Robert Houck has nearly 30 years’ experience representing companies and investment managers in complex commercial disputes, including class actions and cross-border investigations.
He has a strong track record advising companies, investment managers, underwriters, corporate officers, and outside directors in class actions brought under the Commodity Exchange Act, the U.S. and state antitrust laws, the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the Investment Company Act of 1940.
In addition, Robert regularly advises boards and audit committees on enterprise risk, helping them navigate regulatory challenges and corporate governance matters.
He is a member of the firm's Global Executive Leadership Group.
- A global bank in connection with multiple federal and regulatory investigations into the collapse of Archegos Capital Management and related securities sales by its prime banks.
- A major financial institution in connection with numerous class actions and regulatory investigations alleging manipulation of LIBOR.
- A Canada-based financial institution in a class action lawsuit alleging manipulation of the USD12 trillion market for debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury.
- A Chinese multinational banking company in a class action lawsuit alleging manipulation of NYMEX platinum and palladium futures and options prices.
- A major financial institution in connection with a USD50 million fraud claim brought by an option counterparty in California state court.
- A Swiss-based private equity firm in a whistleblower action and related SEC investigation of its expense allocation practices.
News and client work
Contact details
Career & qualifications
- Cornell University (AB Government, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) 1993
- Columbia School of Law (JD, Harlan Fiske Stone scholar) 1996
- Admitted as an Attorney-at-Law in New York 1997
- Admitted as an Attorney-at-Law in United States District Courts for Southern and Eastern Districts of New York 1999
- Joined Clifford Chance 1996
- Partner since 2005
Professional bodies
- 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America
Awards and citations
- “Robert is an exceptional business partner, combining sound commercial acumen with deep technical expertise. He stands our among the best and most effective litigators in the industry, with a history of successful outcomes for the company”. Chambers USA Guide, Litigation: Securities, 2025
- “Robert Houck is my sounding board and the sounding board for our entire management team. He is the person I call and has the breadth of experience to be my sounding board.” Chambers USA Guide, Litigation: Securities, 2025
- “I think the world of Robert Houck. [..] he has a real ability to get to the core of the issue. I consider him to be brilliant and practical”. Chambers USA Guide, Litigation: Securities, 2025
- “Robert Houck is who we would go to for big government investigations. He is on the more sensitive government investigations. Robert is very practical and tactical. He is always strategic; he can look at my perspective and think around corners. I am very reliant on him in that space. I think very highly of him” Chambers USA Guide, Litigation: Securities, 2025
- “Robert Houck is a very complete lawyer, very commercially minded. He understands the client’s business, provides good service, and looks around the corner at what is coming next. He is a super thoughtful guy”. Chambers USA Guide, Litigation: Securities, 2025