White Collar Defense & Investigations

HWG LLP represents companies, institutions, and individuals in complex white collar criminal matters, regulatory investigations, and administrative enforcement actions. Our team includes former federal prosecutors, judicial clerks, and senior agency counsel who bring deep knowledge of enforcement priorities and procedures across a wide range of government agencies. We also have experience trying—and winning—some of the highest-profile white collar matters in recent years.

Our Chambers ranked team guides clients through the full lifecycle of white collar matters—from early-stage investigations and internal reviews to courtroom defense. We have handled allegations involving securities and accounting fraud, healthcare fraud, antitrust violations, export control, environmental matters, and more. Our experience spans highly regulated sectors such as telecommunications, financial services, energy, and healthcare.

Our team frequently represents clients before the Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), as well as in investigations by state attorneys general. We help clients respond to subpoenas and inquiry letters, manage public-facing aspects of investigations, and engage with regulators to resolve matters efficiently and effectively.

White Collar Litigation

We represent clients throughout the investigative process, from pre-indictment proceedings to trial and appeals. We have extensive courtroom experience and have tried numerous criminal cases to a jury verdict. Our insider knowledge of government operations allows our attorneys to aggressively defend the nation’s highest-profile corporations, executives, and public officials in complex litigation.

Administrative Enforcement Actions

In addition to criminal and civil investigations, HWG regularly handles administrative enforcement actions, particularly in the telecom industry. We assist clients in preparing compliance reports, negotiating resolutions, and minimizing operational disruptions.

With decades of combined government and litigation experience, HWG offers clients clear, strategic guidance in even the most sensitive investigations—ensuring compliance, protecting reputations, and safeguarding business continuity.

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Representative Experience

• Successfully secured a complete defense acquittal for former Autonomy CEO Dr. Mike Lynch in a 13-year U.S. federal criminal securities and accounting fraud case. The case relates to HP’s $11 billion acquisition of Autonomy.
• Represented the former head of San Francisco’s Public Utilities Commission in a public corruption trial, resulting in an acquittal on several charges. Gave closing argument and cross-examined several witnesses.
• Represented a senior executive in a federal investigation involving alleged international bribery and defense contracting, ultimately persuading the DOJ to drop the matter without filing charges.
• Successfully defended an executive at a major pharmaceutical company in connection with a DOJ investigation related to nationwide controlled substance distribution practices.
• Represented a public company executive targeted in a DOJ criminal antitrust investigation, successfully convincing the government not to bring charges by highlighting key weaknesses in its case.
• Advised a cloud communications provider in a ten-year investigation initiated by the Enforcement Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission involving multiple business lines and complicated tax and regulatory fee issues.
• Represented a major Bay Area university in a class action case involving sexual harassment claims involving the university’s Division I athletic program.
• Secured dismissal weeks before trial for technology company executive charged with criminal trade secret theft.
• Secured dismissal weeks before trial for a military contractor charged with conspiracy to commit bribery related to Iraq War reconstruction efforts.
• Represented employees of a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company in a Medicare fraud investigation.
• Served as lead trial counsel for a tech company employee charged with a criminal offense in California state court. All charges were dismissed after a two-week jury trial.
• Represented the CEO of a major website company in defense of charges related to money laundering and bank fraud.
• Represented multiple executives and former executives at a major Bay Area tech company in connection with investigations relating to the company’s domestic and overseas operations.
• Represented an engineer criminally charged in the Northern District of California with conspiring to steal trade secrets and transfer them to China.
• Representing Tata Communications, a leading global telecommunications provider, in matters in the UK pertaining to communication cables damaged by a vessel in the English Channel, causing significant service interruptions for customers.
• Avoided indictment and any other adverse consequences for the subject of the DOJ investigation related to the municipal water authority’s certifications to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding drinking water.