Eric L. Lewis, Partner

Eric Lewis has played a leading role representing clients in high-profile, complex international insolvency matters, cross border disputes, and serious fraud cases. 

He serves as principal U.S. counsel to the liquidators of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) in multi-jurisdictional criminal and civil litigation. Mr. Lewis led the trial team that obtained a $1 billion fraud and racketeering judgment against a BCCI front man. On behalf of the liquidators, he helped negotiate a resolution of BCCI’s U.S. criminal liability that resulted in $2 billion in U.S. assets being returned to the liquidators in the largest criminal forfeiture and restitution process in U.S. history to help satisfy the claims of BCCI’s thousands of victims. A leading expert in international fraud asset tracing, Mr. Lewis also pursued cases around the world against those responsible for BCCI’s collapse, adding over a billion dollars to the assets available to return to BCCI’s creditors.

In other major foreign insolvencies, Mr. Lewis has represented overseas banks, insurance companies, trusts, hedge funds, and foreign governmental entities.

Mr. Lewis has particular expertise assisting European, Middle Eastern, and Latin American clients deal with the complexities of U.S. civil and criminal proceedings. He represented a large U.K. pension fund with respect to losses suffered in the collapse of WorldCom. He has also assisted international government officials responding to U.S. civil litigation and investigations, including representation of the Executive Director of the United Nations Oil-for-Food Programme and a leading South American politician.

In addition to his international work, Mr. Lewis represents domestic companies and individuals in complex commercial litigation and investigations. He also represents individuals and firms in disputes, and potential disputes, concerning the operation of professional service firms. He has, for example, represented a group of Arthur Andersen partners, negotiating their departure from the firm.

Mr. Lewis represents Guantanamo and Afghan detainees in litigation seeking redress and accountability for torture and religious abuse while in U.S. custody.

Mr. Lewis was selected by Washington DC Super Lawyers (2008) and by Super Lawyers Corporate Cousel Edition (2008) as one of "The Top Attorneys" in Business Litigation in the Washington, D.C., Area. 

In the News

• The Americans Come Back but Not to Compete
• My Islam Is Better Than Yours
• The New Gitmo
• Judge Says U.S. Must Alert Lawyer on Detainee Transfer
• Ex-Detainees Base Lawsuit On Religion
• Ex-Guantanamo Prisoners Want U.S. Lawsuit to Proceed

Publications, Presentations and Events

• "The Expanding Reach of United States Law: Extraterritorial Enforcement and Compliance Obligations of International Business"
• "Good Judgments Travel Fast: Avoiding Pyrrhic Victories In International Litigation"
• "Anti-Terrorism Legislation and its Impact on Commercial Law"
• "Lawyer's Duties of Disclosure in Response to Commercial Fraud"

Professional Affiliations

• Elected Member, Council on Foreign Relations
• Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center
• Honorary Overseas Member of the Commercial Bar Association of England and Wales
• Fellow of the Congress of International Legal Studies
• Elected Member of the American Law Institute
• Director, Global Rights (2004)
• Director, Center for Constitutional Rights
• Chair, Panel on Parallel Criminal, Civil and Administrative Proceedings, Commercial Bar Association of England and Wales, North American Meeting (2005)
• Observer with Special Consultative Status, 61st Meeting of United Nations High Commission on Human Rights, Geneva (2005)
• Panelist, International Enforcement of Judgments, Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Washington (2005)
• Testimony to Panel of Eminent Jurists, International Commission of Jurists on Civil Enforcement of Human Rights
• Author of articles published in The Washington Post, The Litigator, Washington Monthly, and other periodicals
• Presented numerous papers on litigation problems to international audiences
• Fellow of the American Bar Foundation

Other Experience

• Former Law Clerk to The Honorable David L. Bazelon, U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit