White Collar Defense & Investigations

Irell & Manella LLP’s White Collar Defense & Investigations team has the experience and expertise to help business organizations, senior executives, directors, officers, and other individuals navigate criminal, civil and regulatory investigations wherever they arise. Our partners routinely represent clients in a broad array of matters involving government and regulatory investigations and prosecutions, including criminal, civil and regulatory matters. We have successfully defended numerous business organizations, directors, officers and other individuals in all stages of these matters, from compliance counseling through internal investigations, scrutiny by government authorities, and criminal and civil trials and appeals. Our specific expertise includes:

White Collar Criminal Defense: We have represented corporations and individuals in a wide variety of white collar criminal matters, from responses to government subpoenas for documents, deposition and grand jury testimony, to the defense of government prosecution and enforcement actions. Our representations have spanned courts and agencies across the country, at both the state and federal level.

Government Investigations: Irell has extensive experience assisting corporations and their executives in evaluating the underlying factual and legal issues that may lead to government action, developing strategies for responding to government investigations and, if necessary, defending against civil and criminal government prosecutions. We advise clients relating to investigations at all levels domestically, including local, state, federal and military, and all foreign authorities.

Internal Investigations: We have deep background assisting corporations, boards of directors and audit committees in conducting internal investigations in a wide variety of matters. Such investigations have been designed to locate potential fraud, abuse or other wrongdoing, and to counsel companies to develop effective strategies for defending against civil and criminal inquires, as well as prosecutions before they are initiated. In this area, we bring clients the unique perspective of how the facts and newly developed programs will be seen through the eyes of government officials, judges and prosecutors. Clients also benefit from our close collaboration with partners who regularly advise corporate boards on governance issues and related matters such as corporate law, tax, intellectual property and financings.

Experience

• United States v. Stevens. As trial counsel, successfully defended the late Sen. Ted Stevens on criminal charges that he made false statements on federal disclosure forms. Obtained exculpatory evidence that ultimately led to the senator’s exoneration. The American Lawyer described the team’s work on the case as “one of the best criminal defense performances in memory, resulting in a heightened scrutiny of prosecutors that will affect the Justice Department for years to come.”*
• United States v. Anthem, et al. & United States v. Aetna, et al. As lead trial and investigation counsel, defended a global professional services company in connection with the Department of Justice Antitrust Division’s investigation of the proposed mergers of Anthem with Cigna and Aetna with Humana and represented company in United States v. Anthem, et al. & United States v. Aetna, et al.*
• United States v. Suhl. As co-lead counsel, defended the owner and CEO of a health care company on six counts of bribery, conspiracy, and honest services fraud. After a two-week federal criminal trial in Little Rock, Arkansas, in which two co-conspirators and cooperating witnesses testified against the client, the defendant was acquitted on two of the six counts.*
• Baltimore Ravens. Successfully represented the Baltimore Ravens and several of its senior personnel in connection with the independent investigation conducted by former FBI Director Robert Mueller into the National Football League’s handling of the Ray Rice controversy and Mr. Rice’s grievance against the Ravens.*
• In re Fannie Mae Litigation. Successfully defended the former chairman and CEO of Fannie Mae in connection with a U.S. attorney criminal investigation into securities fraud. The U.S. attorney declined to prosecute. Also won summary judgment on all counts in a $2 billion securities class action case against the defendant.*