Main Menu
The most important decisions in a white-collar matter may come before charges are ever filed. Procopio represents executives, business owners, and other individuals in government investigations and white-collar criminal defense, while also advising companies on internal investigations and regulatory enforcement matters.
A government investigation can create serious consequences well before anyone is charged with a crime. Executives, business owners, and other individuals may face risks to their careers, professional licenses, reputations, finances, and freedom, while companies must manage potential liability, regulatory scrutiny, business disruption, and public attention. Early involvement by experienced counsel can help protect the client’s interests, shape interactions with investigators and prosecutors, and in some cases help resolve a matter without criminal charges being filed.
Procopio represents individuals and companies in government investigations, regulatory enforcement actions, and white-collar criminal defense involving allegations of securities fraud, healthcare fraud, false claims, tax fraud, environmental crimes, bribery, immigration violations, and other potential misconduct. Our experience includes matters involving the U.S. Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and other government and industry regulators. We also conduct internal investigations for companies seeking to understand potential misconduct, assess legal exposure, and determine an appropriate response.
Our practice is grounded in substantial courtroom experience. Procopio’s white collar attorneys include seasoned trial lawyers who have handled government investigations as well as criminal, civil, and regulatory proceedings. Our practice leader has tried more than 125 jury trials and has obtained a judgment of acquittal in a federal criminal prosecution. Our experience also includes persuading regulators not to bring charges and obtaining reversal on appeal of a federal criminal conviction. That trial and appellate experience informs our strategy from the earliest stages of an investigation, including efforts to resolve matters before prosecution whenever possible.
White collar matters frequently involve legal and business issues extending beyond criminal law. When needed, our defense attorneys draw on Procopio lawyers with experience in securities, healthcare, environmental law, financial services, tax, privacy, intellectual property, employment, and other areas relevant to the investigation. This coordinated approach helps us address both the immediate government inquiry and the broader consequences it may create for the client.
Representing individuals and companies from the earliest stages of government scrutiny, with a focus on protecting their interests and limiting potential exposure.
Providing experienced courtroom advocacy when an investigation results in criminal charges or regulatory enforcement.
Helping executives, business owners, directors, professionals, and other individuals protect their legal interests, careers, and reputations when facing government scrutiny.
Helping companies understand potential misconduct, assess legal exposure, and determine an appropriate response before problems escalate.
Advising companies on regulatory concerns that can create civil or criminal exposure and helping address issues identified through investigations and audits.
Challenging adverse criminal rulings and convictions when appellate review is warranted.
Consider speaking with experienced counsel before responding to questions, providing documents, or making other commitments. Even when you believe you have done nothing wrong, early interactions with investigators can affect how a matter develops. An attorney can help you understand why you are being contacted, assess potential exposure, preserve your rights, and determine the appropriate way to respond.
As early as possible, ideally while the government is still investigating and before decisions about charges have been made. Experienced counsel can assess the situation, communicate with investigators and prosecutors, develop a defense strategy, and advocate for a resolution that may avoid criminal charges altogether. Decisions made during this early stage can have a significant impact on what follows.
Possibly. An attorney representing a company generally represents the organization, not individual executives, officers, directors, or employees. Your interests may align with the company, but they can diverge as an investigation develops. Separate counsel can advise you about your individual rights and potential exposure and help ensure that decisions about the investigation reflect your interests.
No. An investigation is often the government’s process for determining what happened and whether criminal charges or other action are warranted. Effective advocacy during this stage may help clarify facts, address prosecutors’ concerns, or resolve a matter without criminal charges. Our experience includes matters in which government investigations were resolved without prosecution.
The effects can extend well beyond the possibility of fines or imprisonment. Depending on the circumstances, an investigation may affect employment, professional licenses, business relationships, finances, reputation, and the operations of a company. We consider these potential consequences when developing a strategy, with the goal of limiting disruption and protecting the client’s broader interests throughout the investigation or defense.
Look for an attorney with substantial experience handling government investigations and the judgment to know when and how to engage with investigators and prosecutors. Courtroom experience also matters: if efforts to resolve the investigation are unsuccessful, your attorney should be prepared to defend you at trial. Experience with appeals and with the substantive legal or regulatory issues underlying the investigation can provide additional value in complex matters.
2 results found.
