Described by Chambers as a firm with “powerhouse white collar criminal defense credentials,” we have an extraordinary track record of achieving positive outcomes in either terminating external investigations, conducting internal investigations, or winning at trial.
White Collar Defense
With a reputation for strong results and creative problem solving, our team handles virtually every type of white collar case. Our lawyers bring to each case a tireless work ethic, a strong network, and an emphasis on clear, effective communication with clients and juries to achieve our clients’ goals.
We consistently rank among the country’s top legal practitioners because we bring a unique approach to all our work. Within 30 days of taking a case, we develop a comprehensive strategy to guide our clients through the entire process, then work assiduously to achieve victories before trials even start. This approach secures swift results while protecting each client’s reputation.
We have achieved results in sensitive cases for leading global corporations in a wide range of industries, as well as for business executives and entrepreneurs, educational institutions, medical practices and physicians, lawyers, accountants, professional athletes, and religious leaders. The cases we handle for clients include securities fraud and insider trading; the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; False Claims Act and government contractor litigation; criminal tax, antitrust, and environmental enforcement; Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; health care litigation; and many others.
Investigations
We represent clients facing government investigations, criminal and civil enforcement actions in state and federal courts, and investigations from regulatory agencies nationwide. To achieve the earliest and most complete victory possible, we always seek to understand our client and the unique facts of the case better than the investigators. Through our comprehensive approach, our lawyers have an excellent record of obtaining terminations of investigations before they surface publicly or result in charges. Frequently, we persuade courts to dismiss indicted cases before they reach a jury.
We also have extensive experience conducting internal investigations to help businesses prevent problems before they arise. We formulate corporate compliance programs and devise implementation strategies to ensure our clients successfully navigate a fast-changing regulatory landscape without disruption to their core business.
Experience
Obtained dismissal of complaint against Board of Directors and advised on strategy leading to dismissal of sexual harassment claims against Activision arising from highly publicized investigations and regulatory actions relating to workplace harassment claims. (See “Behind California’s Surrender on Activision Blizzard,” Wall Street Journal).
Secured a multi-billion-dollar declination of a criminal investigation of Southern California Edison relating to its role in the largest wildfire in California history. (See “Southern California Edison will not be prosecuted for its role in sparking the Woolsey fire,” Los Angeles Times; “California utility will not be prosecuted over the deadly 2018 Woolsey fire,” CNN).
Successfully defended Amazon.com and three Amazon executives against a historic FTC lawsuit targeting its Prime membership. The FTC alleged that Amazon used deceptive user-interface designs known as “dark patterns” to trick consumers into enrolling in automatically renewing Prime subscriptions and that Amazon knowingly complicated the cancellation process for Prime subscribers. Described as “a win for Amazon,” the case settled after three days of trial with no admissions of liability. (See “Why Amazon actually got off easy despite ‘historic’ $2.5 billion Prime deceptive practices settlement,” Fortune; “Why $2.5B Might Not Be Enough In FTC’s Amazon Settlement,” Law360).
Secured a favorable plea agreement, including a sentencing recommendation from the Government of probation, for Marilyn Flynn, the former dean of USC’s School of Social Work, on federal corruption charges in an alleged bribery scheme involving a public official. (See “Marilyn Flynn, ex-USC dean in corruption case with Ridley-Thomas, sentenced to 3 years probation,” Los Angeles Times).
Selected to serve as monitor by U.S. District Judge David O. Carter of the Central District of California to ensure compliance with the court’s ruling in Powers v. McDonough, a class action brought on behalf of disabled homeless veterans in Los Angeles against the Department of Veterans Affairs and others.
Conducted an internal investigation of the Los Angeles Federation of Labor related to the unauthorized tape recording of local elected officials at the LAFLA offices. The disclosure of those recordings led to the resignation of the head of the LAFLA union and the president of the Los Angeles City Council.
Conducted a high-profile investigation of University of California Office of the President related to alleged improper activity in response to a state audit. The result of this work led to corrective actions within the Office of the President.
