Companies in today's regulatory environment face intense scrutiny and are increasingly being called upon to address government inquiries with high-stakes internal investigations. In these cases, it is critical to proceed with quick action and timely and careful fact-finding, with the ultimate goal of avoiding protracted investigations and achieving successful outcomes for companies and their officers and directors.
Our Corporate Investigations & Integrity Practice Group provides effective representation at all stages of legal compliance and review, from designing proactive compliance programs to addressing the challenges of a government inquiry. We also regularly conduct internal investigations on issues including employee misconduct, vendor fraud, export sanction compliance, import classification, company expenditures, and related internal controls. Our broad spectrum of clients includes individuals, corporations, boards of directors, audit committees, and government agencies.
Recognizing that a proactive approach is the most effective strategy, we work with our clients to create successful compliance programs that demonstrate and protect their integrity, and to develop standard practices that align with industry regulations. These programs reduce both the likelihood of an inquiry and the risk of an extensive investigation. When an inquiry proves inevitable, we conduct comprehensive and effective internal investigations and ensure that our clients respond appropriately to bring the situation to a swift and favorable resolution.
Discretion is paramount for our clients. They benefit from our extensive public relations experience that enables us to craft effective, tactical responses when media attention is unavoidable, as well as from the support of our White Collar Criminal Defense Practice Group. Our group also offers an important perspective: It is led by a former New Jersey state comptroller and includes several members who have held senior roles in federal and state enforcement agencies, including eight former federal prosecutors. Their experience on both sides of government inquiries gives us an in-depth understanding of the ways that government agents approach investigations, the key concerns of prosecutors and regulators, the best ways to avoid potential pitfalls, and how to effectively interact with agents during a review.
