Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation

McGuireWoods’ Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation Practice Group offers experienced, trusted counsel to clients facing high-stakes government investigations, enforcement actions and related litigation. With more than 80 attorneys nationwide, the team represents individuals and corporations across industries in civil, criminal and congressional matters at federal and state levels. Our experience and strategic insight help clients navigate legal challenges with their reputations and operations at risk.

The group has handled some of the most prominent investigations in recent years, including the Boeing “Max 8” DOJ investigation, the Mueller probe, the opioid crisis and clergy misconduct cases. Clients consistently turn to McGuireWoods for their proven ability to resolve matters effectively. We earned top accolades from Chambers USA, Law360, Global Investigations Review and The Legal 500, highlighting the team’s elite standing in corporate crime and cross-border investigations.

McGuireWoods’ white collar team includes former high-ranking government officials such as a U.S. deputy attorney general, U.S. attorneys, federal prosecutors and senior enforcement leaders from agencies like the SEC and DOJ. Spread across key cities including Washington, D.C., New York and London, we bring strong insight from prior public service roles and offer clients robust advocacy in matters involving the DOJ, SEC, FINRA and congressional committees, among other entities. Our lawyers’ collective experience and government credibility ensure we deliver effective, strategic representation from the outset of any investigation.

How We Help

We advise and advocate for clients at every stage — from initial agency inquiries to enforcement actions, disciplinary proceedings and appeals — across a range of regulatory and investigative bodies.

Our Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation Practice Group is anchored by a nationally recognized team of former federal prosecutors and veteran defense counsel. We have successfully represented clients in matters involving the DOJ, including Civil Division inquiries under the False Claims Act and high-profile Criminal Division investigations, such as grand jury proceedings and public integrity cases. Our strategic counsel allows clients to focus on their business priorities while we pursue efficient, fair and just outcomes. With experience across industries and investigative contexts, our team delivers the insight, discretion and advocacy required to manage today’s most challenging enforcement risks.

Our Strengths Include

anti-bribery and anti-corruption (FCPA);
anti-money laundering/trade embargo compliance;
bank defense and counseling;
CFIUS;
compliance and ethics program investigations and counseling;
congressional investigations;
educational institution investigations and enforcement;
energy and environmental enforcement;
export control and sanctions enforcement;
FCA investigations, litigation and enforcement;
Federal Election Commission and campaign finance enforcement;
government contract enforcement;
healthcare enforcement;
inspector general and law enforcement investigations;
immigration and worksite enforcement;
political investigations and white collar defense;
securities enforcement and litigation;
state attorney general investigations; and
strategic risk and crisis management.

Representative Experience

Senior salesman at a public company in the total acquittal on all counts in a federal criminal accounting fraud case after a four-week trial;
Space launch provider in a hard-fought government procurement protest filed by SpaceX, which challenged the launch services agreement and “other transaction agreement” awarded to our client totaling about $2.4 billion;
National bank in multiyear enforcement actions by the DOJ, SEC, OCC and multiple state attorneys general involving allegations of securities fraud and falsification of records;
National bank in federal criminal investigation and related investor litigation involving alleged involvement in a billion-dollar Ponzi scheme;
City Power Marketing in FERC enforcement litigation alleging manipulation of a key energy market, with the case settled successfully — a precedent-setting matter that was one of several cases testing the limits of what FERC views as market manipulation and the unique procedural step of seeking “de novo review” of FERC’s determination in federal court;
PSEG Energy Resources & Trade LLC in the resolution of what could have been a $100 million-plus enforcement matter relating to PSEG’s electricity offers into the mid-Atlantic-based PJM energy market — a settlement that resolved all issues for PSEG, with no admission of violations, for a total payment of $39.4 million;
American telecommunications company in a multiyear FCA investigation and litigation;
Nonprofit organization in a congressional investigation after it was issued a subpoena by the Senate Finance Committee for compelling production of documents related to the committee’s investigation of organ procurement organizations and potential false claims;
Physician practice that had a relationship with a local health system alleged to have violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and the FCA;
Global Fortune 500 consumer products company with development of an anti-corruption compliance program in connection with its expansion into non-U.S. business activities, most notably in Latin America and China; and
Publicly traded specialty chemicals company in an internal investigation to address whistleblower allegations of corrupt payments made by company personnel to government officials in China, including a risk analysis and review of the company’s entire global ABAC compliance program.

Government Investigations brochure cover

Download a copy of our team brochure.

McGuireWoods’ Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation Practice Group is a nationally recognized powerhouse trusted by Fortune 100 companies and high-profile individuals to handle their most complicated, sensitive enforcement matters.

Nationwide ranking for corporate crime and investigations.

– Chambers USA
Ranked among the world’s top 100 firms for five consecutive years.

– Global Investigations Review 100
Twice named a “White Collar Practice Group of the Year.”

– Law360
Nationwide ranking for corporate investigations and white collar criminal defense.

– The Legal 500 U.S.