Agile, experienced, and aggressive - we have the team you’re looking for when your reputation is on the line.
We defend corporations and individuals at every stage of criminal investigations and trials but understand the importance of stopping prosecutions before they result in charges. From the initial stages of criminal investigations to whistleblower controversies, we work with companies to resolve issues and prevent indictment. Our goal is to achieve the best possible outcome as quickly as possible.
We do not shy away from defending our clients at trial either. Our clients know that if criminal charges are filed we will aggressively defend their interests. And with decades of experience and thousands of trial hours, our lawyers thrive in the courtroom. We have argued cases in federal and state courts across the country. We are also experienced in handling post-conviction matters in the various federal and state appellate courts. Whether through obtaining a dismissal of the charges or, if that is not possible, by winning acquittal, our focus is earning you the best possible result.
We defend clients facing all manner of white collar criminal charges. From cybercrime and healthcare to government contract and bank fraud, we are an experienced criminal defense team. We bring significant experience in tax and securities fraud and FCPA investigations, as well as all manner of administrative proceedings. We regularly include subject matter experts across the firm in our defense team.
Womble Bond Dickinson defense attorneys help domestic and international clients navigate white collar crime and fraud, drawing from first-hand experience in regulatory, corporate, and congressional investigations.
Our distinguished white collar roster includes former federal prosecutors, defenders, and U.S. Attorneys. Lawyers on our team have served at the highest levels of the Department of Justice, SEC's Enforcement Division, the White House, U.S. Congress, and the country's leading United States Attorney's Offices.
The White Collar Defense and Criminal Investigations team at Womble Bond Dickinson is committed to defending corporations and individuals facing regulatory inquiries and white collar criminal charges. From the initial stages of a criminal investigation to whistleblower controversies, our veteran defense attorneys can offer solutions for preventing indictment and help you focus on sound compliance strategies.
Find an attorney
Key Contacts
Our White Collar Defense and Criminal Investigations Attorneys
Joe Whitley leads Womble’s White Collar Defense and Criminal Investigations Team. He is a former Acting Associate Attorney General (the third-ranking position at Main Justice), former U.S. Attorney in the Middle (Macon) and Northern (Atlanta) Districts of Georgia, and the first General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security.
The attorneys on our team are well-known by regulatory agencies, experienced in multiple jurisdictions, and knowledgeable in the areas where companies are the most vulnerable to white collar crime.
Antitrust & competition
Economic sanctions, export control, and trade secrets
Insider trading and market manipulation
Tax fraud
Securities, financial, and accounting fraud: Anti-money laundering, tax offenses, investigations of fraudulent loans including civil and criminal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) investigations
Environmental crimes and investigations, including OSHA investigations
Cybercrime: Privacy and cybersecurity
Government contracts: False Claims Act (FCA) and procurement fraud
Bribery and public corruption: Investigations and defense of public officials, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA), the U.K. Bribery Act, and the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA)
Election Offenses: Campaign finance investigations, voting fraud, the misuse of federal campaign funds, and fraudulent fundraising schemes, including scam political action committees (PACs)
Compliance and Risk Management
Corporate compliance work is an essential part of our practice. Our clients rely on us to keep up with enforcement trends and alert them of regulatory developments that may impact their business. We help clients develop compliance and training programs and conduct internal investigations into allegations of white collar crimes. In our experience, companies with proven compliance strategies receive more favorable outcomes in investigations and proceedings later.
FCPA, Anti-Bribery, and Anti-Corruption Compliance
In our international compliance practice, we frequently advise on anti-corruption laws like the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act. Our work involves performing risk assessments, conducting transactional due diligence, developing tailored compliance materials, and advising executive management and in-house legal teams on compliance program effectiveness and corruption risk.
Internal Investigations
Internal investigations play a key role in uncovering white collar crime and holding offenders accountable. Our team helps companies investigate allegations from competitors, whistleblower tips, and potential compliance issues. Following an internal investigation, we provide actionable next steps to prevent indictment. We represent clients in Europe, Asia, and the Americas in government investigations of cross-border activity, and our experience ensures compliance with international privacy rules when conducting interviews and gathering data.
Government Investigations, Proceedings, and Disputes
Our team will work with you to resolve issues and prevent indictment. If charges are unavoidable, we represent individuals and businesses in every prosecution stage and have a successful track record at trial. After decades of doing this work, we have experience with nearly every kind of client representation: in coordinated defenses of parallel proceedings, such as civil lawsuits by private litigants, administrative proceedings, appearances before pro-specialist tribunals, and post-conviction matters before state and federal appellate courts.
Regulatory Inquiries and Government Investigations
Our white collar defense attorneys advise clients at every stage of government investigations, including investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal, Antitrust, and Tax Divisions, U.S. Attorney's Offices, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, State Attorneys General, and numerous federal and state departments and agencies. Our team also includes attorneys with crisis management and PR experience who represent clients in congressional investigations and hearings.
State Attorneys General
We have worked alongside State Attorneys General nationwide for many years, and many of us prosecuted AG cases before joining the firm. Understanding how government-appointed legal teams think and operate helps us anticipate AG's legal arguments and ultimately informs our defense strategies. Firsthand regulatory experience outside private practice is also a distinct advantage in formal responses and investigations. Our AG Practice includes complex compliance matters, high-profile enforcement cases and nationwide, multi-state, and joint-SEC investigations
Federal False Claims Act and Qui Tam Litigation
In many FCA matters, a successful outcome relies on acting promptly and knowing the right people to get involved. That's why we encourage our clients to budget in advance, take preventative compliance measures, and help them identify possible qui tam threats before the problems metastasize. In addition to our compliance practice, we defend clients in FCA investigations and assist with retaining experts such as private investigators, forensic experts, and statisticians.
Our advice covers when to contact the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, or state agency counterparts, the objective signs of an FCA investigation, and what to expect throughout the investigation process. We defend clients in parallel civil and criminal investigations and litigation and have substantial experience mediating FCA cases.
Need legal advice and guidance in white collar defense and criminal investigations?
Our team is able to help provide solutions to you and your organization. Browse through our lawyers and professional staff to find the right attorney near you.
“He (Joe Whitley) is terrific. I think he is great; he adds calm and brings a lot of connections and a very good reputation.”
Chambers USA
“She (Claire Rauscher) is really outstanding. She bridges the gap between giving good, practical advice and managing complex cases. She is one of the finest white collar lawyers.”
Chambers USA
“Luke (Cass) stood out for his exceptional communication, deep knowledge of federal criminal law and his ability to explain complex legal matters clearly and calmly.”
This selection will switch the website from presenting information primarily about the United Kingdom to information about the United States. If you would like to switch back, you may use location selection options at the top of the page.
Contact
Although we would like to hear from you, we cannot represent you until we know that doing so will not create a conflict of interest. Also, we cannot treat unsolicited information as confidential. Accordingly, please do not send us any information about any legal matter until we authorize you to do so. To initiate a possible representation, please call one of our lawyers or staff members.
By clicking the “ACCEPT” button, you agree that we may review any information you transmit to us. You recognize that, even if you submit information that you consider confidential in an effort to retain us, our review of that information will not create an obligation on us to keep it confidential and will not preclude us from representing another client directly adverse to you, even in a matter where that information could and will be used against you.
Please click the “ACCEPT” button if you understand and accept the foregoing statement and wish to proceed.
