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Kevin J. O'Connor
Partner
Assistant
Mary Larson860.256.8542
Kevin O'Connor, former Associate Attorney General of the United States, the third-ranking official at the U.S. Department of Justice, and United States Attorney for Connecticut, is the Chair of Bracewell & Giuliani's White Collar Practice Group. Mr. O'Connor's practice focuses on the representation of companies and individuals in government investigations. Mr. O'Connor conducts internal investigations and advises clients on compliance and corporate governance matters. Mr. O'Connor also litigates commercial matters, in state and federal courts.
Since joining Bracewell in 2009, Mr. O'Connor has represented numerous companies, their audit committees and individuals in investigations by the Department of Justice and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission into alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He has conducted numerous audits and compliance reviews for publicly-traded companies. He has also handled a variety of civil matters in state and federal courts in Connecticut and elsewhere.
As Associate Attorney General, Mr. O'Connor was responsible for overseeing the work of thirteen components in the Department of Justice, including the Tax Division, Antitrust Division, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Civil Rights Division, Civil Division, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Information and Privacy, Foreign Claims Settlement Commission and the United States Trustees.
As the United States Attorney for Connecticut, the state's chief federal law enforcement officer, Mr. O'Connor's office garnered a reputation for the prosecution of environmental crimes, bringing many cases, including one that resulted in the largest criminal penalty in New England history. During his tenure, the United States Attorney's Office also prosecuted public corruption and corporate fraud matters. Mr. O'Connor personally prosecuted or litigated many of those cases, appearing in court on behalf of the government and negotiating deferred prosecution agreements.
During his recent government service, Mr. O'Connor also served as Chief of Staff to the United States Attorney General, Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States and Chair of the Department's Intellectual Property Task Force. Mr. O'Connor's experience with the Department of Justice in both Washington, D.C. and Connecticut included testifying before Congress on tax, intellectual property and other matters, participation in numerous national and international law enforcement forums as a panelist and speaker and litigating matters on behalf of the United States in both federal district and circuit courts.
Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Mr. O'Connor served as Senior Counsel with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement, as Corporation Counsel for the Town of West Hartford, Connecticut, and as a litigation partner and associate in large law firms in New York and Connecticut.
Mr. O'Connor served as a law clerk to Judge William H. Timbers of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1992-93.
Legal and Community Service
Trustee, Federal Bar Foundation, 2010-present
Trustee, University of Connecticut Law School Foundation, 2009-present
Board Member, Connecticut Science Center, 2009-present
Board Member, St. Francis Hospital, Hartford, CT, 2008-present
Second Vice President, University of Notre Dame Monogram Club, Notre Dame, IN, 2001-present
Chairperson, Connecticut State Commission on the Death Penalty, 2001-2002
Education
J.D., with high honors, University of Connecticut School of Law, 1992
B.A., with honors, University of Notre Dame, 1989
Bar Admissions
Connecticut
New York
Court Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. District Court Connecticut
U.S. District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
U.S. Supreme Court
Noteworthy
Edmund J. Randolph Award, U.S. Department of Justice, 2009
Distinguished Graduate Award, University of Connecticut School of Law, 2008
Fellow, The Connecticut Bar Foundation James W. Cooper Fellows Program
Irish Legal 100
Impact Award, Connecticut Law Tribune, 2002
Editor, Connecticut Law Review
