies in World Bank “Show Cause” proceeding. Enforcement action was terminated
  • Successful representation of a Norwegian consulting engineering company in a contested proceeding before the World Bank Sanctions Board relating to alleged corrupt conduct in East Africa; secured immediate termination of suspension and proceedings
  • Successful representation of a major Chinese state-owned enterprise in a contested proceeding before the World Bank’s Sanctions Board relating to alleged fraudulent and corrupt conduct in West Africa; secured the immediate termination of suspension and proceedings
  • Successful representation of a major European manufacturing company in a World Bank sanctions matter; obtained release from debarment by meeting conditions of negotiated resolution agreement
  • Evaluated anti-corruption compliance and internal controls for a Europe-based inspection company as part of United Nations vendor reinstatement process
  • Ongoing representation of numerous European and Asian clients in connection with multilateral development bank (MDB) integrity compliance inquiries, audits and negotiated resolutions

Education

  • Columbia University School of Law, JD (2004)
    • Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
    • Columbia Journal of Transnational Law
  • University of Michigan, BA, with Distinction (2001)

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Michigan
  • New York

Clerkships

  • Law Clerk, The Honorable Chief Judge James G. Carr, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio

Practice Areas

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, sponsored by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (2015; 2018; 2019; 2023)
  • International Pro Bono Excellence, Vance Center for International Justice (2019)
  • Member, International Association of Independent Corporate Monitors
  • Member, International Bar Association
  • Member, American Bar Association