In the past several years, this country has witnessed a dramatic increase in the investigation and prosecution of business institutions and their executives and employees. Federal and state prosecutors and regulators, armed with new statutes and increased penalties, have placed institutions and individuals under great scrutiny in virtually every industry from Wall Street to Main Street.
White Collar Criminal Defense
The lawyers in Bracewell & Giuliani's White Collar Criminal Defense practice possess the skill and experience critical to defend a client in the face of a criminal, quasi-criminal or regulatory investigation or prosecution conducted by the Department of Justice, a U.S. Attorney's Office, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or a state District Attorney or Attorney General. We are experienced in representing clients through all aspects of criminal cases and regulatory enforcement actions – from the first subpoena and the onset of investigation, through the grand jury stage, and at trial or an administrative proceeding. Our team has handled cases involving a broad array of subjects, including securities fraud, antitrust, investment advisory fraud, money laundering, RICO, mail fraud, wire fraud, health care fraud, environmental violations and tax issues, among others. We have represented institutions and individuals in federal criminal trials around the country, and in enforcement proceedings before the SEC, FERC, various state Attorneys General, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Prior to making their mark in the defense bar, many of our lawyers served in leadership positions at the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, the SEC, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. They offer an insider's view of how best to defend a case. We have found that a lawyer who is prepared to put prosecutors and regulators to their proof can often achieve a superior result for the client. For that reason, every member of the White Collar Criminal Defense section is a seasoned trial lawyer.
Special Investigations
It is axiomatic that a successful 21st-century corporation must be proactive in ensuring compliance with applicable statutes, regulations and rules. In this regard, it has been our experience that an ounce of prevention is, as the saying goes, worth a pound of cure. Nonetheless, when a weakness is discovered, or a government agency is investigating certain conduct across an industry, a swift and thorough investigation is often necessary to retain public confidence and minimize government involvement. The credibility, integrity and experience of our White Collar Criminal Defense lawyers has enabled us to guide some of America's largest companies through challenging situations and to reduce or minimize the government's role in the matter. We have conducted Special Investigations for companies in the financial, technology, insurance, and retail industries and have counseled Boards of Directors, Audit Committees and Special Committees. Our Special Investigations work has been featured in Business Week Online and The Wall Street Journal. We work aggressively and effectively to contain and successfully resolve the issue troubling the client.
Bracewell & Giuliani's White Collar Criminal Defense and Special Investigations group represents high-profile clients who face serious problems. We have a superior team and a proven track record of success. Our recent matters include:
Representation of Fortune 500 corporation in DOJ and SEC "options backdating" investigations
Representation of a multi-national corporation in a criminal tax investigation involving the synthetic fuel industry, leading to closure of the investigation
Representation of a well-known national corporation in a DOJ Antitrust investigation, leading to closure of the investigation
Representation of numerous individuals in federal criminal investigations, leading to closure of the investigation
Representation of multiple international energy companies in regulatory probes by FERC, CFTC and other regulators