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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 and the UK, with decades of collective experience as defense lawyers, former prosecutors, regulators, federal judges and in-house counsel. 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, Chambers UK, Legal 500 US and Legal 500 UK.
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 various levels of government. 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 and financial sanctions and export control
- environmental and ESG litigation
- Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Bribery Act diligence and litigation
- False Claims Act and Qui Tam matters
- government contracts
- healthcare fraud
- insider trading
- money laundering
- tax issues
Areas of Focus
FCPA
Our FCPA practice is far-reaching in scope. We work with clients in virtually every sector of the global economy — including energy, financial and business services, manufacturing and technology — on FCPA-related matters before the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other federal agencies.
We also represent companies with business operations in high risk regions where the mix of joint ventures, subcontractors and other third parties are common and where export controls are required. Our lawyers have assisted clients with FCPA concerns in countries throughout the world, including China, India, Kuwait, Mexico, Russia, the UAE and Venezuela.
Meet the teamInternal Investigations
We have extensive experience conducting investigations around the world, including for companies in the financial services, technology, energy and retail sectors.
Our lawyers have handled virtually every kind of investigation involving:
- corporate governance practices and procedures
- anti-corruption laws
- sanctions and export controls
- money laundering
- SEC and financial exchange regulations
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) claims
- whistleblower investigations under the Sarbanes Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act and the Seaman’s Protection Act
Monitorships
We are strongly positioned to work with prosecutors and regulators as monitors and independent auditors. Our lawyers frequently serve in these roles to oversee compliance with court orders and agreements because of their backgrounds inside and outside the government.
Of particular note is Barbara Jones, who served as a district court judge in the Southern District of New York for 17 years. Judge Jones was a member of the American Bar Association Corporate Monitor Standards Committee and helped author the ABA-approved standards for monitorships. She has been appointed by the government and federal courts to conduct monitorships and special master assignments in several high-profile matters, including an appointment by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in connection with the merger of three large telecommunications companies; an appointment by the Southern District of New York serve as the special master in the Michael Cohen privilege review; and an appointment to serve as independent compliance officer for the Archdiocese of New York.
Meet the team
FCPA
Our FCPA practice is far-reaching in scope. We work with clients in virtually every sector of the global economy — including energy, financial and business services, manufacturing and technology — on FCPA-related matters before the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other federal agencies.
We also represent companies with business operations in high risk regions where the mix of joint ventures, subcontractors and other third parties are common and where export controls are required. Our lawyers have assisted clients with FCPA concerns in countries throughout the world, including China, India, Kuwait, Mexico, Russia, the UAE and Venezuela.
Meet the team
Internal Investigations
We have extensive experience conducting investigations around the world, including for companies in the financial services, technology, energy and retail sectors.
Our lawyers have handled virtually every kind of investigation involving:
- corporate governance practices and procedures
- anti-corruption laws
- sanctions and export controls
- money laundering
- SEC and financial exchange regulations
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) claims
- whistleblower investigations under the Sarbanes Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act and the Seaman’s Protection Act
Monitorships
We are strongly positioned to work with prosecutors and regulators as monitors and independent auditors. Our lawyers frequently serve in these roles to oversee compliance with court orders and agreements because of their backgrounds inside and outside the government.
Of particular note is Barbara Jones, who served as a district court judge in the Southern District of New York for 17 years. Judge Jones was a member of the American Bar Association Corporate Monitor Standards Committee and helped author the ABA-approved standards for monitorships. She has been appointed by the government and federal courts to conduct monitorships and special master assignments in several high-profile matters, including an appointment by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in connection with the merger of three large telecommunications companies; an appointment by the Southern District of New York serve as the special master in the Michael Cohen privilege review; and an appointment to serve as independent compliance officer for the Archdiocese of New York.
Meet the teamRecognition 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 leading law firms in Chambers USA, Chambers UK, Legal 500 US, Legal 500 UK and other legal directories.
- Chambers UK – Energy & Natural Resources: Dispute Resolution
- Chambers USA – New York Litigation: White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations; Texas Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations
- Legal 500 UK – Commercial Litigation: Premium; International Arbitration
- 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
Their lawyers are precise and strategic in their representation, demonstrating strong knowledge of the criminal justice system and competent awareness of federal practices.
Chambers USA, 2023
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
- 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
- Digital Currency Group, a major cryptocurrency parent company, in parallel investigations involving allegations that a wholly owned subsidiary engaged in fraud with representations about its financial condition following a massive default by a crypto counterparty
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union (IBT), as an independent monitor with disciplinary authority over the IBT relating to internal corruption charges, disciplinary decisions and review of trusteeships imposed by the IBT over local unions, as well as other investigative matters
- Charles McGonigal, a former special agent in charge of the Counterintelligence Division of New York Field Office, in an investigation for possible FARA violations, as well as an investigation for possible money laundering in connection with services rendered to clients in Albania and Ukraine following his retirement from the FBI
- New York City District Council of Carpenters in connection with its court-appointed monitorship
