Banking Regulation & Enforcement

The Banking Regulation & Enforcement Practice Group includes seasoned lawyers who defend the world’s largest banks in inquiries by the DOJ, SEC, OCC, FRB, CFPB, FDIC, state attorneys general and other regulatory agencies. Our successes led to repeated recognition as a Law360 Banking Practice Group of the Year and White-Collar Practice Group of the Year.

With experience in nationwide securities fraud investigations, OCC enforcement actions alleging unsound banking practices, data breaches and defense of banks in BSA/AML-related inquiries, our financial services lawyers have built strong relationships with government lawyers and earned a reputation for knowing how to navigate the life cycle of a large-scale investigation.

We understand the heightened privacy concerns and risk-based planning unique to clients, and we keep those issues top of mind when advocating on their behalf.

How We Help

Given the team’s special combination of skills, experience and relationships, McGuireWoods’ banking regulation and enforcement team helps clients develop successful strategies to navigate high-stakes investigations to resolution. From the receipt of a grand jury subpoena or supervisory letter to a full-blown investigation with significant media interest, we gauge the potential legal, business and reputational consequences, counseling clients on charting the best path forward to resolve the issue while avoiding damaging missteps.

Our group helps banking clients limit the consequences of government investigations by developing strategies to reduce and address the impact on licensing, private litigation and potential criminal exposure. In collaboration with McGuireWoods’ strategic risk and crisis management group, the congressional investigations team and McGuireWoods Consulting, we manage ancillary issues associated with bank investigations, including congressional investigations, board and shareholder relations, media inquiries and other crisis management matters.

National banks, regional banks, credit unions, senior executives, and boards of directors call on McGuireWoods to handle a range of matters in the investigations arena.

Representative Experience

National bank in multiyear enforcement actions by the DOJ, SEC, OCC and multistate attorneys general into issues involving alleged securities fraud and falsification of records;
National bank and litigation target in $1 billion Ponzi scheme fraud in Southern District of Florida in federal investigation and related investor litigation;
Credit union in response to and in defense of an enforcement action initiated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau;
Several banks with an internal and DOJ investigation into Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering compliance;
Internal investigation into issues impacting a national bank’s compliance with an OCC consent order;
National bank training for its investigations workforce on effective, efficient internal investigations; and
Financial institution in a securities fraud case in which the plaintiffs alleged the company, specifically its CEO and CFO, made fraudulent statements about the adequacy of certain reserves.

Download copy of our practice brochure.

McGuireWoods delivers results for the largest banks and nonbank financial institutions in the United States, whether responding to law enforcement or regulatory investigations, conducting internal investigations or providing experienced counsel on regulatory obligations.

Recognized for excellence in Corporate Crime & Investigations Category, with praise for handling complex white collar matters.

– Chambers USA
Multiple government investigations partners named “Lawyers of the Year.”

– Best Lawyers
Ranked as one of the top global firms for white collar investigations, celebrated for “heavyweight” team.

– Global Investigations Review 100
Repeatedly named a Banking Practice Group of the Year and a Government Investigations Practice Group of the Year.

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

– The Legal 500 U.S.
Multiple partners named “White Collar, Regulatory & Compliance Trailblazers.”

– The National Lawyers Journal