White Collar
Excellent white-collar lawyers with a tremendous amount of trial experience.Chambers USA
Practice Overview
White collar defense is never elective. A whistleblower report, government investigation, FBI visit, search, arrest, or subpoena can suddenly thrust a company or individual into a hostile world of legal entanglements that can stretch out for years, affecting resources and reputations. It is crucial to get the right representation early on. We represent corporations and executives at every stage, from compliance counseling and internal investigations, to grand jury investigations, criminal trials, appeals, and monitorships, and everything in between.
Buckley’s white collar defense practice has been recognized in Chambers USA as the “crème de la crème of the white collar community” with the “breadth and the ability to handle everything from individual representations to large internal investigations and compliance matters.” Our lawyers have been described as “fantastic trial lawyers,” “people with tremendous experience and great reputations,” “legends of the white-collar bar,” “fearless,” “extremely thoughtful and imaginative,” and among “the best trial lawyers in the city.”
Our lawyers have decades of experience successfully helping corporations understand their compliance risks and investigate potential problems, as well as defending companies or their executives in government investigations and litigation where multibillion dollar judgments, bet-the-company sanctions, personal freedom, reputations, family, health, and livelihood are on the line. Our breadth of expertise is substantial. Our lawyers have assisted clients in every major Department of Justice white collar enforcement initiative in the past three decades, whether in foreign bribery; political corruption and scandals; securities, accounting, and financial fraud; antitrust; environmental crimes; tax fraud; or other complex issues. Working together with our best-in-class financial services practice, we are particularly well-suited to handle any type of white collar matter for financial services providers.
We have a deep bench of former federal prosecutors, including former senior leadership at leading U.S. Attorney’s Offices. Our lawyers include multiple fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Criminal Lawyers. We collectively have tried hundreds of cases, and are known for our willingness to take cases to trial. We have also adeptly resolved countless cases before they ever reach a courtroom.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Anti-Corruption. When it comes to the FCPA, we have done it all, from navigating clients through DOJ and SEC investigations and hard-fought trials, to internal investigations and compliance counseling, including the design and testing of compliance policies and programs and daily compliance advice. We have represented clients in anticorruption matters across a wide variety of industries, including banking, mining, oil & gas, energy, manufacturing, telecommunications, gaming, firearms, engineering, restaurants, and chemicals, and in investigations around the world, through our deep relationships with the best white collar and anticorruption practices in key geographic regions, including in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. We have secured declinations and non-prosecution agreements for many clients, and have had many high-profile litigation and trial successes, with examples below and additional information available on our FCPA practice page.
- SEC v. Mark Jackson. We secured a voluntary dismissal on the eve of trial of six claims alleging FCPA violations against the former CEO of an oilfield services company concerning the company’s business in Nigeria. The SEC agreed to a very favorable settlement of the remaining claim, with no monetary payment and no restriction on future employment opportunities. The case was litigated in the Southern District of Texas.
- United States v. Goncalves (Africa Sting Case). After a four-month trial, we secured a dismissal of all claims against our client, the owner of a military arms company. The case, which was litigated in the U.S. District for the District of Columbia, was the DOJ’s largest FCPA prosecution of individuals and its first sting operation in an FCPA case.
- Wynn Resorts v. Universal Entertainment Corp. Our client, a Japanese gaming manufacturer, was accused by a business partner of being involved in alleged FCPA violations. Following four years of hard-fought litigation in Nevada state court, we secured a $2.63 billion settlement in our client’s favor in the underlying corporate dispute against Wynn Resorts Limited and the dismissal of FCPA-related allegations.
- One of our lawyers represented a brother of former Afghan President Hamid Karzai in a grand jury investigation in the Southern District of New York concerning alleged FCPA and other violations. After more than two years of investigation, prosecutors declined to bring any charges.
