Brian Hennigan is a partner of Irell & Manella LLP. He is co-managing partner of the firm's white collar practice in the Los Angeles and Newport Beach offices and is a member of the firm's Executive Committee.

Brian Hennigan's practice specializes in complex litigation, with emphasis on white collar criminal defense. For over twenty years, he has successfully represented individuals and corporations in criminal, civil, and administrative matters, including complex tax investigations, insider trading and backdated option investigations, and financial frauds. He also maintains a successful civil litigation practice, having recently obtained summary judgment on behalf of clients in two matters and a favorable verdict at trial in another matter.

Over the past few years, he has represented corporations and individuals involved in allegations of backdated stock options, the head of a religious group in connection with allegations of tax fraud and money laundering, the founder of a multi-billion dollar corporation on charges of obstruction of justice and tax fraud, and a corporate executive of a multi-billion dollar internet company on charges of market manipulation and insider trading. He currently represents Broadcom in connection with allegations of stock option backdating and the founder of one of the largest sub prime lenders in connection with SEC and grand jury inquiries. Additionally, he currently represents the former Administrator of the San Diego Employees' Retirement System in a pending case relating to allegations of "honest services" mail fraud.

Mr. Hennigan has tried numerous cases in federal and state courts, serving as co-lead counsel in the successful defense of the founder of and CEO of Carolco Productions, on charges of tax fraud. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Attorneys.

Before entering private practice, Mr. Hennigan served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California, where he was an assistant division chief of the Criminal Division of that Office. In that position, he conducted numerous grand jury investigations, prosecuted over thirty matters at trial, and successfully represented the United States in numerous arguments before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. For his work at the U.S. Attorney's Office, he was awarded commendations from the Department of Justice, the FBI, the IRS, the DHHS, the Dept. of Labor, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

Awards

• Named to the list of "Top 100 Attorneys in the State" by the Daily Journal, September, 2009
• Included in Los Angeles Magazine's "Super Lawyer" edition, 1995-present
• Identified as One of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in Southern California, Los Angeles Magazine, 2007-2009
• Featured in The Best Lawyers in America, 1998-present
• Named Best Lawyers’ Los Angeles Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year, 2010
• Named in Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business (Top Ranking), 2003-present

Professional Activities

• Co-Chair, American Bar Association, White Collar Crime Section (Vice-Chair, 2007-2009)
• President, Federal Bar Association (Los Angeles), 2004-2005
• Board of Governors, Federal Bar Association (Los Angeles), 1998-present
• Co-Chair, American Bar Association, White Collar Crime Section, West Coast Region, 2004-2006
• Attorney Delegate, Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, Chairman of the Pro Bono Appeals Section
• Attorney Member, Disciplinary Committee, U.S. District Court, Central District, 2005 - present

Publications

"What To Do When the Wolf Is Pounding At Your Door," Los Angeles Lawyer, October 2003, by Brian J. Hennigan

"Reliance On Outside Experts:  Negating Proof of Scienter Under the False Claims Act," ABA/CLE – Criminal Justice Section, Health Law Section, May 2002, by Brian J. Hennigan and Alan Heinrich

"Litigating Whistleblower Cases Under the Qui Tam Provisions of the False Claims Act," Mealey Publications, June 2001, by Brian J. Hennigan

Seminars & Speeches

• "Ethical Issues in White Collar Crime", ABA - National Institute on White Collar Crime, March 5, 2009
• "Current Issues in White Collar Criminal Enforcement", Criminal Law Seminar, Loyola Law School, September 2008
• "White Collar Criminal Law Enforcement and Defense"  Judge Fidler Institute, Loyola Law School, April 2008
• "DOJ and SEC Enforcement: Back-Dated Options", ABA- West Coast Region - White Collar Crime Section, January 25, 2007
• "Back-Dated Options, Lessons from the Field," California CPA - Education Foundation, April 19, 2007
• "Recent Developments with the SEC", California CPA - State Fraud Section, July 25, 2007
• "Cross-Fire - Current Issues in White Collar Crime", ABA-West Coast Region - White Collar Crime Section, April 2003
• "Health Care Fraud and Abuse Prosecutions", ABA - National Institute on White Collar Crime, March 6, 2003

Bar & Court Admissions

• 1976, Illinois
• 1979, California