Ankit Bahri

Investigations and Criminal Matters

• Currently retained, along with Richard Sharpe, as standing risk and compliance counsel for one of the world’s largest, U.S. listed, Private Equity/Private Credit funds for all of their Asia Pacific-focused investments.
• Conducting an investigation into allegations of financial misconduct (including money laundering) within an Indian listed group of companies, and specifically involving the family of the Founder and Chairman of the group.
• Conducting an investigation, on behalf of the Audit Committee of the Board of a large UK-based technology start-up, into allegations of money laundering and financial misconduct made against the CEO by Indian law enforcement.
• Representing one of the top private universities in the world in connection with multiple investigations by the U.S. House of Representatives in connection with the University's response to antisemitism and Islamophobia on its campus.
• Led compliance reviews of proposed investment opportunities for one of the largest public pension funds in the world. Managed external counsel and background service providers to conduct investigations and due diligence focused on bribery, corruption, money laundering, and sanctions issues into target entities and individuals.
• Leading compliance reviews and risk assessments for a large Private Equity firm's portfolio companies in India and Indonesia.
• Conducted a holistic compliance review and risk assessment for a Fortune 500 Company's China operations
• Represented a multinational steel producer in conducting a global health and safety review of its manufacturing sites across 30+ jurisdictions. Attended a week-long site assessment at one of the client's largest manufacturing plants, located in Gujarat, India.
• Represented an individual client in a criminal corruption trial in U.S. federal court in Arkansas arising out of bribery and corruption charges filed by the U.S. Department of Justice.
• Represented a reinsurance company and its principals in investigations initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as related civil lawsuits arising out of failed investments by the reinsurance company on behalf of its clients.
• Represented an international airline before the U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission in relation to market manipulation allegations. Prepared submissions to the regulator that successfully warded off any enforcement action.
• Represented an individual defendant in pro bono murder trial in Maryland state court.

Civil Litigation and Arbitration

• Represented a pharmaceutical major in HKIAC arbitration seeking damages for fraudulently induced investments in China. Claims were favorable resolved for the client prior to the hearing.
• Represented one of the world’s largest shipbuilders in two LMAA arbitrations arising out of termination of drillship resale contracts by a drilling contractor. After a 3-week hearing, the Tribunal ruled in the client’s favor on almost all of the claims and counterclaims.
• Represented a Fortune 500 company in multiple actions, including AAA arbitration, against former employees for misappropriation of confidential information in Singapore. Claims were successfully resolved for the client and misappropriated data was destroyed or returned.
• Represented a U.S. energy company in SIAC arbitration against its Indian licensee. Claims were resolved early and favorably for the client.
• Represented leading software technology company in the successful defense of a patent infringement action in U.S. federal court that sought to invalidate much of the client's business. Summary judgment was granted in favor of the client on all issues.
• Represented a leading technology company in a series of class actions filed by customers in courts across the U.S. based on the disclosure of potential security vulnerabilities.
• Represented JPMorgan Chase and related entities (including Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual) in numerous residential mortgage-backed securities actions filed in U.S. federal and state courts in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.
• Represented Morgan Stanley in a U.S. federal class action that alleged a conspiracy to block exchange trading of credit default swaps. The case was settled at an early stage.
• Represented two large U.S. law firms in pre-complaint mediations arising out of claims of legal malpractice. Both mediations led to a settlement of the claims and a successful outcome for the clients.
• Represented a pharmaceutical manufacturer in an ICC arbitration arising out of a licensing dispute with one of its competitors in the industry. Claims were resolved through settlement prior to the final hearing.

Ankit Bahri has represented multi-national clients in a wide range of contentious matters, including investigations, compliance advisory, litigation, and international arbitration. In particular, Ankit has assisted clients in the energy, engineering and construction, financial services, pharmaceutical, shipping, and technology sectors.

A U.S.-trained attorney, Ankit has advised clients on government and regulatory investigations relating to fraud, sanctions compliance, money laundering, securities enforcement, and public corruption.  Ankit has worked on investigations involving various international regulators, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control, the U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, the U.K. Prudential Regulation Authority, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore. A hallmark of Ankit’s approach is rapid stabilization under privilege, disciplined evidence development, and credible engagement with authorities and stakeholders.

In 2021, Ankit was seconded to the Singapore office of a large public pension fund, where he helped manage compliance reviews, focused on identifying potential concerns relating to bribery, corruption, and money laundering, of the fund’s investment opportunities in Asia and Australia.  He has continued to advise clients on compliance due diligence matters since his return to private practice.

Between 2019 and 2020, Ankit worked in the Disputes and Government Investigations Legal team at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore, where he managed government and regulatory investigations, as well as local and cross-border disputes, in jurisdictions across South and Southeast Asia.  He also managed internal investigations for the Bank into allegations of employee misconduct, bribery, corruption, and money laundering.

Ankit also has substantial experience representing clients in domestic and cross-border litigation in U.S. federal and state courts and in disputes arising under the ICC, SIAC, HKIAC, LMAA, and LCIA Rules of Arbitration.  Ankit's experience spans disputes arising under contract, tort, antitrust, intellectual property, legal malpractice, anticorruption, and securities laws.

At the start of his career, Ankit practiced at two top-tier U.S. law firms in New York and Washington, D.C., where he worked on a wide variety of matters including commercial litigation, international arbitration, white collar and criminal defense, patent law, and government investigations.

An Indian citizen by birth and fluent in Hindi, Ankit has an ever-growing docket of matters with an Indian nexus, whether they be significant internal investigations for multinational companies, regulatory inquiries faced by companies with operations in India, or advising clients on compliance risks associated with doing business in India.