When allegations of misconduct threaten an enterprise’s business and brand and raise the specter of government action, companies and boards turn to Paul, Weiss for expert guidance. Our experienced team — including former cabinet members, prosecutors and senior regulators — advises the world’s most prominent companies and other business entities in their most sensitive and complex internal investigations, enabling them to take informed, strategic action to manage crises, avoid full-scale regulatory actions, and limit legal and reputational exposure.
Our Practice
Investigations & Advice
Paul, Weiss is widely recognized for its adept and expeditious handling of the most sensitive, complex internal investigations. We are among the first called in fast-moving situations where boards and corporations face potentially damaging publicity and possible regulatory or prosecutorial action. When handled strategically, such investigations can deter full-scale government investigations and significantly limit a client’s exposure. Because of our track record in this area, we are frequently retained to manage complex cross-border investigations involving far-flung business units.
Our lawyers have investigated a broad range of alleged misconduct, including allegations of wrongdoing involving Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering compliance; consumer fraud; corruption and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations; employment-related incidents; financial and accounting reporting issues; government contracts-related fraud; insider trading and other securities fraud; and misconduct related to antitrust, environmental, healthcare, tax and other laws, as well as other potentially damaging conduct. We also are frequently retained to handle related regulatory and litigation fallout, including the defense of shareholder and other litigation.
In addition, the group has extensive experience conducting independent investigations on behalf of boards of directors, audit committees, special litigation committees and other committees in response to shareholder demands.
Crisis Management
Clients facing crises rely on Paul, Weiss to safeguard their reputations in the court of public opinion while managing the interplay of complex legal issues and governmental relations. We recognize that expertise in legal principles, while vital, is only a starting point in managing legal and business crises, and are skilled at developing and executing strategies that minimize media, governmental and political fallout. Our focus is on protecting the company, its shareholders and other stakeholders from negative consequences, taking into account business and financial implications, internal political sensitivities, adverse publicity and regulatory implications.
High-Level Government Experience
Our investigations team includes an extraordinary number of former government officials and federal prosecutors. We leverage this unparalleled insight and perspective to help boards, board committees, corporations and other business organizations respond proactively to the results of internal investigations and, when needed, to deal effectively with government regulators and prosecutors.
The group includes a former U.S. Attorney General and a former Secretary of Homeland Security; a former Chief of the Criminal Division of the Southern District of New York; and more than 15 former Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the District of Columbia. The team also includes a former Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal Counsel and a leading member of the Office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller; two former Deputy Directors of the Enforcement Division at the Securities & Exchange Commission; and former senior members of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the New York Attorney General’s Office. All are backed by the nation’s preeminent litigation department.