Government Enforcement, White Collar and Criminal Defense

Overview

Today, corporate governance, regulatory compliance and control considerations are top corporate concerns. The historic passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 created new and expanded requirements for public companies, while establishing onerous penalties for fraudulent financial activity. As a result, businesses face a greater level of scrutiny than ever before.

The McConnell Valdés Government Enforcement, White Collar and Criminal Defense team helps corporate clients navigate shifting regulatory tides by providing them with strategic counsel and practical training in corporate governance best practices they need to comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

As combating financial crimes has become a law enforcement priority, FBI agents stake out corporate lobbies, while CEOs and CFOs find themselves in Grand Jury rooms. The United States Department of Justice has increased enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Our attorneys combine extensive prosecutorial experience and bilingual skills to help businesses review their Latin America and Caribbean operations for FCPA compliance.

When the need arises, our seasoned team of litigators stands ready to advise and defend clients in criminal and regulatory investigations, enforcements, and prosecutions. Our success results from providing consistently outstanding representation to clients facing of a wide spectrum of legal challenges, including money laundering and financial crimes, narcotic related offenses and violent crimes, among others. We also provide top notch criminal defense in cases involving removal from the sanctions list maintained by the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC).

What We Do

The McConnell Valdés Government Enforcement, White Collar and Criminal Defense team:

• Provides regulatory compliance training and advice
• Assists businesses in FCPA compliance
• Mounts white collar criminal defenses
• Advises and defends clients in criminal investigations, enforcements, and prosecutions
• Advises and defends clients in regulatory investigations, enforcements, and prosecutions
• Advises and defends clients involved in OFAC investigations

Representative Clients & Matters

Civil Cases

• Successful representation of two Federal Agents in Bivens suit.
• Representation of leading dialysis provider in contract claim.
• Member of defense team representing on-line travel service provider in tax claim by Puerto Rico tax authority.

Criminal Cases

• Representation of former Commander of the Colombian AVC in criminal case in the Southern District of Florida, involving charges of drug trafficking and narco-terroism. We also represented him in OFAC proceedings.
• Representation of high level alleged Colombian drug lord in criminal prosecution in the Southern District of Florida.
• Representation of various business executives in matters before the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), and have successfully had them removed from OFAC list.
• Successful representation of defendant in a $25 million dollar bank fraud case.

News & Publications