White Collar Defense, Regulatory and Investigations
Our lawyers handle sensitive internal and governmental investigations, regulatory proceedings, and related litigation for global public companies, financial institutions, boards, special committees, directors and senior executives, and develop comprehensive compliance programs to help our clients avoid unanticipated scrutiny and manage risk.
Notable Representations, Key Contacts
Weil’s global White Collar Defense, Regulatory and Investigations practice includes a number of former federal prosecutors and senior Department of Justice officials. While in government service, lawyers in our practice led the oversight of a wide range of investigations, including more than 50 DOJ prosecutions of FCPA matters and more than 60 prosecutions of insider trading matters, among others. We draw on this impressive substantive and case management experience to provide clients with effective, efficient, and discrete counsel.
We partner with clients to address and mitigate risks associated with a broad range of substantive issues and areas of the law, including:
- Securities Fraud
- Accounting issues
- Financial disclosures
- The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
- Antitrust and Competition law issues
- Healthcare Fraud
- Tax Fraud
- Insider Trading
- Environmental regulations
- Qui tam/whistleblower complaints
- The False Claims Act
- Anti-Money Laundering and other economic crimes
In addition, working closely with lawyers across the Firm, we assist our clients at all phases of their compliance efforts, including review of compliance programs, development and implementation of compliance programs and audits, and coordination of internal and governmental investigations.
Selected Representations
American Realty Capital Properties Audit Committee Investigation
DOJ LIBOR Investigation
Weil represents a former senior trader at a major financial institution in connection with the U.S. Department of Justice’s criminal investigation into alleged manipulation of LIBOR.
Toyobo - DOJ False Claims Act Investigation
Weil served as lead counsel overseeing the defense of Toyobo, a major Japanese fiber manufacturer, in connection with False Claims Act litigation brought by the U.S. DOJ, class action litigation, multiple personal injury suits, and claims by multiple state attorneys general and foreign states, among others, relating to the performance of Toyobo’s Zylon fiber in bullet-resistant vests used by thousands of law enforcement agencies worldwide. In 2018, Weil negotiated a settlement of all remaining claims after securing a number of successful outcomes in the various lawsuits.
Multi-agency Investigation into the Financial Crisis: AIG
SEC and other Regulatory Investigations
- An SEC investigation into a failed IPO of an electronic trading platform
- An SEC investigation and related class action litigation involving the underwriting of a SaaS provider
- A CFTC investigation into a conspiracy to manipulate the ISDAFix, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association’s benchmark rate for the swaps market
FCPA and other Anti-Bribery and Corruption Investigations
Weil is advising a global pharmaceutical company in connection with DOJ and SEC investigations of alleged violations of the FCPA involving the company’s subsidiaries in a number of countries in emerging markets. In 2018, Weil secured a declination when the DOJ closed its investigation without bringing an enforcement action.
Healthcare Fraud/False Claims Act Investigation
Key Contacts



See list of lawyers globally
Shortcut Links
Recent Announcement
- Justice Department Focus on National Security Results in First Enforcement Actions by Disruptive Technology Strike Force Alert — White Collar Defense, Regulatory and Investigations — PDF — May 23, 2023
- Weil’s 2023 Litigation Trends Report Firm Announcement — April 03, 2023
Ranked among the leading firms in New York for White Collar Crime and Government Investigations.
Chambers USA 2022
Weil’s White Collar practice is described as “adept at handling cross-border and multijurisdictional proceedings by the DOJ, SEC and international regulatory bodies” with “a strong, practical and experienced team that gets good results for its clients.”
Chambers USA
Ranked among the top investigations firms globally for seven consecutive years.
Global Investigations Review’s GIR 100 2015-2021
Weil has a track record of netting its client impressive results. It has proven time and again that it can secure declinations for companies.
Global Investigations Review
In 2018, Weil was recognized by Global Investigations Review as a market-leader in FCPA enforcement, owing to the Firm successfully securing four declinations under the DOJ’s FCPA corporate enforcement policy over the prior two-year period.
Weil is recognized among the leading firms in the U.S. for Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense for both Advice to Corporates and Advice to Individuals.
Legal 500 US 2022
Weil is “excellent on all levels” and offers “exceptional litigators with incredible bench strength and expertise who are “very knowledgeable [and] extremely responsive.”
Legal 500 US
Awards and Recognition, Speaking Engagements, Latest Thinking, Firm News & Announcements, Recent Announcement
Awards and Recognition
- Weil Named a Top Firm Globally for Investigations Award Brief — Global Investigations Review’s GIR 100 2015-2022
- Weil Named a “Leading Firm” for Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, New York Award Brief — Chambers USA 2022
- Weil Named a “Leading” Firm for Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense – Advice to Corporates Award Brief — Legal 500 US 2022
- Weil Named a “Leading” Firm for Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense – Advice to Individuals Award Brief — Legal 500 US 2022
- Weil Named a Leading Firm for Cartel Investigations Award Brief — Legal 500 US 2022
Speaking Engagements
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The SEC’s Renewed Scrutiny of Earnings Management Using Data Analytics
Speaker(s):
Lyuba Goltser and
Robert Stern
February 14, 2023 — Head of Weil’s Public Company Advisory Group Lyuba Goltser and Securities Litigation partner Robert Stern moderated a panel webinar entitled “The SEC’s Renewed Scrutiny of Earnings Management Using Data Analytics,” which featured former SEC Commissioner and current Stanford Law professor Joe Grundfest and Michigan business school professor Nadya Malenko. The group discussed the SEC’s use of analytics to identify earnings management, derived in part from the professors’ academic paper, Quadrophobia, and steps companies can take to mitigate risk of SEC enforcement investigations.
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Following the Ethical Road: A Guide to Navigating Internal Investigations
Speaker(s):
Sarah Coyne,
John P. Barry and
Celine Chan
December 13, 2022 — Webinar — Weil White Collar Practice Co-Head Sarah Coyne, Employment Litigation Practice Group Head John P. Barry, and Employment Litigation Practice Group counsel Celine Chan delivered a webinar exploring the legal and ethical implications that can arise when a board of directors or special committee oversees a sensitive investigation.
Latest Thinking
- Justice Department Focus on National Security Results in First Enforcement Actions by Disruptive Technology Strike Force Alert — White Collar Defense, Regulatory and Investigations — PDF — May 23, 2023
- Litigation Trends 2023 Publication — By Weil’s Litigation Department — Spring 2023
- SEC Division of Enforcement FY 2022 Results: Aggressive Approach Highlighted by Dramatic Increase in Penalties and “High Impact Cases” Alert — White Collar Defense, Regulatory and Investigations — By Robert Stern, Daniel L. Stein, Adé Heyliger, Nicole Elizabeth Prunetti and Michelle Gemmell — PDF — November 29, 2022
- Storming the Gatekeepers: When Compliance Officers and In-House Lawyers Are at Risk Publication — The National Law Journal — By Robert Stern and Sarah Coyne — PDF — November 04, 2022
- Three Strategies for Combating Parallel Litigation Alert — Class Action Monitor — By Chantale Fiebig, Pravin R. Patel and Mark Pinkert — PDF — September 30, 2022
Firm News & Announcements
- Weil’s 2023 Litigation Trends Report Firm Announcement — April 03, 2023
- Weil Secures Dismissal for Computer Tech Executive Named in Trump Lawsuit Litigation Win — September 15, 2022