Client Alerts
On September 1, 2026, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued its widely anticipated decision in …
September 3, 2026
September 3, 2026 • 8-minute read
Capabilities
Government Investigations & White Collar Criminal Defense
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Credentials at a Glance
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Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Texas)
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Corporate Investigation & White Collar Criminal Defense — Advice to Corporates
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Dispute Resolution — General Commercial Disputes
– The Legal 500 US, 2018–2025
Where We Excel
With a continued increase in government investigations conducted by the Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other state and federal regulatory bodies, it is critical to have legal counsel that knows these agencies and follows the enforcement trends and investigation outcomes with an eye toward how they intersect with your company’s business activities.
Vinson & Elkins represents corporations, audit committees, boards, and executives in high stakes investigations and litigation. In recent years, there has been increasing scrutiny and aggressiveness by government agencies. Our Antitrust, Corporate Governance, Environmental, Government Contracts, Securities, and Tax lawyers collaborate to assist clients in these investigations. Given V&E’s global profile, we have particular experience in international matters involving criminal and civil antitrust investigations, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the False Claims Act, securities, health care, and criminal and civil theft of trade secrets. We represent both U.S. companies operating abroad, and foreign companies that understand the compliance risks of doing business in the United States. We conduct internal investigations, respond to grand jury and governmental regulatory subpoenas, handle grand jury proceedings and search warrants, negotiate with prosecutors, enforcement staff, and other regulators, and defend clients in criminal pleas, trials, and sentencing.
V&E lawyers assist clients in proactively establishing compliance and auditing programs that satisfy regulatory requirements to help avoid major government investigations. We also defend our clients in civil or administrative litigation that may be filed by the government or private parties as a result of a criminal investigation, including civil fraud suits, qui tam actions, antitrust actions, securities suits, and suspension and debarment. Finally, we assist clients in connection with Congressional and agency inquiries into regulatory compliance and other matters.
With a team of former federal prosecutors and defense lawyers experienced in conducting internal investigations and representing corporations, executives, and boards, we provide our clients with valuable advice to find practical and appropriate solutions in connection with investigations and white collar cases.
Experience
Represents the Audit Committee of a public technology company in connection with criminal and civil investigations being conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)
Represented a major Japanese auto parts maker in civil and criminal investigations and class action litigation regarding alleged price fixing and participation in an international cartel
Represented Big Four accounting firm in connection with its audits of an aerostructures manufacturer’s financial statements and cost of completion accounting for long-term manufacturing contracts and forward loss provisions, and the SEC’s investigation of potential fraud in those financial statements; matter ended with no charges filed
Represented a foreign corporation in a DOJ investigation of criminal international antitrust violations, including price-fixing and global market allocation in the maritime construction industry; client was not charged and ancillary civil litigation was resolved favorably
(D.C. Cir.); (D.D.C.) — Represented a government contractor in qui tam action in which V&E successfully obtained two writs of mandamus vindicating the contractor’s claim of attorney-client privilege over materials created during an internal investigation led by company lawyers; subsequently won summary judgment on all counts
Defending a large midstream energy company in a U.S. EPA investigation relating to hazardous waste generation and disposal practices
Represented a defendant in the largest federal campaign finance fraud case ever brought against an individual
Represented an energy company in an internal investigation into allegations of impropriety in the company’s procurement group, including conflicts of interest with major vendors and an allegation of misappropriation of company assets
Represented a major oil company in connection with an SEC inquiry concerning the company’s analysis of the requirements for establishing reserves and disclosures of its contingent liabilities arising out of a major oil spill; succeeded in convincing the SEC to conclude its inquiry without any enforcement action
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At Vinson & Elkins, we bring decades of knowledge, skill, and experience to our clients’ most complex legal matters.
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Insights
Client Alerts
In a busy week of major policy changes for the Department of Justice (“DOJ” or the “Department”), Assistant Attorney General …
August 26, 2026
August 26, 2026 • 8-minute read
Client Alerts
CFIUS Annual Report: More Declarations, Less Success, and Other Trends
On August 7, 2026, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) released its Annual Report to Congress …
August 24, 2026
August 24, 2026 • 4-minute read
Articles
5 Strategies to Reduce the Risk of a DOJ False Claims Act Investigation
The Department of Justice (DOJ), via messaging from its leadership, has made clear it will prioritize and pursue aggressive civil False Claims Act (FCA) enforcement against companies that receive federal dollars. As the government’s primary civil remedy to redress fraud against the government, the FCA generates billions of dollars in annual DOJ settlements and judgments with the majority initiated by whistleblower qui tam lawsuits.
August 17, 2026
August 17, 2026 • 2-minute read
Client Alerts
A CPA Walks into Enforcement: The SEC Announces a New Reporting Unit
On August 5, 2026, the SEC announced a new Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit within its Division of Enforcement. Staffed …
August 6, 2026
August 6, 2026 • 3-minute read
Client Alerts
Beyond the Trading Window: Why Prediction Markets Are the Next Frontier of Insider Trading Risks
Corporate legal departments at public and private companies are confronting a novel insider trading problem — one for which their …
June 25, 2026
June 25, 2026 • 16-minute read
Client Alerts
On May 27, 2026, Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery issued a memorandum opinion in Le Clair …
June 23, 2026
June 23, 2026 • 10-minute read
News & Achievements
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