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Government Enforcement & Investigations

Experienced Counsel for High-Stakes Matters

When the stakes are high, companies and individuals turn to Bracewell’s government enforcement and investigations team. We have one of the most respected teams in the United States, with decades of collective experience as defense lawyers, former prosecutors, regulators and federal judges. We were named White Collar Group of the Year by Law360 in 2018, and our lawyers and practice consistently receive high rankings in Chambers USA and Legal 500 US.

We draw on our broad and diverse experiences to provide strategic, informed advice to companies and individuals faced with federal or state enforcement actions and investigations. We focus on four main areas:

  • Prevention Our team conducts internal investigations on behalf of companies, audit committees and special board committees. We develop, review and audit corporate compliance programs to help minimize the risk of violations and reduce the likelihood of prosecution in government investigations.
  • Detection — We help companies identify and address issues related to discrimination, harassment and retaliation. If we uncover past misconduct during an internal audit and investigation, we make confidential recommendations on the best way to handle the situation and avoid similar issues in the future.
  • Defense — We vigorously defend individuals and companies in white-collar investigations and prosecution at the state and federal level. Our team has been at the forefront of numerous notable actions and secured favorable outcomes in highly sensitive, and often complex, matters.
  • Resolution — Our lawyers are highly regarded among their peers and are frequently sought out by judges and corporate executives to monitor compliance with policies, procedures, laws, regulations and ethics programs. We regularly serve as court-appointed monitors in high-profile cases, as well as independent external reviewers.

Our lawyers represent clients across an array of enforcement and investigation matters, including:

  • accounting and financial fraud
  • antitrust issues
  • broker-dealer violations
  • cyber threats and data security
  • economic sanctions and export control
  • environmental and ESG litigation
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act diligence and litigation
  • False Claims Act and Qui Tam matters
  • government contracts
  • healthcare fraud
  • insider trading
  • money laundering
  • tax issues

Recognition for Excellence

Our handling of complex and sensitive matters consistently earns us praise within the legal industry. In 2018, Law360 honored us as a White Collar Group of the Year. Our lawyers and practice have also been ranked among the nation’s best in Chambers USA, Legal 500 US and other legal directories.

  • Chambers USA – New York Litigation: White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations; Texas Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations
  • Legal 500 US –Dispute Resolution: Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense; Dispute Resolution: Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Individuals
  • U.S. News – Best Lawyers – National Criminal Defense: White Collar (Tier 1); Houston Criminal Defense: White Collar; New York Criminal Defense: White-Collar (Tier 1); Washington, DC Criminal Defense: General Practice; Washington, DC Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Washington, DC Professional Malpractice Law: Defendants

They’ve got a great reputation for their white-collar practice, they’re a serious player in the space.

Chambers USA, 2022

IMAGE: Gavel

High-Profile Matters

Our team provides strategic counsel to companies and individuals across the United States and throughout the world.

  • Mustafa Abdel-Wadood, a former managing partner at Abraaj Capital, in connection with US fraud and conspiracy charges
  • Archdiocese of New York in a year-long investigation into whether the Archdiocese was following the policies and procedures for responding to allegations of sexual abuse within the Archdiocese
  • Reid Bigland, US head of sales for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, in connection with an SEC probe concerning sales reporting practices and whether the company misled investors about monthly sales figures
  • New York City District Council of Carpenters in connection with its court-appointed monitorship
  • Andrew W.W. Casperen in parallel DOJ and SEC civil charges of securities and wire fraud
  • Charter Communication, as independent compliance officer, regarding the conditions placed on the company by the FCC in connection with the acquisition of Time Warner Cable, Inc. and Bright House Networks
  • Michael Cohen privilege review, as special master appointed by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • Former staffer for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in the George Washington Bridge closure investigation, as well as a different former staffer and a former executive of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in a related federal criminal trial