Matthew (Matt) Madden is a first-chair trial lawyer and a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers who has tried more than 25 federal criminal trials. The former chief of the Criminal Division of the US Attorney’s Office (USAO) in Chicago, he leverages his more than 15 years with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) when handling white-collar and regulatory enforcement matters, internal investigations, compliance matters and complex civil litigation for clients.

Matt is the Chicago lead of McDermott’s Litigation Practice Group and co-lead of the criminal investigations and prosecutions practice. He regularly represents executives, physicians, health systems, and companies in civil and criminal government investigations, including matters before and litigation against, DOJ, the US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Office of Inspector General for the United States Department of Health and Human Services, among other agencies. Matt leads sensitive internal investigations and responds to government inquiries across a broad array of subject matters and areas of law, with a particular focus on matters involving accounting, antitrust, the False Claims Act, insider trading, securities fraud, healthcare fraud, trade fraud, bribery, and wire fraud.

Matt previously held numerous supervisory positions at the USAO, including criminal chief, chief of general crimes, and deputy chief of financial crimes. As criminal chief, he led approximately 125 assistant US attorneys in the Criminal Division, supervised the USAO’s most complex, high-profile investigations, and oversaw the implementation and development of the USAO’s policies.

During his tenure as a federal prosecutor, Matt was regarded as one of the top trial lawyers at the USAO. He led the successful 11-week trial against the former senior executives of Outcome Health for a $1 billion corporate, bank, and investor fraud scheme in a case that Crain’s Chicago Business called “one of the most high-profile and lengthy white-collar cases in Chicago history” and “a high-profile victory for the federal prosecutors in a complex and messy case that was largely circumstantial.” During another year, Matt tried eight cases, seven as first chair. He is also a seasoned appellate lawyer, having handled more than 15 appeals before the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, with 10 oral arguments.

Matt has led and supervised dozens of trials and hundreds of investigations involving nearly every type of federal criminal offense, including securities fraud, healthcare fraud, insider trading, money laundering, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act offenses, cybercrimes, bank fraud, mail and wire fraud, and terrorism. He worked closely with DOJ Criminal Division components, including the Fraud Section, and conducted numerous grand jury investigations that involved parallel securities fraud investigations by the SEC. Matt’s extensive experience and deep government ties are instrumental to advising clients facing government enforcement matters.

Before joining the USAO, Matt was an associate at McDermott and clerked for Judge Larry J. McKinney of the US District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and Judge William J. Bauer of the Seventh Circuit. In addition to his legal practice, he is guest faculty for trial advocacy at the University of Chicago Law School and has served in other faculty positions at law schools and the DOJ National Advocacy Center throughout his career.

James Durkin is a former federal prosecutor and experienced trial lawyer who represents clients in government enforcement and compliance matters, internal investigations and complex civil litigation.

James draws on his experience as a federal prosecutor to advise corporations, boards of directors and individual executives on their most critical and sensitive matters, including those involving the False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, anti-bribery laws, healthcare fraud and theft of trade secrets.

After launching his career as an associate at McDermott, James spent seven years at the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois before returning to the Firm. While in the Office, James led a variety of investigations and prosecutions and spent years working on and ultimately supervising a sprawling and high-profile investigation into public corruption that resulted in numerous convictions of elected and public officials.

James has significant experience handling cases involving all varieties of fraud, including healthcare fraud, bank fraud, tax fraud, insurance fraud and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He has conducted internal investigations across many industries—experience he uses to advise clients not only how to respond to government and regulatory investigations, but also how to avoid them.

Prior to joining the US Attorney’s Office, James clerked for Judge Amy J. St. Eve at the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Paul Helms helps clients navigate their most serious securities and fraud-related challenges, acting as both a trusted counselor and steady advocate. A former senior attorney at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where he served as counsel to the Director of Enforcement, Paul draws on his government experience to defend clients in SEC enforcement matters, internal investigations, and private securities litigation.

As the co-lead of McDermott Will & Schulte’s SEC enforcement practice, Paul represents public companies, investment advisers, accounting firms, and corporate leaders nationwide. He knows that investigations and lawsuits are not just legal matters – they can be personally and professionally disruptive. Paul’s approach centers on clear communication, practical strategy, and securing the best possible outcome while minimizing the impact on clients’ lives and businesses.

With experience on both sides of the table, Paul has handled the full spectrum of SEC matters: accounting and disclosure issues, investment adviser and broker-dealer compliance, offering fraud, market manipulation, public finance, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), insider trading, and professional liability. He has led high-profile internal investigations into complex fraud and compliance problems and successfully defended clients in shareholder derivative suits and securities class actions, achieving dismissals and favorable settlements.

Paul also dedicates time to pro bono work. He serves as external general counsel of Episcopal Charities in Chicago and has led fraud-related investigations for nonprofit organizations. Earlier in his career, Paul clerked for Judge James H. Michael Jr. of the US District Court for the Western District of Virginia and served as editor in chief of the Vanderbilt Law Review. He is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).