McDermott Will & Schulte, a global law firm

Effective anticorruption compliance is critical to any company operating internationally. We regularly conduct internal investigations of reported concerns under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other anti-bribery laws to determine the veracity of allegations and to advise companies on responding effectively, including taking steps to reduce opportunities for future misconduct. We also defend companies and individuals in government enforcement and regulatory investigations by authorities in the United States and other countries.

We leverage our investigations and defense experience to assist clients in developing effective compliance programs and with appropriate compliance policies, procedures and training designed to enhance rather than disrupt business operations. We conduct global compliance risk assessments to help our clients make informed decisions on how to allocate compliance resources. We assist clients in conducting anticorruption due diligence and drafting strong contracts in cross-border deals and engagements of third-party representatives in order to mitigate the significant anticorruption risks those relationships present.

Our team includes former senior lawyers from the US Department of Justice (DOJ), US attorneys' offices and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and individuals with deep in-house compliance, computer forensics and accounting experience, who collaborate to provide clients with the multidisciplinary experience and counsel that anticorruption matters often require.

Securities litigation remains an ongoing threat to businesses and financial institutions. Our SEC Enforcement group is composed of lawyers - including former senior members of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Division of Enforcement - who possess substantial experience covering the full spectrum of securities enforcement activity. Our lawyers are knowledgeable about the SEC as an agency, including its rules, practices and customs, and maintain excellent relations with staff of the Enforcement Division and Office of General Counsel.

Clients rely on us to provide legal defense against securities litigation. We have secured favorable results stemming from investigations and enforcement proceedings, on behalf of public companies, their audit committees, officers, directors and senior management, as well as financial services firms, broker deals, investment advisors, hedge funds and accounting firms.

Our capabilities cover all aspects of SEC and other regulatory investigations, as well as parallel proceedings, private class actions and derivative litigation. We have been successful in deterring the SEC at various stages of enforcement investigations and frequently persuade the SEC either not to take any action against our clients or to reduce the nature and scope of the charges, including the elimination of fraud-based charges.

We have demonstrated success - civil and criminal - bringing trials to verdict in federal district courts and handling administrative proceedings at the federal and state level, and we possess substantial appellate experience in the appeal of administrative decisions to the SEC and to the US circuit courts.

As a testament to the mutual respect between our practice and the commission, we have successfully petitioned the SEC to appear as amicus curiae in favor of a client's position in private securities litigation. The SEC also has called upon members of our group to act as receivers in the SEC civil enforcement proceedings. This cumulative experience differentiates us from the competition, ultimately providing clients with the best legal representation to achieve a favorable outcome.

Government investigations and enforcement actions are among the most consequential matters a company or individual can face – they can be detrimental to your business, leadership, and reputation. From prevention through defense, our lawyers help you navigate government scrutiny, partnering with you to manage risk in high-stakes investigations, enforcement actions, and parallel proceedings.

Our white-collar defense and government investigations team includes dozens of former senior officials from key US enforcement agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). We instinctively understand how these agencies operate, allowing us to anticipate government strategies and shape yours accordingly.

Our global team of more than 60 lawyers defends companies, boards of directors, executives, and senior leaders in complex white-collar defense and investigations – including parallel proceedings across multiple venues:

• Government investigations (criminal and civil)
• Internal investigations and board-led inquiries
• Regulatory enforcement actions and proceedings (federal, state, and international)
• Criminal and civil defense and proceedings
• Cross-border and multi-jurisdictional matters
• Compliance and risk management

We coordinate across agencies and jurisdictions to ensure a consistent, strategic defense, helping to reduce risk, avoid conflicting positions, and strengthen outcomes.

Our team also brings deep experience in emerging and highly regulated areas, including healthcare and digital assets like cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). We help you navigate the nuanced regulatory frameworks that govern these sectors.

To stay ahead of potential investigations and enforcement actions, our lawyers work with you to strengthen compliance programs and identify risks early. Through internal investigations, responses to government inquiries and disclosures, and ongoing advisory support, we help you build processes designed to reduce enforcement exposure.

Our white-collar defense and government investigations team combines insider perspective with practical, business-focused guidance. We guide you through consequential government scrutiny, helping you mitigate risk, manage uncertainty, preserve business continuity, and protect your reputation.

Healthcare and life sciences companies operate under the most difficult circumstances. They face pressure to drive innovation and growth while navigating intense government oversight and stakeholder scrutiny. Our lawyers guide you through critical business decisions, complex regulatory frameworks, and evolving market pressures – so you can lead transformation in a highly regulated environment.

Year after year, we are named “Healthcare Practice Group of the Year” by Law360 and ranked by PitchBook as the #1 law firm advising healthcare private equity investors. As one of the top healthcare law firms in the US, we represent every major stakeholder in the ecosystem – from healthcare providers and health systems to life sciences companies and investors.

Our global team delivers integrated legal counsel across regulatory, transactional, intellectual property, litigation, and other business-critical matters. Having served in leadership roles both in-house and within government, we provide the legal, commercial, and regulatory guidance you need across health and life sciences law to shape the future of the industry.

Our health and life sciences lawyers have held senior roles across key government agencies including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Department of Justice (DOJ) – giving us unique insight into the enforcement challenges you face.

We don’t just understand how regulations are enforced – we know how healthcare policy is developed. Through McDermott+, our dedicated healthcare policy and strategic advisory arm, we help you navigate and shape the policy landscape that influences the industry. With a team that includes lawyers, physicians, policy professionals, data analysts, and veterans of Capitol Hill, we advocate for policies that support your healthcare mission.

Our lawyers also guide you across the life cycle of transformative deals, from formation and financing to commercialization, partnerships, and exit. We help you structure transactions that are aligned with market realities and designed to deliver long-term value.

From securing investment and commercializing innovation to scaling operations and protecting your market position, we support you at every stage of growth. Our team develops integrated legal strategies that help clear the path for your breakthrough technologies, next-generation therapeutics, AI-enabled healthcare solutions, and innovative care delivery models.