Chris Parker

Partner
Global Co-Chair, Restructuring
About

Chris Parker practices in the area of restructuring with particular focus on formal insolvency processes in a global context often in relation to the financial services sector.  

Chris leads the contentious restructuring group in London, working on international fraud and asset recovery, investigations and litigation in relation to various financial structures. Chris has represented officeholders and institutions on high-profile, complex proceedings including most recently the Lehman Brothers Waterfall litigation, which achieved success in the Supreme Court, and the special administrator of an EU branch of a non-EU bank.

Chris regularly advises governments, regulators and development banks on restructuring and insolvency matters and has advised on the redrafting of insolvency and bank resolution laws in Europe, Africa and Asia.

Chris co-leads DLA Piper's global bank resolution group.

Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

  • Acting for the joint administrators of Lehman Brothers Limited on issues arising between the various Lehman estates in the Waterfall I and II litigation, ultimately succeeding in the Supreme Court.
  • Advising the Armenian Ministry of Justice in a proposal funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on the amendments to the Armenian insolvency legislation.
  • Advising an African Central Bank in relation to the introduction of new bank resolution laws.
  • Acting as international counsel for the special administrator appointed in relation to the EU branch of a non-EU credit institution.
  • Acting for the officeholders of a PLC in leading a very substantial and complex investigation and subsequently pursuing directors for breach of duty claims.
  • Advising the Irish National Asset Management Agency in relation to a circa GBP200 million debt owed by a group of companies to a high-profile property developer. This was secured over five London aparthotels which were sold via a series of interlocking CVAs.
  • Acting for Credit Suisse International in proceedings concerning swap priority arrangements relating to the securitisation of a nursing home operator.
  • Acting for the administrators of Lexi Holdings in substantial investigations and consequent cross-border litigation arising from a fraud perpetrated against Lexi Holdings. This included over 15 reported judgments in the High Courts and Court of Appeal as well as court litigation in Spain, Greece, Portugal, France and Pakistan.
  • Acting for various stakeholders including two airports and various holiday companies in relation to the impact of the Thomas Cook insolvency.
  • Advising a UK airport on the impact of the administration of Monarch Airlines, particularly in regards to issues around section 88 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982.
  • Representing seven of the Limited Partner Advisory Committees in relation to the impact of the liquidation of Abraaj Group.
Languages
  • English
Education

    Awards

    “The ‘very commercial and practical’ Chris Parker is ‘very switched on’ on contentious matters and continues to represent the administrators of Lehman Brothers in the Waterfall I and II litigation” - Legal 500, 2017

    Publications

    • Dictionary of Insolvency Terms in EU Member States, 16 September 2019
    • No-deal Brexit: Impact on cross-border corporate recovery and insolvency, 1 September 2019
    • Brexit Update: What next for cross-border restructuring?, 2 April 2019

    Seminars

    Chris regularly presents to institutions, funds and officeholders on various contentious restructuring matters and writes media commentary on sports restructuring-related topics.

    Prior Experience

    Chris joined DLA Piper in 2007 from a UK national law firm. He has previously spent a year on secondment with a major clearing bank.  

    Memberships And Affiliations

    • Association of Business Recovery Professionals
    • Member of Taskforce 2021 Committee (INSOL)

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