Chris Barwick
Associate
Areas of Focus
- Class Actions
- Complex Commercial Litigation
- Disputes & Investigations
- Handles high-profile business litigation and investigations.
- Assists clients with corporate governance and compliance.
- Former U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein staffer.
Chris handles high-profile business disputes & investigations for clients across various industries. He also advises on corporate governance, compliance and risk.
Chris maintains a robust pro bono practice and was named the firm’s 2024 Los Angeles Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. He previously served as the firm’s 2020 Pro Bono Scholar and currently sits on Akin’s California Pro Bono Committee.
Prior to earning his J.D., Chris served in the office of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, working on a broad range of policy issues affecting California and the nation. He leverages this experience to counsel clients on the evolving legal, regulatory and public policy landscape.
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.
- Obtained a complete defense verdict for a hedge fund client following a three-week securities class action trial with nearly $500 million at stake.
- Representing a major national company in a data privacy class action.
- Advising an energy company in connection with a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation.
- Represented an Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) filing agent in connection with a DOJ investigation. No charges were filed against the client.
- Advised a major asset management firm regarding subrogation claims and other potential investment opportunities.
- Represented a software company in connection with a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation.
- Counseled an international engineering and construction management company on a $54 million, 5-year construction project contract bid before the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors.
- Representing a wrongly incarcerated individual petitioning the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office for compensation for the time he was wrongly incarcerated.
- Successfully expunged the record of a formerly incarcerated inmate firefighter.
- Mediated a civil rights case and secured a major financial victory for the client.
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 2024 Los Angeles Pro Bono Attorney of the Year.
- Akin 2020 Pro Bono Scholar.
- Former U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein Staff.
- Member of Akin’s California Pro Bono Committee.
- Public Counsel Leadership Council.
- Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League Board Member.