Securities and Accounting Fraud: We represent clients in all types of investigations, enforcement proceedings, and litigation concerning securities, accounting, and financial fraud. Our team includes a 20-year veteran of the SEC’s Enforcement Division and former head of its Office of Market Intelligence. A few of our high-profile successes are noted below, with additional information available on the Securities practice page.
- United States v. Wakeford and SEC v. Wakeford. One of our lawyers secured a total acquittal for our client, a senior AOL executive, following criminal and civil jury trials on fraud charges relating to revenue recognition.
- In re Fannie Mae Securities, Derivative and ERISA Litigation. We secured at summary judgment dismissal of all claims against our client, the Senior Vice President and Controller of Fannie Mae, in a securities fraud class action that was litigated for eight years in the District of D.C. The case concerned alleged accounting errors connected to the company’s $6 billion restatement.
Inspector General Investigations: We have represented dozens of clients in investigations conducted by a wide variety of inspectors general, including by the inspectors general of the Department of Treasury, Small Business Administration, Veterans Administration, Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Justice. These investigations are often a prelude to civil, criminal, or congressional investigations and we have successfully curtailed their impact for dozens of clients. Recent representations have included:
- A top-5 bank in a multiyear investigation of its Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgage lending practices initiated by the Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, DOJ, and several U.S. Attorney’s Offices, which resulted in a $200 million civil settlement with no admission of liability.
- A high-ranking FBI official in pending IG and congressional inquiries regarding presidential influence on budget and logistical decisions.
- A senior Department of Education official in an IG investigation of a purported conflict of interest in administering a Department program and spurred by congressional inquiry. Investigation closed with public report confirming no evidence to support allegation.
- Central Intelligence Agency employees and attorneys in IG and related DOJ investigation of matters related to classified enhanced interrogation techniques, persons captured and detained as enemy combatants, and Near East affairs. No clients were found to have acted improperly.
- Former GSA official called before House Committee on Oversight and Reform as a result of IG investigation of misappropriation of government funds
Environmental: We have deep experience in environmental criminal matters, having handled everything from unannounced site inspections to criminal trial defense. A few of our high-profile matters are listed below, with additional information available on the Environmental Enforcement & Litigation practice page
- United States v. W.R. Grace. We secured a total acquittal following a three-month jury trial in Montana federal court for our client, a W.R. Grace executive, on charges under the Clean Air Act, in DOJ’s largest and longest environmental crime prosecution.
- We have represented senior executives in many high-profile environmental matters, including relating to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the release of chemicals at a pesticide manufacturing facility in LaPorte, Texas, and Volkswagen’s certification and sale of diesel engines in the United States.
Public Corruption: Our lawyers have represented lead defendants in some of the most high-profile trials and appeals of public officials and their benefactors in the last decade.
- United States v. McDonnell. One of our lawyers was lead trial counsel for the former governor of Virginia Robert McDonnell, and helped reverse his political corruption conviction at the Supreme Court, narrowing the definition of an “official act” for all future public corruption cases.
- United States v. Roberson. We secured a sentence nearly 30 months below the Sentencing Guidelines range for our client, a senior executive of Drummond Company, following his conviction in the Northern District of Alabama on corruption charges. Our appeal of his conviction is ongoing at the Eleventh Circuit.
- United States v. Livingston. One of our lawyers secured the acquittal of a former principal of a government contracting company in a corruption and fraud trial in the Eastern District of Virginia.
- United States v. Herbert Vederman. One of our lawyers represented the former deputy mayor of Philadelphia and financial benefactor of U.S. congressman Chaka Fattah in various post-trial proceedings, securing dismissal of various bribery-related convictions and reversal of others on appeal.
- United States v. Bridget Kelly. One of our lawyers represented Kelly in an appeal in the “Bridgegate” case at the Third Circuit, and her convictions were ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court in a unanimous decision.
Antitrust: We have represented senior executives and companies in many high-profile antitrust matters, including in investigations of alleged fixing of LIBOR and foreign exchange rates, and of price fixing in the Japanese auto parts supply, airline freight, auto shipping, and international moving and storage industries, as well as in related False Claims Act prosecutions.
