White Collar Defense and Investigations

Sidley is consistently recognized as a leading firm for our corporate investigations and anti-corruption work by industry publications, including the most recent editions of Chambers Global, Chambers USA, LMG Life Sciences, and Benchmark Litigation. Our practice spans North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. We work closely with global clients in a wide range of industries and within a variety of legal and regulatory frameworks to develop proactive compliance programs to mitigate risks and exposure. Our lawyers have a proven record of defending and assisting clients with multijurisdictional investigations conducted in response to government inquiries.

“Sidley brings people with exactly the right expertise to address issues.”
Chambers USA, Nationwide: Corporate Crime and Investigations: The Elite 2024

Organizations and executives in the United States and abroad face an increasingly aggressive enforcement environment. Government investigations are on the rise, and issues traditionally handled through civil or regulatory processes now often result in criminal investigations. Accordingly, thorough assessment of compliance programs and risk, and a vigorous defense when problems arise, are essential. Sidley’s highly experienced team has proven strategies for developing comprehensive approaches to address risk and all of the legal and factual defenses necessary to achieve successful outcomes in civil enforcement or criminal cases. Our lawyers provide critical advice at every stage, including identifying potential collateral and media consequences. As a result, Sidley often brings matters to conclusion with the avoidance of charges or unwanted settlements that might otherwise be required.

Our extensive industry-specific regulatory experience contributes to our insight and creativity in finding factual and legal gaps in the government’s theories and ways to successfully defend clients. Our team also leverages the vast experience of the firm’s global network of specialized regulatory and industry professionals, who have strong knowledge of local laws and languages.

Ranked Among the 2 Top Law Firms Globally for Cross-border Investigations and Litigation
Global Investigations Review 2023

Regulatory Agency Insight

Our team includes several former U.S. federal and state prosecutors and officials, many of whom served at high levels within the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other key investigative and enforcement arms of the government. Many of our lawyers have also served in the White House Counsel’s Office and in other senior positions at government agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Agriculture. Internationally, our team includes former members of the UK Financial Services Authority, the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, and the Singaporean Attorney General’s Chambers. With firsthand knowledge of how government agencies conduct investigations and prosecutions, our lawyers are able to help clients navigate these processes efficiently and effectively.

“Strong interdisciplinary team fielding several former prosecutors with deep experience across the breadth of high-stakes enforcement issues faced by major corporations.”
Chambers USA, Nationwide: Corporate Crime and Investigations: The Elite 2024

Comprehensive Compliance, Defense, and Enforcement Experience

Our lawyers have experience representing clients across the full spectrum of corporate compliance, defense, and enforcement matters, including:

Internal investigations
Investigations by the DOJ, SEC, state attorneys general, and other oversight bodies
Compliance counseling
False Claims Act litigation
Grand jury investigations

Parallel criminal and civil proceedings
Cross-border investigations and litigation
Voluntary disclosure issues
Trials and other hearings
“Me Too,” racial, gender, inequality, and other misconduct claims
Congressional Investigations

“When companies in crisis need a law firm with the expertise and the respect of an investigating agency, they regularly turn to Sidley Austin.”
Global Investigations Review 2019

Full-Service Global Capabilities

With an impressive capacity of over 190 white collar defense and compliance lawyers in 21 offices around the world, Sidley is known for our extensive multinational, cross-border capabilities. Our lawyers have handled investigations in more than 130 countries, and are particularly strong in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters, U.K. Anti-Bribery law, Chinese Anti-Bribery law, EU data privacy, antitrust, anti-money laundering, and economic sanctions. Our team collaborates seamlessly across borders and practice groups to offer a cohesive approach to white collar crime and corporate investigations matters. We can mobilize teams quickly, drawing on the global network of Sidley lawyers to swiftly deploy the critical legal support needed to manage sensitive, high-profile investigations and litigation. In countries where we do not have a Sidley office, we leverage our network of trusted local counsel to advise clients on corresponding local laws and regulations.

“Sidley Austin is frequently sought out by international clients for its global sector expertise, with the firm's focus built around strong relationships with clients in financial service, energy, life sciences and biotechnology.”
Chambers Global 2023, Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)

Broad Industry Experience

We have exceptional experience developing compliance programs and aggressively defending corporations and their executives, public officials and other individuals in a variety of areas and industries, including: