Chris Barwick
Associate
Areas of Focus
- Disputes & Investigations
- Complex Commercial Litigation
- Class Actions
- Securities Enforcement & Litigation
- Consumer Protection
- Investment Funds Litigation
- Lobbying & Public Policy
- Pro Bono
- Handles high-profile, complex business disputes and investigations.
- Provides strategic advice and detailed risk analysis to large public and private companies.
- Former U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) staffer.
Chris is an associate in the firm’s litigation practice. He handles high-profile, complex business disputes for clients across various industries.
He also advises clients in connection with a range of corporate transactions and provides detailed risk analysis to large public and private companies.
Prior to earning his J.D., Chris was a Field Representative for U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, in which he served as a key liaison to the Southern California businesses community. He also worked closely with the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on a wide range of issues impacting California and the country. He continues to provide strategic policy advice to major public and private companies.
Chris was an Akin Pro Bono Scholar and currently serves on the firm’s California Pro Bono Committee. After his first year of law school, Chris interned with Public Counsel’s Center for Veterans’ Advancement.
Chris earned his J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. He was a legal writing and advocacy fellow, a public interest scholar and a member of the Hale Moot Court Honors Program.
- Representing an investment fund in a securities class action relating to its investment in an oral vaccine manufacturer brought in federal district court.
- Representing a leading telecommunications company in a consumer class action brought in California state court.
- Advising a major asset management firm regarding subrogation claims and other potential investment opportunities.
- Representing a software company in connection with a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation.
- Counseling a construction and disaster recovery company looking to expand operations in California.
- Represented an SEC Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR) filing agent in connection with a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation regarding a cybersecurity breach of the client’s computer systems and resulting alleged insider trading based on material nonpublic information (MNPI) associated with the client’s customers. The alleged hacker/trader was indicted and ultimately sentenced. No charges were filed against the client, which was identified as a principal victim of the hack, and the client was not named in the public action taken by the government.
EducationJ.D., University of Southern California Gould School of Law, 2022
B.A., Brown University, 2016
J.D., University of Southern California Gould School of Law, 2022
B.A., Brown University, 2016
Bar AdmissionsCalifornia
California
- Akin Los Angeles Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, 2024.
- Akin Pro Bono Scholar, 2020.
- Public Counsel Leadership Council
- Former Field Representative for U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
- Member, Akin’s California Pro Bono Committee
