Representative Experience

Government Enforcement Defense and Investigations

• Advised a publicly traded manufacturer in managing a crisis arising from a vendor’s illegal employment practices. Minimized risk by cooperating with law enforcement, unwinding the vendor agreement, and briefing the board.
• Defended the City of Milwaukee against a False Claims Act suit concerning the City’s administration of federal housing grants, winning complete dismissal of suit.
• Led a review of a publicly traded manufacturer’s corporate compliance program, conducted a risk assessment, and recommended continuous improvement steps.
• Represented an individual in responding to a federal grand jury investigation concerning financial fraud, resulting in no charges against the client.
• Represented a manufacturer in responding to claims by the U.S. Department of Energy that its products did not meet energy conservation standards and negotiated a favorable settlement.

Complex Litigation and Appeals

• Defended a leading children’s hospital in federal court against a civil rights suit, leading to a favorable settlement.
• Defended a major health care system against a municipality’s suit that asserted claims related to opioid-dispensing practices. Obtained dismissal of entire suit.
• Led the prosecution of a US$260m scheme to defraud federal contracting programs, resulting in the conviction of a corporation and six individuals, including a CPA after trial, as well as False Claims Act recoveries.
• As United States Attorney, personally briefed and argued a rare interlocutory appeal before the Seventh Circuit, challenging the district court’s exclusion of evidence before trial. Obtained reversal and remand.
• Led the prosecution of a US$9m green energy investment fraud whose victims included Chinese EB-5 visa applicants, a Canadian private equity fund and the State of Wisconsin, in coordination with the SEC’s parallel civil investigation.

Health Care and Life Sciences

• Led an internal investigation for a health care system concerning allegations of misconduct by physicians.
• Represented a genetic testing laboratory in responding to a federal grand jury investigation.
• Obtained dismissal of citations and favorable settlement of civil monetary penalties assessed by HHS against a skilled nursing facility.
• Led a False Claims Act investigation and settlement with an academic medical center related to claims for teaching physicians’ surgeries performed by residents without adequate supervision.
• Led a False Claims Act investigation and litigation related to a health care system’s physician compensation for violating the Stark Law, resulting in a favorable settlement.

Cybersecurity and Data Privacy

• Led an internal investigation for a financial services company regarding a data privacy incident. Determined grounds to avoid regulatory exposure and remedial steps to avoid the issue recurring.
• Advised a manufacturing company in responding to a ransomware attack, including ways to maintain attorney-client privilege over the investigation and interact with law enforcement.
• Serve as counsel to a trade association’s cybersecurity committee.