McGuireWoods continues the expansion of its nationally recognized Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation Department with the arrival of former U.S. Department of Justice prosecutor Justin Givens, who joins the firm as counsel in the downtown Los Angeles office.
A trial attorney with the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division since January 2019, Givens investigated and prosecuted complex white collar cases that resulted in over 25 criminal fraud convictions. He tried multiple cases to verdict, including a $27 million Paycheck Protection Program fraud trial and a 10-day healthcare fraud and illegal wholesale distribution trial.
Givens also has nearly a decade of experience in private practice with an Am Law 100 firm, where he handled white collar defense and global investigations, including the representation of the largest construction conglomerate in South America in cross-border investigations of bribery by U.S., Swiss and Brazilian authorities. In addition, Givens represented a Swiss bank in an internal investigation related to the DOJ’s “Swiss Bank Program,” successfully obtaining a non-prosecution agreement after a multiyear investigation in Switzerland, and he counseled a Kuwaiti logistics company in one of the largest government contracting fraud and False Claims Act prosecutions in U.S. history.
“Justin’s experience as a federal prosecutor and his understanding of high-profile corporate investigations further strengthens our team,” said Noreen Kelly, chair of the firm’s Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation Department. “His trial experience and his insight on cross-border matters will benefit our clients greatly.”
“Justin has earned the respect of the legal community in California and beyond due to his public service and years defending clients in litigation and investigations,” added Hamid Namazie, managing partner of McGuireWoods’ downtown Los Angeles office. “His practice complements our strengths and we are proud he joined us.”
Noted Givens: “McGuireWoods has truly become a leader in high-stakes litigation and government investigations. The white collar practice is thriving and I am thrilled to put my experience to work as part of this talented group.”
With more than 75 attorneys — including former U.S. attorneys and other federal prosecutors, enforcement officials and a U.S. deputy attorney general — McGuireWoods’ Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation Department has represented Fortune 100 companies and individuals in some of the most prominent and complicated criminal, regulatory and investigative matters of the past decade.
McGuireWoods ranks among the world’s leading investigations firms in the GIR 100, a guide to top cross-border investigations practices based on independent research by Global Investigations Review. In addition, Law360 has twice named McGuireWoods a White Collar Practice Group of the Year.