Leading in-house litigation and investigations lawyer Arwen Handley to join the global Financial Services Litigation practice at Hogan Lovells

With over 16 years of responsibility for investigations and litigation at three major international banks, she will be part of Hogan Lovells’ market-leading financial services litigation practice and be based in London.  

Arwen joined UBS in 2014 as EMEA Head of Litigation. In that role, she managed in-house teams in London and Continental Europe and was responsible for the bank’s litigation and regulatory enforcement matters in those regions.  UBS promoted Arwen to her current role in UBS Group Investigations nearly a year ago.  Before joining UBS, Arwen served as Associate General Counsel and Managing Director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in London, leading the teams responsible for EMEA and Asia litigation and regulatory inquiries.  Before that, Arwen was a member of Morgan Stanley’s legal department, handling significant litigation and contentious regulatory matters in the EMEA region. 

Arwen previously practiced in Linklaters' dispute resolution group, working in the firm’s London and Hong Kong offices.  She is qualified in both England and Wales (1996), and Hong Kong (1998).

She will be a key member of Hogan Lovells' global Financial Services Litigation team, which is well-known for seamlessly and efficiently handling cross-border investigations and litigation matters for major financial institutions, such as matters relating to LIBOR and other interest rate benchmarks, Forex, SSA bonds and the London Gold Fixing. 

Arwen’s appointment is further evidence of Hogan Lovells’ continued commitment to building on the strength of its litigation and regulatory enforcement practice in the financial institutions sector globally.  Last year, the firm added partner Julien Martinet to lead that practice in France, shortly after Claire Lipworth joined the firm as a partner in London from the UK Financial Conduct Authority, where she served as chief prosecutor.  Earlier this year, Hogan Lovells appointed Antonia Croke (currently based in London but moving to our Hong Kong office shortly) to the partnership, adding to its capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Michael Davison, Global Head of Litigation and Arbitration at Hogan Lovells, said:  "Arwen is a highly-regarded financial litigation and investigations specialist with an established global reputation, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our team. With years of international experience at major financial institutions, Arwen is extremely well-positioned to enhance our practice and further broaden our impressive client base.  She will be a great addition to our world-class team.  We also look forward to drawing on her insights so we can ensure our service continues to address the needs of the world's leading financial institutions."

Susan Bright, Managing Partner of Hogan Lovells in the UK and Africa, added: "We are delighted to welcome Arwen.  London is the largest hub for our global litigation and regulatory enforcement practice focused on financial institutions. By appointing Arwen, we have added one of the most highly respected in-house practitioners to our formidable team.  This move reinforces Hogan Lovells’ commitment to serve clients in the financial institutions sector, which continues to be a mainstay of the London and UK economy."

Arwen Handley said: "I look forward to returning to private practice and especially to joining Hogan Lovells.  I’ve worked with members of the Hogan Lovells team in the past, and have long been impressed with their excellent reputation, industry knowledge and dedication to client service.  I am excited to join the team and to further expand Hogan Lovells’ work on major investigations and disputes in the sector - in the UK, Continental Europe and around the world."   

Marc Gottridge, Global Head of the Financial Services Litigation Practice at Hogan Lovells, commented: “Arwen is widely respected as one of the top in-house lawyers in the field.  She has successfully navigated major banks through some of the largest and thorniest investigations and litigation matters in the past decade and a half.  I am confident that our clients will benefit enormously from her tremendous experience, judgment and skills as the industry faces new challenges from regulators and private litigants.”