Export Controls and Sanctions: We routinely assist individuals and institutions in investigations, enforcement actions, and voluntary disclosures related to sanctions and export control laws. We also develop and advise on compliance programs for a wide range of financial and nonfinancial institutions. Select matters are listed below, with more information available on our Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering & Sanctions practice page.
- United States v. Viau. We represented a technology company executive in in a criminal prosecution in federal court in the District of D.C. concerning alleged false statements in a voluntary disclosure of failure to comply with export laws. Case resolved with misdemeanor charge.
- We currently represent the general counsel of a publicly traded company in connection with export control violations arising from foreign manufacturing and dissemination of intellectual property to foreign affiliates.
Healthcare: One of our lawyers has defended many medical professionals and businesses in a wide variety of healthcare fraud investigations.
- United States v. Holland. We represent a former senior executive of Tenet Healthcare in an ongoing action in the Northern District of Georgia concerning alleged healthcare fraud, including alleged violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute.
Topic Spotlight: Assistance in responding to government oversight of pandemic relief
The federal government’s financial response to the Covid-19 pandemic is measured in trillions of dollars, and the intensity of oversight related to that response reflects this unprecedented commitment. All involved in the government’s response, particularly financial services providers, should expect increased scrutiny of how those dollars have been and will be spent.
Buckley’s white collar, enforcement, congressional investigations, class actions, complex civil litigation, and False Claims Act & FIRREA teams are prepared to assist with government and congressional inquiries, examinations, investigations, and government and private party litigation that arise from the pandemic response. We work closely with our financial services regulatory practices to combine the firm’s core substantive experience with our deep knowledge of government investigations and litigation of all kinds.
Topic Spotlight: Inspector general investigations
More than 70 inspectors general throughout federal agencies and other governmental entities have the power to issue subpoenas, coordinate with civil enforcement agencies, make referrals to and work with criminal prosecutors, issue public reports, and liaise with Congress. These investigations and potential enforcement actions can significantly strain resources, impede normal business activity, and cause reputational damage.
Buckley regularly guides clients through these inquiries and investigations, including those triggered by or involving whistleblowers, as well as handles the civil and criminal enforcement actions and congressional inquiries that arise from IG investigations.
Excellent white-collar lawyers with a tremendous amount of trial experience.Chambers USA
Articles
"Challenges of voir dire in a white collar case" by Hank Asbill (The Champion)
Hank Asbill and Nadav Ariel wrote an article in the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' The Champion magazine on the challenges of voir dire in a white collar case. Click here to read the full article . Subscription required.
Articles"Wall Street money a canard in DA race" by Daniel R. Alonso (Daily News)
In a year when more than a dozen people are running for New York City mayor, the race for Manhattan district attorney is not getting much attention. That’s a mistake. A vacant seat in this crucial office — which has only had four incumbents in the past 83 years, going back to Thomas E. Dewey — is a...
Articles"The Trump test for the next DA: Who can oversee what could be a complex, high-stakes prosecution?" by Daniel R. Alonso (Daily News)
We are now less than 90 days from the primary for Manhattan District Attorney. As the race heats up, so does the investigation of the Trump Organization and former President Donald Trump. The question voters should be asking is whether any of the eight candidates to succeed DA Cy Vance has what it...
Articles"The Bannon pardon: When is someone really off the hook?" co-authored by Daniel R. Alonso (National Law Journal)
Anyone under federal indictment would want a presidential pardon. Facing a criminal trial and even the possibility of going to jail is enough reason to accept one—even if it might be taken as an admission of sorts by the recipient of the pardon that he has, indeed, committed the crime for which he...
Articles"Opinion: How Trump's pardons could get even more bizarre" by Daniel R. Alonso (CNN)
President Donald Trump announced a wave of pardons on Tuesday for people ranging from Republican allies to two men who pleaded guilty in Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. Meanwhile, speculation grows about whether President Trump will pardon three of his adult children, his son-in-law, or even himself before his term ends on January 20.
