White Collar Defense & Investigations

The Squire Sanders White Collar Defense & Investigations Group assists clients with navigating the new reality of enhanced government regulation, investigation and prosecution. We represent clients in a wide array of civil and criminal matters including federal and state trials, appeals, internal investigations, responses to inquiries or subpoenas, Congressional or legislative investigations, qui tam defense, regulatory defense, and compliance reviews and audits. We also represent clients in parallel proceedings including class action litigation by investors, customers or competitors, and we advise clients on conflicts, privilege, document retention and insurance coverage matters.

We provide these services in a range of specific areas including:

• Anti-money-laundering
• Antitrust
• Computer and intellectual property crimes
• Environmental violations
• Export and import
• Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and UK Bribery Act
• Forfeiture
• Government contracting and procurement
• Heathcare fraud
• Insider trading and stock manipulation
• Privacy 
• Procurement fraud
• Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)
• Securities, financial and accounting fraud
• Tax violations
• Trade secret theft

Members of our team have served as federal and state prosecutors, regulators and government enforcement officials and US independent counsel. We represent corporations and individuals around the world in high-profile and complex white collar criminal defense matters, regulatory enforcement matters and internal investigations.

Internal Investigations

We are retained by boards of directors and board committees, special committees and general counsels to conduct internal investigations into possible irregularities, including allegations of accounting and other improprieties raised by government enforcement agencies or whistleblowers, and to provide guidance with respect to corporate governance issues. While these issues are particularly sensitive and require absolute discretion, we immediately conduct a thorough analysis of data through interviews and analysis of information in order to better position our client with regulators and law enforcement officials.

Government and Regulatory Investigations

Government investigations raise a multitude of issues for companies. Our lawyers regularly counsel clients subpoenaed by federal and state regulatory agencies, grand juries, and the United States Congress. We help clients respond to document subpoenas and search and seizure warrants, as well as less formal requests for information by government investigators, such as interviews and requests to inspect facilities. We also have substantial experience in defending clients in SEC investigations and proceedings. Our lawyers have the experience and knowledge to deliver effective representation whether the SEC investigation is conducted in Washington, DC or in one of the SEC’s regional or branch offices. We often successfully resolve SEC inquiries or investigations without the institution of any public enforcement proceeding.