Legal Business

King & Spalding partner Wray discloses $9.2m earnings before confirmation as FBI head

King & Spalding litigation partner Christopher Wray, nominated as FBI director, earned $9.2m for his partnership share over the last eighteen months, according to documents.

Washington DC-based Wray, who joined the US firm in 2005 after serving as assistant Attorney General in charge of the US Department of Justice’s criminal division, detailed his salary and client connections before his confirmation hearing. On 13 July, he will replace former FBI director James Comey, whom Trump fired.

Following his exit from King & Spalding, Wray will receive his final partnership share distribution, a payment returning capital he paid into the firm. He will also receive a further lump sum distributing his cash pension plan balance with the firm, the documents stated.

In a separate document, Wray said he anticipated receiving an estimated $880,000 partnership distribution from King & Spalding on July 17, reflecting his share for June. If he continues as a partner for the rest of July, it is expected he will receive an estimated $815,000 before his exit.

The document also details he expects the return of his paid-in capital at King & Spalding to be $1.27m if he leaves the firm at the end of July.

Wray disclosed a list of clients from which he has received more than $5,000 including Credit Suisse, Johnson & Johnson, Wells Fargo, Chevron Corp. and two online sports betting groups, FanDuel and DraftKings. Four clients were kept confidential. Wray disclosed that three were subject to non-public investigations and one was subject to DC Bar Rule 1.6 regarding confidentiality of information.

Wray’s confirmation hearing before the Senate panel comes more than two months after Trump fired Comey. Trump announced his intention to nominate Wray in early June, with the nomination sent forward three weeks later at the end of last month.

Madeleine.farman@legalease.co.uk