White Collar Defense and Investigations
Corporations are under increasing pressure to self-report corporate wrongdoing. When your company becomes aware of possible misconduct, the matter must be investigated thoroughly and quickly. This is particularly true in highly regulated industries, such as pharmaceutical and medical device businesses. It is critical that any team conducting an internal investigation knows the industry in depth and also has credibility with the investigative agencies.
The Holland & Knight team offers experienced attorneys to any company that needs an internal investigation done quickly, effectively and with an awareness of the many costs involved. Holland & Knight litigators are equally comfortable in the courtroom and within the halls of the Justice Department. Our depth of experience provides our clients credibility with courts, prosecutors and regulators who investigate criminal matters. In today's complicated and highly regulated legal environment, experience directly impacts results. At Holland & Knight, your matters are handled by attorneys who have been in the courtroom, the boardroom and in the grand jury.
Members of Holland & Knight's White Collar Defense and Investigations Team have defended clients in investigations by the following law enforcement agencies:
- U.S. Department of Justice
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- U.S. Customs Service
- U.S. Internal Revenue Service
- U.S. Treasury Department
- U.S. Federal Election Commission
- U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General
- U.S. Department of Navy, Criminal Investigative Service
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General
- U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General
- U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of the Inspector General
- General Services Administration, Office of the Inspector General
- U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of the Inspector General
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
Experience That Counts in White Collar Defense
Holland & Knight's White Collar Defense and Investigations Team represents clients that range from some of the world's largest companies to individuals, sole proprietorships and government contractors. All cases receive the same attention to detail and commitment. Below are representative cases that our team has handled:
- served as independent counsel to the audit committee of a publicly-traded company to investigate potential overbillings of government agencies and related False Claims Act liabilities
- investigated best price reporting issues and pharmaceutical sales and marketing practices for a NASDAQ- listed company under both criminal and civil investigations
- served as lead counsel for a Fortune 100 corporation in a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation
- conducted internal investigations for publicly traded companies dealing with back dating of stock options
- served as independent counsel to the audit committee of a public company to investigate Federal and state campaign contribution violations
- investigated pharmaceutical sales and marketing practices for a Fortune 100 company subject to various criminal and civil investigations involving multiple U.S. Attorneys' offices, as well as multiple investigative agencies
- served as lead counsel for a Fortune 50 corporation in a federal criminal investigation involving insurance fraud; resolved by dormant subsidiary assuming liability, with little or no adverse publicity for the parent company
- represented significant national banks and bankers in major banking regulatory matters, including investigations conducted by the Federal Reserve, SEC, Controller of the Currency and Department of Justice
- handled major environmental indictment brought by the Department of Justice against an international transportation corporation
- defended privately held medical device company being investigated by DOJ's civil fraud section for kickbacks and False Claims Act allegations
- defended privately held construction company against allegations related to its subcontractor's status as a certified business enterprise
- led internal investigation for non-profit organization related to outlying allegations of fraud and potential misuse of D.C. Council earmark funding
- defended a privately held construction company against allegations of fraud and non-compliance related to its certification as a D.C. local business enterprise
Corporate Compliance Programs
Creating and implementing an effective corporate compliance program is your first line of defense against allegations of corporate wrongdoing. It is also one of the best ways to ensure that good ethics and good business go hand in hand. We are well versed in designing compliance programs tailored to meet your particular needs and vulnerabilities while addressing increasingly complex federal and state regulatory requirements. Holland & Knight can guide your company in creating programs that prevent, deter and, if necessary, detect misconduct. We also offer a broad range of services to help you implement or upgrade your program, including risk assessments, due diligence, compliance investigations, independent monitoring and training.
Leading Lawyers on Your Side
Our team includes some of the country's leading practitioners, a number of whom have been recognized among the top white collar crime lawyers in the country by leading industry publications such as Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers.