Client Alert

White Collar Defense and Investigations "The Year In Review" 2016

The White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice Group at Godfrey & Kahn includes experienced attorneys and former prosecutors who are available on a moment’s notice to assist clients with a wide variety of regulatory, civil and criminal matters. During 2016, our team worked on a diverse spectrum of government enforcement matters—only a few of which are recounted below. In these situations, and many others, we helped clients achieve positive outcomes, thereby reducing risk and increasing profitability. 

• Provided ongoing advice to numerous clients about compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other anti-bribery statutes
• Assisted public company with response to federal investigation of alleged immigration status fraud
• Represented target of U.S. Department of Justice antitrust investigation involving pharmaceuticals industry
• Assisted client with investigation of suspected fraud by Customs broker
• Represented educational institution in responding to fraud claims by former student
• Represented accounting firm in response to investigation by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
• Assisted client in investigation of alleged kickback scheme involving public officials accused of violating conflict-of-interest rules 
• Responded to criminal investigation involving mandatory reporting requirements for child abuse and neglect under Wisconsin law
• Assisted financial institution with investigation of potential elder abuse by customer’s trustee
• Investigated potential improper payments to county government officials in connection with public schools project
• Assisted company in responding to investigation by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of employee death in the workplace
• Represented client subpoenaed in a secret John Doe proceeding
• Defended health care provider in parallel federal criminal and civil cases charging Medicare fraud and violations of False Claims Act
• Advised manufacturer of electronic components regarding compliance with Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
• Assisted financial institution with response to federal grand jury subpoena for customer records
• Represented defendant in criminal case charging a federal weapons violation
• Assisted client in responding to state attorney general investigation of allegedly deceptive marketing practices
• Investigated multi-million dollar kickback scheme perpetrated by in-house lawyer
• Advised clients about compliance with regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) 
• Assisted client with issues relating to criminal charges against spouse
• Defended client accused by Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions of securities law violations in connection with solicitation of business capital 
• Assisted client in reporting embezzlement by bookkeeper to federal law enforcement 
• Represented senior executive of engineering firm in criminal investigation of alleged violations of the False Claims Act and the Buy America Act
• Monitored a global anti-bribery hotline for a multinational company
• Advised client on best practices for conducting its own internal investigation of suspected corporate Code of Conduct violations
• Investigated alleged illegal reselling of prescription drugs by health care company
• Assisted client in responding to federal investigation of misappropriation of trade secrets by former employee of competitor
• Represented individual target of federal criminal investigation of alleged fraud against minority-owned and veteran-owned business programs in connection with federal construction contracts
• Represented in-house attorney of federal contractor in parallel criminal and civil fraud investigations involving alleged violations of False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute