Robert Weekes is a highly experienced partner in the Global Litigation Practice and is a key member of the Financial Services Practice; he also serves as the managing partner of the firm's London office. Clients retain Robert to provide advice on a wide range of financial litigation, investigations, and international dispute matters. He has particular experience in Financial Services and often acts for banks, ABL’s, Funds, and Insurers together with other financial institutions, multinational and U.K.-based entities, and individuals. He is instructed on a wide range of complex commercial disputes, including fraud investigations and asset tracing and recovery. He frequently handles banking and investment disputes, fraud and asset recovery litigation, guarantee and indemnity claims, and advises insurance companies on complex disputed claims.
Robert has considerable experience in advising overseas companies facing contentious/litigation issues in the U.K. courts providing guidance on the rules of disclosure and evidence in the U.K. He works with leading specialists ranging from the best Queen’s Counsel to the experts that are required to undertake forensic digital investigations.
Robert has recently completed a ten-day High Court trial for a large U.S. corporate company involved in a commercial dispute in London. The case went to the heart of the company's viability and was simply a “must win” case for the client.
Robert has also been advising an offshore company in relation to a highly complex dispute with a sovereign state requiring a complex asset tracing exercise that has led to a significant recovery for the client..
As a frequent lecturer, Robert talks on issues such as fraud prevention, asset recovery, litigation strategy, and dealings with regulators. He has appeared on ITV News at Ten commenting on commercial fraud.
Robert has been recommended in The Legal 500 UK and recognized for the following practice areas – crime, fraud and licensing: fraud – civil (2017), dispute resolution: banking litigation – investment and retail (2015, 2017), dispute resolution: commercial litigation (2017), and finance: asset based lending (2015).
Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, Robert was for 10 years the managing partner of the London office of an international firm.
Representative Matters
- Advising a U.S. corporate in relation to a commercial dispute that was critical to its business in Europe.
- Advising a Middle Eastern business on an £800 million bond dispute in London and the Middle East.
- Acting for a U.K. corporate selling a portfolio of businesses across Europe devising a litigation strategy to support the enforced completion of the sale.
- Acting for a global corporate in a procurement dispute against the Ministry of Defence.
- Acting for a major bank against directors of a commodity trading business that perpetrated a significant trading fraud.
- Advising a bank on its response to a £15 million fraud including obtaining wide-ranging injunctive orders. Reaching a commercial settlement.
- Acting for a credit insurer in dealing with a £15 million claim under the policy arising from a more than £100 million commercial fraud.
- Advising a financier on a fictitious invoicing fraud; tracing monies overseas and obtaining a worldwide freezing order and making a full recovery.
- Advising an Irish bank in relation to a £20 million fraud claim against the directors of a customer to whom the financier provided a stock and invoice finance facility.
- Advising an investor who had financed a magazine business in relation to the fraudulent activities of directors.
- Advising overseas investors in relation to a dispute with an investment bank involving a Russian share scheme.
Affiliations
Admitted to practice: England and Wales
Publications
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"U.K. Supreme Court Delivers Landmark Judgment on Apparent Bias of Arbitrators,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(December 10, 2020).
Contacts: Robert Weekes, Laurence Winston, Nicola Phillips, Gordon McAllister, David Russell, CFA
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"The New LCIA Arbitration Rules - Progress Despite 2020!,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(December 4, 2020).
Contacts: Robert Weekes, Laurence Winston, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, Edmund Northcott
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"U.K. Supreme Court Clarifies How to Determine the Governing Law of Arbitration Agreements,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(October 30, 2020).
Contacts: Nicola Phillips, Robert Weekes, Laurence Winston, David Russell, CFA
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"English Contractual and Common Law Remedies for COVID-19 Business Interruption,"
Corporate Alert
(April 22, 2020).
Contacts: Robert Weekes, Laurence Winston
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"An Update on U.K. Data Breach Damages,"
Privacy Law Alert
(April 17, 2020).
Contacts: Nicola Phillips, Robert Weekes, Laurence Winston
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"Will Lenders be able to use COVID-19 to Invoke Material Adverse Change Clauses?,"
Corporate Alert
(April 17, 2020).
Contacts: Andrew J. Knight, Nicola Phillips, Robert Weekes, Laurence Winston, David Russell, CFA
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"The United Kingdom’s COVID-19 Measures to Assist Business,"
Corporate Alert
(April 15, 2020).
Contacts: Robert Weekes, Amanda Kwagala
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"Profiteering in the U.K. and the Pandemic: Navigating Fluctuating Markets and Erratic Supply Chains,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(April 3, 2020).
Contacts: Nicola Phillips, Robert Weekes, Laurence Winston, Lydia Taylor
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"Morrisons Supermarket Not Liable for Employee’s Data Breach,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(April 1, 2020).