Represented an executive in a criminal antitrust case related to alleged bid-rigging on fuel oil prices by Korean fuel oil companies in sales to the U.S. military. Seven years after filing the initial indictment, the government dismissed all felony charges against our client, agreed to a single misdemeanor plea, and further agreed to a short period of unsupervised probation.
Won a complete victory for Tesla CEO Elon Musk in an extremely high-profile contempt proceeding brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over Musk’s extemporaneous tweets about Tesla. (See “How Hueston Hennigan Steered Tesla’s Musk to Safety,” The American Lawyer).
Obtained a complete dismissal of felony charges against a prominent attorney and former principal of the Jacoby & Meyers law firm. Following our filing of motions to dismiss the indictment and to recuse the D.A.’s Office and prosecutor for misconduct, we obtained a complete dismissal of all charges and a termination of the related proceeding involving Jacoby & Meyers. (See “Criminal Charges Dropped Against Lawyer Accused of Jacoby & Meyers Referral, Insurance Scheme,” The Recorder; “Felony charges dropped in Jacoby & Meyers fraud case in OC,” OC Register).
Secured a uniquely favorable pre-trial disposition for Bill McGlashan, founder of TPG Growth LLC and The Rise Fund, in the “Varsity Blues” college admissions case. Client was only defendant who successfully secured plea to single narrowed charge and who retained full rights of appeal. (See “Former TPG Executive William McGlashan Jr. to Plead Guilty in College Admissions Case (UPDATE),” The Wall Street Journal).
Obtained declinations for former Chief Scientific Officer of a Fortune 250 company in connection with DOJ and FDA criminal and civil investigations concerning alleged data manipulation for the first approved gene therapy drug.
Representing one of the largest U.S. technology companies in many of its most sensitive and high-profile regulatory investigations across the United States.
On the eve of trial, and after four years of investigation and litigation, obtained dismissal of all felony federal charges against a subsidiary of Waste Management, America’s largest environmental services provider, and two of its managers.
Achieved a post-indictment dismissal of multiple fraud charges against an heir of former oil magnate H.L. Hunt after an evidentiary hearing on allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, which also led to a contempt citation against the district attorney of Dallas, Texas.
Secured a termination of an SEC Investigation, without an enforcement action, for a publicly traded U.S. company relating to whistleblower complaints alleging violations of the FCPA and anti-corruption laws.
Reversed an initial SEC charging decision and terminated an insider trading and tipping investigation into a Goldman Sachs banker.
Obtained dismissal of all 306-count-criminal indictment against a mortgage company executive that had been heralded by the Nevada attorney general as the first “robosigning” prosecution in the nation.
Terminated the FDA criminal investigation of a Fortune 500 medical device manufacturer without payment of fine or civil settlement.
Obtained an acquittal at trial on all charges in a tax evasion prosecution against a motion picture studio executive.
Obtained declination of high profile civil and criminal investigations for alleged immigration and visa violations by a Fortune 500 company.
Secured a declination of a three-year financial structuring and money laundering investigation of an executive at a Fortune 500 resort and casino company.
Obtained the post-indictment dismissal of felony wiretapping charges against a former FBI agent based on a successful challenge to the constitutionality of the state’s wiretapping law.
Won a complete criminal and civil declination and the return of all seized funds for the president and founder of an integrated circuit design company in connection with a lengthy federal contract fraud investigation.
Secured declinations for Goldman Sachs trader in investigation conducted jointly by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the SEC, the NY Department of Financial Services (DFS), and the DOJ.
Resolved a tristate attorneys general investigation into alleged false advertising by a Fortune 500 health care company without fines or penalties.
Closed an FCPA investigation on behalf of a Fortune 100 company within 60 days without assessment of sanctions or fines.
Terminated criminal and parallel civil investigations targeting the CEO of a Fortune 500 medical device manufacturer for alleged complicity in an off-label promotion scheme and false and misleading public statements and filings regarding the device development.
Served as independent counsel for investigations on behalf of numerous government agencies, including the County of San Bernardino, the City of Santa Monica, and the San Diego Association of Governments.
Terminated criminal and civil fraud investigations, with no conviction, for a pharmacy and pharmacy owner related to the unauthorized distribution of controlled substances.