FBI Director nominee is a vigilant CG-man

Almost a month after he summarily - and unexpectedly - dismissed FBI Director Jim Comey, President Trump yesterday tweeted his choice for his successor:

I will be nominating Christopher A. Wray, a man of impeccable credentials, to be the new Director of the FBI.  Details to follow.

Mr. Wray is currently a litigation partner at King & Spalding, working out of the Atlanta, Washington, DC, and Manhattan offices. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Wray served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Division from 2003 to 2005.  He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate’s unanimous consent for that position to which was nominated by President Bush.  Mr. Wray helped spearhead the DOJ's efforts to address the wave of corporate fraud scandals and restore integrity to U.S. financial markets.  He served on the President’s Corporate Fraud Task Force and oversaw the Enron Task Force and other major fraud investigations, both around the country and internationally.

Mr. Wray initially joined the DOJ’s leadership as Associate Deputy Attorney General in May 2001 and was appointed the Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General four months later, with oversight responsibilities spanning the full Department.  From 1997 to 2001, Mr. Wray served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.

Mr. Wray has acted as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's personal attorney in the high-profile Bridgegate investigation.  King & Spalding's list of Mr. Wray’s recent engagements for publicly-traded companies since rejoining the firm includes:

• A Fortune 100 healthcare company in multiple federal and state regulatory investigations around the country.
• A special committee of the board of directors of a leading technology company in conducting an independent investigation of stock options issues.
• A Fortune 100 pharmacy benefits company in parallel investigations by the Department of Justice and SEC into stock options issues.
• A leading telecommunications company in parallel Department of Justice, SEC, IRS, and Department of Labor investigations into stock options practices.
• A leading global financial institution in parallel investigations by the Department of Justice, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), New York Federal Reserve Bank, and various domestic and foreign regulatory agencies.
• A leading global financial institution in parallel investigations by the Department of Justice, IRS, SEC, New York Federal Reserve Bank, New York Department of Financial Services (DFS), Congress and foreign regulatory agencies.
• One of the largest global medical device manufacturers in parallel Department of Justice and SEC investigations of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act issues.
• A Fortune 100 transportation company in conducting internal investigations of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act issues voluntarily disclosed to the Department of Justice and SEC.
• Two different Fortune 250 energy companies in conducting internal investigations of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act issues.
• A leading defense contractor in qui tam litigation under the False Claims Act.
• The audit committee of the board of directors of a Fortune 250 technology company in conducting an independent investigation of revenue recognition and corporate governance issues.
• Appointment by the World Bank as the compliance consultant under a settlement with a leading global technology company.

Mr. Wray is well-versed in corporate governance matters.  He is a member of the Lead Director Network, a select group of lead outside directors from many of America’s top companies, focused on improving corporate performance and earning shareholder trust through more effective board leadership.  Mr. Wray contributed an essay to the U.S. State Department journal Economic Perspectives' issue entitled PROMOTING GROWTH THROUGH CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.

We can rest assured that Christopher Wray, who already knows his way around the halls of Justice and will likely be the next Director of the FBI, is no stranger to the courtroom or the boardroom.

Robert Stead