Contacts: Nicola Phillips, Maarten Stassen, Robert Weekes, Laurence Winston
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"Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme – Key Points,"
Corporate Alert
(March 26, 2020).
Contacts: Andrew J. Knight, Paul Muscutt, Robert Weekes, Cathryn Williams, Beth Bradley, Mark Forster, Seye Olufunwa
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"An English Law Perspective on COVID-19 and Contractual Disruption,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(March 18, 2020).
Contacts: Nicola Phillips, Robert Weekes, Laurence Winston
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"Coronavirus – Issues for Asset-Based Lenders,"
(March 16, 2020).
Contacts: Andrew J. Knight, Paul Muscutt, Nicola Phillips, Robert Weekes, Cathryn Williams, Laurence Winston
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"U.K. Serious Fraud Office Issues Guidance on Corporate Cooperation,"
White Collar Alert
(August 8, 2019).
Contacts: Michelle J. Linderman, Robert Weekes, Laurence Winston, Laura Schwartz, Kelly T. Currie
Media Mentions
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Squire's Doha Departure Benefits Crowell & Moring
September 9, 2020 — Commercial Dispute Resolution
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Crowell & Moring Nabs Four New Partners Amid Doha Launch
September 4, 2020 — Law360
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Crowell & Moring Signals Middle East Launch As It Takes On Squire's Doha Arm
September 2, 2020 — The Global Legal Post
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Squire Patton Boggs Shuts Down In Doha As 13-Lawyer Team Heads To Crowell & Moring
September 2, 2020 — Reuters
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US Law Firm Crowell & Moring To Recruit First London Trainee
July 27, 2020 — Legal Cheek
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Crowell Goes Up Against Jones Day With Non-Rotational Training Contract Launch
July 24, 2020 — The Lawyer
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Crowell & Moring's London Office Launches New Training Contract for January 2021
July 24, 2020 — All About Law
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Law Firm Paycuts Everywhere & The Key Question: "Do We Have Too Many Lawyers?"
April 28, 2020 — LawFuel
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US Law Firms More Aggressive Than UK Peers In Cutting Pay
April 20, 2020 — Financial Times
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AI and Internet of Things Herald 'Regulation by Litigation', Report Claims
January 24, 2020 — The Global Legal Post
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Crowell & Moring-Nicola Phillips
January 24, 2020 — New Law Journal
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Crowell & Moring Hires Banking Litigation Partner In London
January 8, 2020 — Law360
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A New Force In Asset-Based Lending
August, 2019 — Business Money
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Crowell Adds Another Squire Patton Boggs Attorney In London
June 20, 2019 — Bloomberg Law
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Crowell Hires Leading Litigator Laurence Winston
June 20, 2019 — Business Money
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Crowell Hires Co-Head, International Dispute Resolution Group
June 20, 2019 — ABL Advisor
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Crowell & Moring's New London Managing Partner On What's Next
March 20, 2019 — Legal Week
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Crowell & Moring-Andrew Knight
March 20, 2019 — New Law Journal
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Crowell & Moring Poaches Partner Amid Squire Patton Exodus
March 19, 2019 — Law360
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Squire Patton Boggs Losing More London Lawyers To Crowell
March 19, 2019 — Bloomberg Law
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Crowell & Moring Pursues 'Formidable Force' Ambition
March 19, 2019 — Global Legal Post
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Beleaguered Squires Set For Further Partner Loss To Crowell
February 25, 2019 — The Lawyer
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The New Blitz On White-Collar Crime
January 24, 2019 — The Times
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Crowell & Moring - Robert Weekes
January 22, 2019 — New Law Journal
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US Law Firm Crowell & Moring Reveals London Training Contract Ambitions
January 16, 2019 — Legal Cheek
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Weekes Takes Over As London Chief At Crowell & Moring
January 16, 2019 — The Times
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City Moves-Who's Switching Jobs?
January 16, 2019 — City AM
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Banks, Insurers Eye The Door As UK Reaches Brexit Deadlock
January 16, 2019 — Law360
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Crowell & Moring Taps Robert Weekes To Lead, Grow London Office
January 15, 2019 — Bloomberg Law
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Crowell & Moring Taps Ex-Squire Leader To Drive London Growth
January 15, 2019 — The American Lawyer
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Crowell & Moring Plans London Training Contract After Squires Hire
January 15, 2019 — The Lawyer
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US Firms Hungry For International Growth
January 15, 2019 — Commercial Dispute Resolution
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Robert Weekes To Crowell & Moring Squire Patton Boggs
January 15, 2019 — Corporate Crime Reporter
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Crowell & Moring Poaches Finance Expert From Squire Patton
January 15, 2019 — Law360
Firm News & Announcements