Senior executives and board members are ultimately accountable for the integrity and business activities of a company. Yet, it’s an inside whistleblower or far-reaching government agency that can allege wrongdoing, determine the reputation of an organization and put the performance of individuals and an institution at risk.

This is why – at the first sign of suspected misconduct – companies increasingly perform thorough investigations of possible criminal or non-compliant behavior. How factual and serious are the allegations? What is the depth of the potential problem? How can management control the situation?

Parker Poe conducts independent investigations to find the answers. We work with public and private corporations to understand the foundation of a charge, build an investigative strategy, conduct a full inspection and then provide conclusions and recommended actions. We work quietly on internal matters that never receive public attention, but we also represent clients in all stages of investigations involving grand juries, federal and state courts, regulatory agencies and auditors, congressional inquiries and civil disputes.

We help clients resolve matters quietly and without criminal charges or liability. Meanwhile, we represent companies in furthering the prosecution of individuals and reporting offenses and planned remedies to authorities.

Our Government Investigations & White Collar Defense attorneys have represented executives and corporations in high-profile cases, where their years of courtroom experience were critical to success. The team includes trial lawyers with a background in bet-the-company cases, Department of Justice alumni, former state prosecutors, members of the American College of Trial Lawyers, former Chief Compliance Officer for a FORTUNE 500 company, and veterans of the securities industry.

Because clients conduct business around the world, we’ve participated in global investigations of alleged price-fixing, bribery and kickbacks, and other possible antitrust and FCPA violations and breach of corporate compliance programs. When necessary, we’ve represented these clients before international authorities. Additionally, we have handled multiple export investigations involving EAR, ITAR and OFAC.

We also counsel governments and government officials on investigations of alleged corruption and campaign violations. Among these clients are members of the U.S. Congress and witnesses in state House hearings.

Experience Highlights

Our attorneys' range of White Collar Defense and Investigations experience includes the following:

• Accounting irregularities
• Agriculture   
• Antitrust   
• Aviation   
• Bribery and kickbacks   
• Campaign finance   
• Computer crimes and intrusions      
• Economic espionage   
• Electronic surveillance   
• Environmental crimes   
• Ethics in Government Act
• Export law (EAR, ITAR, OFAC)
• False Claims Act
• Federal fraud, mail and wire
• FERC audits and investigations
• Food and Drug Administration   
• Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)   
• Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act   
• Government contracting
• Government corruption
• Health care fraud (including pharmaceutical and DME companies)
• Immigration
• Intellectual property crimes
• Investigator liability
• Money laundering
• National security matters
• Online gambling
• Public corruption
• RICO
• Securities fraud
• Security and privacy investigations
• Tax – state and federal
• Whistleblower / Qui Tam defense

Experience

• Representation of senior banking officials during a federal grand jury investigation
• Representation of officers and directors during SEC investigation of possible securities and accounting violations
• Major health care fraud investigations and defense
• Federal criminal investigation of a health care products company suspected of improper billing, marketing and sales practices
• Representation of a major laboratory facing parallel state and federal investigations
• Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation and import-export practices
• Representation of a FORTUNE 500 client in a private federal grand jury investigation
• Counsel in federal court to a court-appointed receiver managing an SEC-related matter
• Dismissal by the U.S. Attorneys Office of all charges against our executive client concerning allegations of federal criminal fraud
• Antitrust counsel to a FORTUNE 500 company 
• Representation of a major manufacturer victimized by a key competitor’s criminal conduct
• Representation of a hospital and doctors targeted by federal and state agencies for alleged criminal, civil and regulatory violations
• Defense of a major health care provider facing federal allegations of fraud
• Conducted an internal investigation into allegations of wrongdoing by a former public official at a public entity
• Conducted an internal review of sensitive allegations of attorney misconduct for a federal district court
• Defended companies and individuals in antitrust grand jury investigations

Case Briefs

International Intrigue – In a three-year investigation and litigation matter, we assisted the client with issues arising from the conduct of an eastern European CEO of a joint venture with our American client and several other European companies. The complex and high stakes matter ultimately involved state court litigation, administrative hearings before a federal administrative law judge and investigations and related proceedings before federal authorities and the whistle blower arm of OSHA (part of the U.S. Department of Justice).

