Biography: Commercial Litigation

A partner and co-chair of the litigation department, Theodore V Wells, Jr has extensive litigation experience in white-collar criminal defence, complex civil and corporate litigation, SEC regulatory work, FCPA investigations, environmental matters and class action litigation.

In 2010 The National Law Journal named Mr Wells one of "The Decade's Most Influential Lawyers" and over the years has repeatedly selected him as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America and as one of America's top white-collar criminal defence lawyers. Mr Wells also has been recognised as one of the outstanding jury trial lawyers in the United States by numerous publications including Chambers USA 2006 which noted he 'is recognised by many as 'the greatest trial lawyer of our generation'.'

In 2010, Mr Wells successfully defended Citigroup in a three-week jury trial where the plaintiff, the London-based private equity firm Terra Firma, claimed it was defrauded in connection with its purchase of the music company EMI, and claimed over $7 billion in damages. In 2008, Mr Wells successfully defended Citigroup in a five-month jury trial where the plaintiff alleged that Citigroup aided and abetted in the massive fraud at Parmalat, the Italian dairy and food corporation. The jury totally rejected the $2 billion claim for damages against Citigroup and also awarded Citigroup $364 million on Citigroup's counterclaim. This was one of the largest civil fraud jury trials of the decade.

Some of Mr Wells' significant and publicly reported representations include defending a number of political figures, as well as representing numerous corporate executives and corporations in jury trials, grand jury investigations and before the SEC. Mr Wells also has extensive experience in representing major pharmaceutical companies in criminal and civil matters involving off-label marketing issues.

Mr Wells also has extensive experience in representing major corporations in massive class action litigations, including Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Mitsubishi Corporation, Carnival Corporation and Philip Morris Corporation.

In addition, Mr Wells has successfully defended major law firms in malpractice actions. With extensive experience in corporate governance issues, Mr Wells previously served on the board of directors of CIT Corporation, a New York Stock Exchange company, where he was a member of CIT's audit committee. Mr Wells is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has served as co-chair of the white-collar criminal section of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He has been a faculty member of the Practising Law Institute trial advocacy programme, a teaching team member of the Harvard Law School trial advocacy workshop and a lecturer at the Securities Regulation Institute. He has lectured on the use and scope of the RICO statute, the defence of securities and environmental criminal and civil matters, federal grand jury procedures and federal sentencing guidelines.

Active in social, political and community affairs, Mr Wells served as national treasurer for Senator Bill Bradley's presidential campaign and is the chairman emeritus of the NAACP legal defence fund board of directors. He previously served, on a pro bono basis, as general counsel to the New Jersey NAACP, New Jersey co-chairperson of the United Negro College Fund and general counsel to the New Jersey Democratic Party.

Mr Wells served as an editor of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review.

Biography: Business Crime Defence

A partner and co-chair of the litigation department, Theodore V Wells, Jr has extensive litigation experience in white-collar criminal defence, complex civil and corporate litigation, SEC regulatory work, FCPA investigations, environmental matters and class action litigation.

In 2010 The National Law Journal named Mr Wells one of "The Decade's Most Influential Lawyers" and over the years has repeatedly selected him as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America and as one of America's top white-collar criminal defence lawyers. Mr Wells also has been recognised as one of the outstanding jury trial lawyers in the United States by numerous publications including Chambers USA 2006 which noted he 'is recognised by many as 'the greatest trial lawyer of our generation'.'

In 2010, Mr Wells successfully defended Citigroup in a three-week jury trial where the plaintiff, the London-based private equity firm Terra Firma, claimed it was defrauded in connection with its purchase of the music company EMI, and claimed over $7 billion in damages. In 2008, Mr Wells successfully defended Citigroup in a five-month jury trial where the plaintiff alleged that Citigroup aided and abetted in the massive fraud at Parmalat, the Italian dairy and food corporation. The jury totally rejected the $2 billion claim for damages against Citigroup and also awarded Citigroup $364 million on Citigroup's counterclaim. This was one of the largest civil fraud jury trials of the decade.

Some of Mr Wells' significant and publicly reported representations include defending a number of political figures, as well as representing numerous corporate executives and corporations in jury trials, grand jury investigations and before the SEC. Mr Wells also has extensive experience in representing major pharmaceutical companies in criminal and civil matters involving off-label marketing issues.

Mr Wells also has extensive experience in representing major corporations in massive class action litigations, including Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Mitsubishi Corporation, Carnival Corporation and Philip Morris Corporation.

In addition, Mr Wells has successfully defended major law firms in malpractice actions. With extensive experience in corporate governance issues, Mr Wells previously served on the board of directors of CIT Corporation, a New York Stock Exchange company, where he was a member of CIT's audit committee. Mr Wells is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has served as co-chair of the white-collar criminal section of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He has been a faculty member of the Practising Law Institute trial advocacy programme, a teaching team member of the Harvard Law School trial advocacy workshop and a lecturer at the Securities Regulation Institute. He has lectured on the use and scope of the RICO statute, the defence of securities and environmental criminal and civil matters, federal grand jury procedures and federal sentencing guidelines.

Active in social, political and community affairs, Mr Wells served as national treasurer for Senator Bill Bradley's presidential campaign and is the chairman emeritus of the NAACP legal defence fund board of directors. He previously served, on a pro bono basis, as general counsel to the New Jersey NAACP, New Jersey co-chairperson of the United Negro College Fund and general counsel to the New Jersey Democratic Party.

Mr Wells served as an editor of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review.