Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense

Lewis Roca conducts internal corporate investigations and represents corporate and individual clients in government investigations and white collar criminal prosecutions.

With three former federal prosecutors, two former state prosecutors, and the co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Criminal Litigation Committee, the group understands the government’s perspectives and priorities. With this knowledge, we are often able to persuade prosecutors or regulators not to bring charges against our clients – by conducting thorough internal investigations to discover the pertinent facts; by designing and implementing effective corporate compliance programs; and by negotiating pre-indictment resolutions with the government.

Of course, while it is always our goal to resolve the government’s concerns confidentially, before any formal proceedings are brought, we are fully prepared to fight the government in court. Our group is comprised of highly experienced trial lawyers who have successfully tried dozens of cases in state and federal courts.

Internal Investigations

When concerns are raised about suspected wrongdoing (by a whistleblower, auditor, or government agency), our group frequently conducts internal investigations for our corporate clients. In doing so, we assess the conduct at issue and formulate a strategy designed to resolve the government’s concerns and avoid prosecution. Our group has extensive experience with internal investigations, having conducted such investigations for a wide range of entities, including Fortune 500 companies, privately-held companies, nonprofit organizations, and public institutions.

  

Corporate Compliance

Our group has experience designing and implementing effective compliance programs for clients in highly regulated industries.

  

Grand Jury and Litigation Practice

We represent individuals and entities in all stages of grand jury proceedings and at trial. We represent witnesses and targets in grand jury investigations, providing advice on responding to grand jury and administrative subpoenas. We zealously represent our clients in criminal and civil trials (as well as administrative proceedings) and in appeals. We also have extensive experience with sentencing issues. 

  

Parallel Proceedings

Criminal prosecutions are often accompanied by related proceedings, including civil litigation, SEC proceedings, state attorneys general actions, civil false claim actions, and suspension and debarment proceedings against government contractors. Working closely with our firm’s commercial litigation group, we are prepared to defend our clients’ interests on multiple fronts.

  

Substantive Areas of Representation

The group has experience in a wide range of matters, including:

• Antitrust
• Cybercrime
• Environmental crime
• False Claims Act
• Federal suspension and debarment
• Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
• Fraud
• Gaming issues
• Health care fraud
• Money laundering
• Sarbanes Oxley
• Securities fraud and insider trading
• Tax evasion