White Collar & Corporate Investigations

Orrick's White Collar and Corporate Investigations practice group is well-known for representing clients in high-profile white collar criminal cases and regulatory defense matters. With a former United States Attorney, eight former Assistant U.S. Attorneys, two former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Enforcement Division attorneys, one former state prosecutor and one former public defender, Orrick's White Collar and Corporate Investigations team has experience on both sides of the hearing room to provide companies and executives worldwide with advice and counseling at every stage of criminal or parallel civil proceedings.

Members of Orrick's White Collar and Corporate Investigations Practice group have been honored and recognized in publications such as The American Lawyer, The Daily Journal and CFO magazine, and a partner serves on the Law360 White Collar Editorial Advisory Board. The group is ranked by Chambers USA 2012 for White Collar Crime and Government Investigations in California.

Our lawyers have been quoted and mentioned in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Financial Times, Bloomberg News, San Jose Mercury News, Compliance Week, New York Law Journal , Legal Times, The Daily Journal, The Recorder, Corporate Crime Reporter, Andrews White-Collar Crime Reporter, Washingtonian magazine and other media outlets.

Our Services

• Counseling companies in all stages of U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) matters, including compliance and investigations
• Advising companies and individuals in criminal and regulatory inquiries
• Conducting audit committee and other internal investigations
• Evaluating, establishing and implementing corporate compliance programs
• Advocating clients' interests within the U.S. Department of Justice, state and local law enforcement offices and before regulatory agencies

How We Provide Value

Track Record

Orrick’s White Collar and Corporate Investigations team has a successful track record both as prosecutors and defense lawyers, including trials in federal and state courts, grand jury investigations and SEC, DOJ and other regulatory inquiries. We have negotiated with authorities on behalf of numerous individuals and companies to achieve successful outcomes in enforcement and compliance matters, many of which are never publicized.

Relationships

Regular interactions and collegial relationships with judges, federal and state prosecutors and regulators have helped Orrick’s White Collar and Corporate Investigations team develop a level of respect and credibility which encourages fair treatment of clients.

Resources of a Large Firm

To address the urgent timing and complexity of these matters, the White Collar and Corporate Investigations team can draw upon the resources of more than 300 litigators as well as dedicated legal assistants and staff in extensive discovery efforts, internal investigations and preparations for trial and administrative and congressional hearings.

Public Policy

Under attorney-client privilege and work-product protection, a team of Orrick's lawyers with public relations experience has developed a unique capability to help clients manage media and messages in the midst of high-profile litigation, including white collar defense and regulatory matters.

Trial Success

Orrick represented an individual indicted for alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), including bribery, in one of the largest trials in the law’s 35-year history. In a headline-making decision, Orrick’s client was acquitted on all charges. The government had touted the case as a “turning point” in FCPA enforcement.

Orrick's lawyers obtained the complete acquittal of the former CFO of McKesson HBOC of charges of criminal conspiracy and securities fraud in which he faced up to 25 years in prison and $2 million in fines, if convicted. This was a rare defeat for the U.S. Department of Justice in its prosecution of corporate defendants. The Orrick team and defendant made a strategic decision to waive a jury trial and try the case in front of the bench. This acquittal was featured when Orrick was profiled in The National Law Journal's "Defense Hot List."

Stock Options Backdating

Orrick's lawyers represent several companies and numerous senior executives in the recent wave of stock options backdating investigations initiated by the SEC and the offices of the U.S. Attorneys for the Northern District of California and Southern District of New York, as well as internal investigations initiated by directors and executives not currently under government scrutiny.

Internal and Government Investigations

Orrick's lawyers represented the audit committee of a multinational telecommunications company in investigating possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The investigation has covered China, Mongolia, India, Thailand, Viet Nam, Taiwan, Japan and Haiti, among other countries.

Representation of CEOs, CFOs and other Senior Employees

A team of Orrick white collar lawyers represented the CEO and other senior officers of an alternative energy company whose failure sparked Congressional hearings, a federal criminal investigation, and intense media scrutiny. Orrick lawyers accompanied the CEO when he was called to Capitol Hill to testify before a House subcommittee, and helped him manage the ensuing media attention.