Articles"Defending attorneys against extortion charges presents unique challenges" by Bradley A. Marcus (Business Crimes Bulletin)
Although the criminal prosecution of lawyer misconduct is nothing new, the recent indictment of a plaintiffs’ lawyer in Maryland and sentencing of two plaintiffs’ lawyers in Virginia illustrate the particular danger to attorneys who arguably cross the line during negotiations with potential...
Articles"Nickel and diming access to court records: The National Veterans Legal Services Program decision and PACER fees" by Elizabeth R. Bailey
For years, remote access to most federal court records has been locked behind a government paywall. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit may have pulled the first brick out of that wall, though, in an...
Buckley Commentary & Analysis"Supreme Court decision upholds but limits SEC’s disgorgement authority" by Olivia A. Rauh
A recent Supreme Court decision allows the Securities and Exchange Commission to continue pursuing disgorgement in its enforcement actions, but with significant limitations that will curb disgorgement’s scope and could complicate the SEC’s future efforts to seek it.
Whether the SEC has...
Buckley Commentary & Analysis"Videoconferences are weak alternatives to in-person client meetings" by Nancy H. Turner
A century ago, the Spanish Flu ravaged the globe and impacted the legal industry in ways not dissimilar to what we are seeing today. Trials could not be held as attorneys and judges contracted the virus, courts —...
Buckley Commentary & Analysis"Some lies matter more than others: Why Congress should consider a 'false statement misdemeanor'" by Preston Burton, Paige Ammons, Bree Murphy, Jackson Hagen (Law.com)
The Department of Justice’s attempted abandonment of the Michael Flynn prosecution has sparked troubling and conflicting questions of political interference, prosecutorial indiscretion and judicial overreach. But a difficult question at the heart of the matter has gone begging: whether there are...
Articles"Watching Amazon—How a Hill investigation can morph into criminal inquiry" by Bradley A. Marcus (Bloomberg Law)
Amazon’s regulatory headache became a migraine in May when the House Committee on the Judiciary notified Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos that the company’s statements to Congress about its business practices “appear to be misleading, and possibly criminally false or perjurious.” The committee called on Bezos...
Articles"Price-gouging a priority as pandemic persists"
One of the federal government’s most immediate responses to the coronavirus crisis was a highly visible campaign against profiteering. While the absence of an overarching federal anti-price gouging statute has forced prosecutors to improvise and legislators to contemplate new laws in order to...
Buckley Commentary & Analysis"When the court orders a Brady violation"
What happens when prosecutors fail to make constitutionally required disclosures of evidence because the court ordered them not to? The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit weighed in on this issue recently,...
Buckley Commentary & Analysis"CARES Act puts inspectors general back in the spotlight" by Daniel R. Alonso, Preston Burton, & Meredith Leeson (New York Law Journal)
Federal Inspectors General—the nation’s watchdogs over government agencies and government programs—are back in the news. First, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act , received close attention not only for its $2 trillion infusion of taxpayer dollars into the U.S. economy, but also...
Articles"E-oversight is more important than ever during Covid-19" by Meredith Leeson (Bloomberg Law)
Corporations determined to maintain employee productivity amidst the massive global shift to remote work triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic may not have given as much thought to a critical complication: How to oversee those employees and validate their ongoing compliance with policies, procedures,...
Articles"Attorney-client privilege should not stop at the prison gate" by Elizabeth R. Bailey
U.S. law respects the confidentiality of a prisoner’s communications with counsel, including phone calls and visits, but with one critical exception that goes unnoticed by many attorneys: The government routinely monitors — and then uses in court — emails between federal prisoners and their...
Buckley Commentary & Analysis"CARES congressional oversight: Scope and structure" by Preston Burton (Bloomberg Law)
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, signed in March 2020, enacted an unprecedented level of emergency government spending to provide public health relief and stabilize an economy damaged by the pandemic, and included oversight provisions to monitor how the $2 trillion is spent...