Acquiring Trouble – We represented a global high-tech company in an action initiated by the Federal Trade Commission under Section 2 of the Sherman Act and arising from the client’s acquisition of a competing company.

Antitrust Issues – The primary inquiry among more than a half-dozen companies of an international conglomerate was an assessment of U.S. antitrust law compliance, including illegal contacts with competitors in automobile component, diagnostic equipment and other markets.

Our investigation checked into collusive behavior, price fixing and splitting up of territories. We coordinated with three other national counsel and European counsel, submitting seven separate reports recommending any necessary remedial actions. No action was taken by the government against any of the entities or executives affiliated with the units.

News

• False Claims Act – 2012 Year in Review
  25 years and $35 billion later, the government targets the health care, defense and financial services industries
  February 6, 2013
• DOJ & SEC Issue Long-Awaited FCPA Guidance
  Anti-Corruption Alert
  February 1, 2013
• Forty-Four Parker Poe Attorneys Named 2013 NC Super Lawyers
  January 18, 2013
• Brian Cromwell and Sarah Hutchins Present to Local CFA Chapter
  November 30, 2012
• U.S. News Media Group Names Parker Poe Top-Tier Law Firm for 2013
  November 1, 2012
• Brian Cromwell Featured in CFA Chapter Spotlight
  November 1, 2012
• 74 Parker Poe Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers® for 2013
  August 23, 2012
• Sarah Hutchins Appointed PCAB Board Secretary
  June 29, 2012
• Chris Thomas Elected To Artspace Board of Directors
  June 29, 2012
• Wal-Mart Reports Highlight Dangers of Payments to Foreign Officials
  Anti-Corruption Alert
  May 23, 2012
• Don't Pay Me, or Else! Extorted or Culturally Compelled Payments to Foreign Officials
  Public Company Forum: Spring 2012
  April 25, 2012
• Internal investigations: No longer optional
  Parker Poe Legal Alert
  February 9, 2012
• Business North Carolina Names 16 Attorneys to 2012 Legal Elite
  January 9, 2012
• Parker Poe Names Six New Partners
  January 3, 2012
• Payments Extorted by Foreign Officials
  Anti-Corruption Alert
  December 12, 2011
• U.S. News & World Report Names Parker Poe Top-Tier Law Firm for 2012
  Firm Ranked #1 in 33 Legal Areas
  November 1, 2011
• Rick Glaser Inducted into American College of Trial Lawyers
  October 25, 2011
• UK Bribery Act Could Have Major Impact on Domestic Companies' Business Overseas
  Anti-Corruption Alert
  September 6, 2011
• Department of Justice Announces "New Era" of FCPA Enforcement in 2010, Increases Actions by Record 85%
  FCPA Alert
  February 9, 2011
• Thirty-Seven Parker Poe Attorneys Named NC Super Lawyers for 2011
  January 25, 2011
• Business North Carolina Names 13 Attorneys to 2011 Legal Elite
  Firm Partner Catharine Biggs Arrowood “Top Vote-Getter” for Antitrust
  January 21, 2011
• Parker Poe Adds Three Attorneys to Internal Investigations Group
  Partner, Special Counsel and Associate Join the Firm
  October 8, 2010
• Pharmaceutical Industry Targeted for Overseas Violations of Anti-Bribery Law
  FCPA Alert
  September 28, 2010
• 61 Parker Poe Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers® for 2011
  August 18, 2010
• Twelve Parker Poe Attorneys Among "Legal Elite" for 2010
  January 4, 2010
• Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Joins Parker Poe
  December 7, 2009
• Terror Threat Compels Compliance
  April 1, 2008
• Payment of Legal Fees Emerges as Issue
  October 27, 2006
• Former Federal Prosecutor to Help Build White Collar Criminal Defense Practice at Parker Poe
  January 19, 2006

Events

• ABA Southeastern White Collar Committee Securities Fraud Conference
  June 13, 2013
  Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP - Charlotte Office
• Protecting Business Secrets and Key Personnel: How Far Can Companies Go?
  October 27, 2010
  American Bar Association Teleconference