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About Margaret
Meg Beasley represents clients across a wide range of industries in every level of federal and state court, as well as in agency forums. She provides counsel in matters including white collar defense, government investigations, Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), sanctions compliance, anti-money laundering, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and cybersecurity and data breach response. Additionally, Meg represents clients in complex commercial disputes, environmental claims, and securities litigation. Her practice involves frequent engagement with and presentations to the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
As pro bono counsel, Meg represents incarcerated petitioners in both federal district and appellate courts, as well as petitioners seeking asylum with the United States Customs and Immigration Service and in Immigration Court.
Meg has been recognized in Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation, Litigation, Energy, White Collar and Cybersecurity (2023) and Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation (2023 – 2024).
Prior to joining Bracewell, Meg served as law clerk to S. Bernard Goodwyn, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. She has also completed internships with the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia.
Experience
Recent Notable Matters
Cryptocurrency fund — representing client in connection with federal and state enforcement actions
Health care executive — representation of president of provider in connection with federal investigation
Trucking company — defended corporate and individual clients in connection with federal criminal charges of violations of the Clean Air Act
DNB Bank — lenders’ counsel for Serica Energy’s new $525 million reserve-based lending facility, including advising entire lending group on complex OFAC sanctions matters arising from sanctioned assets
Phillips 66 — successfully represented Phillips 66 Pipeline at FERC and on appeal against a complaint alleging discriminatory practices on its Blue Line East. Obtained dismissal of complaint by FERC, which was affirmed by the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, and denial of petition for writ of certiorari by the Supreme Court.
Public relations and communications firm — advising on regulatory compliance issues
Energy infrastructure company — advising on preparation and response to cyber attacks and incidents, and coordination with federal agencies in connection with related investigations
Oil producer — advising on compliance with US money laundering, sanctions, export control and foreign corruption laws
Shell Energy North America (US), L.P. — defended litigation at FERC over claims related to the 2000-2001 California energy crisis, including defense of legal challenge to long-term contract with the State of California
City in Southwestern US — successful defense in an SEC enforcement investigation related to disclosure in municipal securities offering
Westlake Vinyls, Inc. — defended owner of a chemical manufacturing facility in a cost allocation arbitration at a highly-complex Superfund site; successfully defended the arbitration agreement in a related appeal in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the validity of that agreement
Interstate natural gas pipeline company — defended challenges to Clean Water Act Section 401 certifications and FERC certificate in the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Sixth and D.C. Circuits
Publications and Speeches
“Non-Federal Infrastructure Projects and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Federal Courts: The Dakota Access and Keystone XL Pipelines,” ABA Infrastructure Magazine, Vol. 60, No. 2, Winter 2021.
“Dysfunctional Equivalence: Why the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention Provides Insufficient Guidance in the Era of Multinational Corporations,” 47 Geo. Wash. Int’l L. Rev. 191, 2015.