Articles"Op-ed: Prepare for the coronavirus scams: Learning from post-9/11 fraud" by Daniel R. Alonso (Daily News)
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Beatrice Kaufman sat in her Hamptons house watching the Twin Towers collapse. Although she lived and worked in Manhattan, her 6,000-square-foot apartment was being renovated, so she stayed at her country home instead. But that did not stop her from filing papers...
Articles"CARES Act increases oversight and criminal investigations" by Daniel R. Alonso (Bloomberg Law)
The CARES Act will infuse more than $2 trillion into the U.S. economy — the largest such action in history. But if history is any guide, wherever there is a big pot of money, some people will look to steal it. Some desperate individuals might misrepresent their eligibility for unemployment benefits...
Articles
News & Blogs
Daniel R. Alonso extensively quoted in Insider article, “Trump risks ‘hush money’ charges carrying up to 4 years in prison, say ex-Manhattan prosecutors”
The Insider article, “Trump risks ‘hush money’ charges carrying up to 4 years in prison, say ex-Manhattan prosecutors,” regarding Donald Trump’s Manhattan grand jury trial, reports the former president could face a prison sentence for falsifying business records in paying Stormy Daniels hush money...
In The NewsDaniel R. Alonso quoted in The Guardian article, “New York grand jury stores up trouble for Trump Organization executives”
Daniel R. Alonso was quoted in The Guardian article, “New York grand jury stores up trouble for Trump Organization executives,” which discussed the report from the New York Times that the Manhattan district attorney’s office might be nearing the final stages of their criminal tax inquiry into the...
In The NewsDaniel R. Alonso featured on MSNBC’s The Last Word
Daniel R. Alonso appeared on MSNBC’s The Last Word and discussed the Manhattan DA’s news from the New York Times that Manhattan criminal investigation of former president Donald Trump, which could lead to charges against his Chief Financial Officer, Allen Weisselberg, as soon as this summer. Alonso...
In The NewsDaniel R. Alonso interviewed in Max & Murphy podcast episode, “Why the race for Manhattan district attorney is so important”
Daniel R. Alonso was a guest on the Max & Murphy podcast episode, “Why the race for Manhattan district attorney is so important,” which discussed the upcoming election to replace outgoing DA Cy Vance. Alosno noted: I’m very concerned that politics are going to creep into individual case...
In The NewsDaniel R. Alonso quoted in ABC News article, "Manhattan DA brought Trump Organization controller to testify before special grand jury: Sources”
ABC News reported in the article, “Manhattan DA brought Trump Organization controller to testify before special grand jury: Sources,” that Jeff McConney, senior vice president and controller for the Trump Organization, is among a number of witnesses that have appeared before the special grand jury...
In The NewsDaniel R. Alonso quoted in NBC News article, “'Not a positive development': What the new criminal probe could mean for the Trump Organization”
Daniel R. Alonso noted in the NBC News article “'Not a positive development': What the new criminal probe could mean for the Trump Organization” that the New York attorney general's decision to team up with Manhattan district attorney is “not unusual,” but it isn't typical either. "In a case like...
In The NewsDaniel R. Alonso quoted in Washington Post article, “Seven questions about New York’s investigations of Trump”
In the Washington Post article, “Seven questions about New York’s investigations of Trump,” Daniel R. Alonso discussed if the New York Attorney General Letitia James can use the evidence she gathered in her civil investigation, if she pursues a criminal case? Alonso noted “Using civil evidence in...
In The NewsDaniel R. Alonso quoted in Wall Street Journal article, “Manhattan district attorney candidates walk tightrope on trump probe”
Daniel R. Alonso noted in the Wall Street Journal article, “Manhattan district attorney candidates walk tightrope on trump probe,” that the candidates must use caution when discussing the Trump investigation because any comment or commitment to prosecute the case could call into question their...
