Insights

Washington – February 27, 2023: Global Investigations Review has named Crowell & Moring’s Investigations and White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement groups to its prestigious GIR 100 list, an annual guide to the world’s leading cross-border investigations practices. Based on extensive research, GIR selects 100 firms from around the world that it deems most able to handle sophisticated cross-border government-led and internal investigations. This is the eighth consecutive year that Crowell & Moring has made the list.

Washington – November 5, 2019: Crowell & Moring’s White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement Group has been named to the Global Investigation Review’s 2019 “GIR 100” list, which honors the world’s leading firms for corporate investigations. This marks the fifth consecutive year that the firm has been recognized for this honor.

On October 22, 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) will pay $1.25 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by failing to comply with contractually mandated cybersecurity requirements by the Department of Defense (DoD) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).  The announcement marks the most recent settlement under DOJ’s Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative although, unlike prior settlements, there is no allegation of a cybersecurity incident or breach that was related to or caused by the contractor’s alleged noncompliance.

On August 8, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced a $6.3 million False Claims Act settlement with West Coast Dental Administrative Services LLC (formerly West Coast Dental Services Inc.) and its founders and former owners due to seven improper second-draw Paycheck Protection Program loans received by West Coast Dental and affiliated dental offices. 

On August 5, 2024, in United States ex rel. Relator LLC v. Howard D. Kootstra and Golden Empire Mortgage, Inc., Case No. 1:22-cv-00924-TLN-CDB (E.D. Cal.), the District Court for the Eastern District of California granted a motion to dismiss allegations that a mortgage lender made false or fraudulent statements on its Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application in violation of the False Claims Act where the relator could not overcome the FCA’s public disclosure bar.

As the breadth of federal white collar enforcement continues to expand, more companies are finding themselves in this unfamiliar territory.  This webinar will explore the evolving white collar enforcement landscape, including the continued rise of whistleblower-initiated criminal and quasi-criminal investigations, and strategies for avoiding or navigating through such situations.

Cyber attacks have increasingly targeted major corporations, stealing vital technology and intellectual property, compromising M&A deals and negotiations, and damaging stock prices and marketplace competitive advantages.  After such breaches, corporate boards and officers must manage the cyber crisis -- regulatory enforcement actions, potential shareholder suits, customer and business partner disputes, and more. This interactive workshop brings together top corporations and experts to tackle one of the most challenging and rapidly escalating threats.  At this workshop, we will address real-world examples of cyber attacks and security breaches, practical experience with managing the cyber crisis, and essential best practices for mitigating and avoiding material cyber risks.

Recent pronouncements from top Department of Justice (“DOJ”) officials, and corresponding updates to the DOJ’s corporate criminal enforcement policies, highlight the Department’s focus on incentivizing voluntary disclosures and the increasingly critical role that a robust compliance program must play in companies today.  Our panel discussion with seasoned Crowell White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement, Investigations, and Labor and Employment attorneys will provide background and context to the updated policies, break down the new developments, and discuss actionable, practical steps that companies can take now to ensure alignment with the updated DOJ guidance—particularly when it comes to calibrating corporate compliance programs to incentivize good behavior and avoid misconduct. 

With treble damages against defendants and qui tam relator shares of up to 30% of those damages, plus reasonable attorney fees in successful suits, the FCA provides strong incentives for whistleblowers to bring qui tam actions, making it no surprise that most FCA actions are initiated by relators. Whether DOJ intervenes or not, FCA qui tam actions pose a variety of unique issues and challenges. In this webinar, we’ll discuss the peculiarities of qui tam actions and offer practical insights and strategies for the investigation and litigation of these cases.

A key component of any successful internal investigation is the effective—and efficient—management and use of documentary evidence. New technologies, data-privacy restrictions, the sheer volume of data in the modern business environment and other challenges require careful navigation in order to conduct investigations that are both defensible and cost-effective.  

In this episode, Steve Byers, Jason Crawford, and Agustin Orozco discuss the intersection between False Claims Act investigations and parallel criminal proceedings. "Let's Talk FCA" is Crowell & Moring’s podcast covering the latest developments with the False Claims Act.

In this episode, hosts Jason Crawford and Mana Lombardo talk with Rebecca Ricigliano and Steve Byers, both partners in the firm’s White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement Group, about key considerations for navigating parallel criminal and civil False Claims Act proceedings. "Let's Talk FCA" is Crowell & Moring’s podcast covering the latest developments with the False Claims Act.