McDermott Will & Schulte, a global law firm

Simon Airey focuses his practice on global, cross-border and internal investigations, financial and regulatory crime, bribery and corruption, money laundering, tax and fraud inquiries, data breaches, dawn raids, asset tracing, international enforcement and corporate compliance issues. Simon serves as co-head of McDermott Will & Schulte's global investigations and compliance practice.

He has conducted a wide range of investigations and corporate defence assignments in different sectors, including construction, defence, financial services, gambling, oil and gas, logistics, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications. Simon represents both companies and individuals in criminal and regulatory proceedings and in associated litigation.

Simon advises a large number of multinational groups on their global compliance programs and assists clients with corporate risk assessments and pre- and post- M&A due diligence. He conducts tailored training for boards and senior management and has lectured around the world on a range of topics including the UK Bribery Act and the UK Criminal Finances Act. He advises a number of organisations on the corporate criminal offence of failing to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion and served on the UK Law Society committee which devised related guidance for the legal profession.

In addition to leading various major tax, fraud and bribery investigations, Simon has recently defended multi-party litigation in relation to a significant data breach in the UK, dealt with an FCA investigation relating to a global payment services provider and represented a high-profile individual in relation to a multi-million pound D&O insurance dispute in the context of a US DoJ prosecution. He has also advised a foreign government in relation to various tax and transparency issues and represented over 50 financial institutions served with data production orders by HM Revenue & Customs in the UK.

Edward (Ted) Diskant is a former federal prosecutor and the co-head of McDermott Will & Schulte’s global white-collar and government investigations practice. Ted leverages his background overseeing some of the most high-profile criminal matters brought by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York to help companies and individuals navigate a wide range of white-collar, litigation, and regulatory enforcement matters. Recognized as a leading white-collar practitioner by Chambers USA, Ted is “super responsive and practical” in approaching clients’ most sensitive and complex issues. He is routinely hired to lead sensitive internal investigations and respond to government inquiries, with a particular focus on matters involving the False Claims Act (FCA), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other anti-bribery laws, wire fraud, healthcare fraud, money laundering, and the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).

An experienced trial lawyer, Ted also regularly takes complex civil and criminal cases to trial. Recognized as part of McDermott’s globally ranked team, Global Investigations Review (GIR) highlights that Ted “brings lots of trial experience to the table,” and clients rely on Ted’s extensive courtroom experience at all stages of litigation. Ted also frequently consults on compliance matters and helps clients design, implement, and audit compliance programs consistent with US Justice Department (DOJ) and other applicable guidance.

Prior to joining McDermott Will & Schulte, Ted spent nine years at the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, most recently serving as Chief of the Public Corruption Unit. In that capacity, Ted supervised a team of approximately twenty senior prosecutors, overseeing some of the Office’s most sensitive and high-profile matters. Ted also led investigations and prosecutions of financial institutions related to compliance with the BSA, as well as US sanctions and AML requirements.

As part of his pro bono practice, Ted serves on the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel for the Southern District of New York, representing defendants in federal criminal matters, appeals, and in habeas proceedings. Ted co-founded the LGBT White-Collar Working Group and serves on the Firm’s Diversity Committee.

Prior to joining the US Attorney’s Office, Ted clerked for the Hon. Debra Ann Livingston, Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and for the Hon. Sidney H. Stein, United States District Court, Southern District of New York.