In The NewsDaniel R. Alonso extensively quoted in World Crypto News article, “Atlanta, New York, and DC could be in for a logistical and security nightmare if Trump gets prosecuted”
Daniel R. Alonso noted in the World Crypto News article, “Atlanta, New York, and DC could be in for a logistical and security nightmare if Trump gets prosecuted. A trial against Trump, or even one of his companies or executives, particularly a member of his family, would be unprecedented in a...
In The NewsDaniel R. Alonso quoted in Bloomberg article, “Trump fight against prosecutors may rely on adviser defense”
The Bloomberg article, “Trump fight against prosecutors may rely on adviser defense,” discussed how the jury will be an important factor in a trial for former President Donald Trump. Daniel R. Alonso noted, “The complexity of a white-collar case may also work to Trump’s advantage, with competing...
In The News
Press Releases & Announcements
Legal 500 2022 recognizes 18 Buckley attorneys in five practice areas
“They treat their clients better than any other law firm I’ve experienced,” is what one respondent said about Buckley LLP to Legal 500, which ranked the firm as a top law firm in five categories and recognized 18 of its attorneys for its 2022 edition.
The publication recognized...
AnnouncementsBuckley recognized by Chambers USA for consumer financial services, white collar, and fintech practices
Chambers USA named Buckley LLP a nationwide Band 1 firm in all consumer finance categories in its 2022 rankings, recognizing six of its partners in those practices. The firm received top recognition in Consumer Finance Compliance, Consumer Finance Litigation, and Consumer Finance...
AnnouncementsLegal 500 2021 recognizes 17 Buckley attorneys in six practice areas
“While some firms will provide lengthy and expensive legal analysis, Buckley’s team relies on their depth and breadth of expertise to provide useful guidance from various team members quickly and efficiently,” a respondent told Legal 500, which ranked Buckley LLP as a top law firm and...
AnnouncementsBuckley recognized by Chambers USA for consumer financial services, white collar practices
Chambers USA named Buckley LLP a nationwide Band 1 firm in all consumer finance categories in its 2021 rankings, recognizing nine of its partners in those practices — more than any other firm in the country. The firm received top recognition in Consumer Finance Compliance, Consumer...
AnnouncementsLegal 500 2020 recognizes 21 Buckley attorneys in six practice areas
“Buckley attorneys are incredibly responsive while providing top quality legal services,” is how respondents described the firm in the 2020 edition of Legal 500, which ranked Buckley as a top law firm and recognized it in six categories:
- Corporate Investigations and White ...
Buckley recognized by Chambers USA as a “top-notch” firm in financial services and white collar work
Buckley has once again received top recognition in financial services regulation, white collar crime/government investigations, and fintech from Chambers USA, which ranks the country’s leading firms and lawyers in a range of practice areas based on research and client interviews....
AnnouncementsThe Legal 500 2019 recognizes 17 Buckley attorneys in five practice areas
The Legal 500 once again ranked Buckley as a top law firm and recognized it in five categories:
- Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense: Corporate – Tier 4
- Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense: Individuals – Tier 2 ...
Buckley recognized by Chambers USA as a “first-rate firm” in financial services; “crème de la crème” for White Collar practice
Buckley has once again received top recognition in financial services regulation and white collar crime/government investigations from Chambers USA, which ranks the country’s leading firms and lawyers in a range of practice areas based on research and client interviews.
In total...
AnnouncementsBenchmark recognizes Buckley Sandler litigation team; David Krakoff inducted into American College of Trial Lawyers
Benchmark Litigation has recognized Buckley Sandler as one of the nation’s top litigation law firms, awarding it a National Tier 1 ranking for its White Collar practice and deeming its District of Columbia litigation team “Highly Recommended” — Benchmark’s highest...
AnnouncementsBuckley Sandler seeks order in James Wolfe case prohibiting further misleading and prejudicial statements by President Trump and others
On behalf of James A. Wolfe, Buckley Sandler filed the following motion for an order restricting the government’s extrajudicial statements.
Motion...
Announcements