Press Release
February 1, 2011
Outgoing Statewide Prosecutor William Shepherd Joins Holland & Knight's White Collar Defense Team
Holland & Knight Press Release
West Palm Beach, Fla. – February 1, 2011 – Holland & Knight is pleased to announce that William Shepherd, outgoing Statewide Prosecutor, has joined the firm as a partner in the firm's national White Collar Defense Team. Shepherd, of West Palm Beach, will work closely with members of the national Team concerning investigations and enforcement actions throughout Florida and in matters across the country. He has accumulated particular expertise in the areas of healthcare fraud, securities fraud, anti-money laundering, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and will primarily focus on the area of white collar criminal defense and assist clients with internal investigations and compliance issues. Shepherd’s complex litigation background also allows him to work effectively at all levels of parallel civil and administrative proceedings.
"After more than a decade of public service, I'm very pleased to begin a new private practice with Holland & Knight," said Shepherd. "The size and scope of the firm were key factors in my decision to join, as was the stellar reputation of its white collar defense practice."
"Bill Shepherd is a fantastic addition to our growing stable of talented and experienced litigators who have honed their skills in the public sector," said Adolfo Jimenez, Chair of the firm's South Florida Litigation Practice. "His well-known accomplishments as Statewide Prosecutor and experience in handling a wide variety of white collar criminal cases will be an asset to the firm."
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Shepherd served seven years in the Office of the Attorney General of Florida. He was appointed in 2007 by former Attorney General Bill McCollum as Florida's Statewide Prosecutor and was responsible for leading eight offices throughout Florida in the investigation and prosecution of multi-circuit criminal activity. Shepherd's focus was on RICO prosecutions in the area of white-collar crime, mortgage fraud, securities fraud, healthcare fraud, ponzi schemes, corporate and private embezzlement, money laundering, narcotics trafficking and gang-related crimes. He also worked in the Office of the State Attorney in Miami as an Assistant State attorney from 1996-2000.
As Florida’s top constitutional prosecutorial officer, he worked closely with senior state and federal officials. He was a driver in state enforcement priorities and legislative policy initiatives. In addition to his trial and prosecution background, he served as the Statewide Grand Jury Legal Advisor, and the Grand Jury Reports formed the basis for sweeping legislative changes. Shepherd’s work crafting and testifying in support of legislation resulted in new tools for anti-gang efforts and anti-money laundering regulations. The grand jury’s most recent report, released last month, outlined a multi-pronged anti-corruption strategy that has garnered statewide support.
Shepherd is a respected national leader in the criminal justice field and currently serves as First Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association's 20,000 member Criminal Justice Section, is a member of its Global Anti-Corruption Initiatives Task Force, and serves as one of its two Delegates to the ABA's House of Delegates. For the last five years he served as an Adjunct Professor in Florida Atlantic University's Criminology Department and frequently speaks and writes on the topics of white collar crime, internal investigations, public corruption, and trial tactics.
Shepherd is a graduate of Georgetown University and the Georgetown University Law Center and served as a law clerk to United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh.
"After more than a decade of public service, I'm very pleased to begin a new private practice with Holland & Knight," said Shepherd. "The size and scope of the firm were key factors in my decision to join, as was the stellar reputation of its white collar defense practice."
"Bill Shepherd is a fantastic addition to our growing stable of talented and experienced litigators who have honed their skills in the public sector," said Adolfo Jimenez, Chair of the firm's South Florida Litigation Practice. "His well-known accomplishments as Statewide Prosecutor and experience in handling a wide variety of white collar criminal cases will be an asset to the firm."
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Shepherd served seven years in the Office of the Attorney General of Florida. He was appointed in 2007 by former Attorney General Bill McCollum as Florida's Statewide Prosecutor and was responsible for leading eight offices throughout Florida in the investigation and prosecution of multi-circuit criminal activity. Shepherd's focus was on RICO prosecutions in the area of white-collar crime, mortgage fraud, securities fraud, healthcare fraud, ponzi schemes, corporate and private embezzlement, money laundering, narcotics trafficking and gang-related crimes. He also worked in the Office of the State Attorney in Miami as an Assistant State attorney from 1996-2000.
As Florida’s top constitutional prosecutorial officer, he worked closely with senior state and federal officials. He was a driver in state enforcement priorities and legislative policy initiatives. In addition to his trial and prosecution background, he served as the Statewide Grand Jury Legal Advisor, and the Grand Jury Reports formed the basis for sweeping legislative changes. Shepherd’s work crafting and testifying in support of legislation resulted in new tools for anti-gang efforts and anti-money laundering regulations. The grand jury’s most recent report, released last month, outlined a multi-pronged anti-corruption strategy that has garnered statewide support.
Shepherd is a respected national leader in the criminal justice field and currently serves as First Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association's 20,000 member Criminal Justice Section, is a member of its Global Anti-Corruption Initiatives Task Force, and serves as one of its two Delegates to the ABA's House of Delegates. For the last five years he served as an Adjunct Professor in Florida Atlantic University's Criminology Department and frequently speaks and writes on the topics of white collar crime, internal investigations, public corruption, and trial tactics.
Shepherd is a graduate of Georgetown University and the Georgetown University Law Center and served as a law clerk to United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh.