Counsel
Government Investigations & White Collar Criminal Defense
Brian’s practice focuses on helping clients manage their compliance risks, as well as conducting internal investigations and defending clients in investigations brought by U.S. and international regulators and in related litigation.
Brian leverages his prior 10 years of progressive law enforcement experience as he routinely conducts complex, high-stakes investigations and defends corporate and individual clients in matters related to compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), anti-money laundering laws, securities and antitrust laws, procurement fraud, and other criminal laws and regulations. He regularly represents clients before various United States’ Attorneys Offices, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and other regulatory bodies. Brian’s clients come from many diverse industries, including the banking, chemical, energy, manufacturing, retail, and technology sectors.
Brian’s practice also involves extensive risk mitigation and compliance counseling. Brian uses his deep technical background and his experience with clients in a variety of industries to help clients understand their anti-corruption and anti-money laundering risks, and how those risks can be most efficiently mitigated using the client’s available resources and the ever-evolving array of technical tools available. Whether evaluating the effectiveness of pre-existing compliance programs or designing new programs, Brian helps clients conduct risk assessments, develop and adopt compliance policies, identify pre-existing practices that can be incorporated into compliance, and train boards of directors, senior executives, and relevant stakeholders. Brian also advises clients on compliance risks associated with investments, acquisitions, and financings.
Brian’s experience has been recognized in multiple regional and national-level forums. Brian serves as the Vice Chair for Technology and Communications for the American Bar Association’s International Law Section, International Anti-Corruption Committee. Since 2021, Brian has also been a co-author of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act section in the widely read Successful Partnering Between Inside and Outside Counsel treatise, a joint project between Thomson Reuters Westlaw™ and the Association of Corporate Counsel. In 2022, Brian was recognized by Super Lawyers as one of the Washington, D.C. Rising Stars – a distinction limited to less than 2.5% of the lawyers admitted in each state.
Conducted internal investigation of multinational oil and gas company related to DOJ, SEC, and Brazilian “Operation Car Wash” FCPA investigation of Brazilian state-owned petroleum company, Petrobras
Defended U.S. energy services, technology, and research company in connection with DOJ and SEC FCPA investigation concerning Monaco-based company Unaoil; following internal investigation and presentations to regulators on company’s behalf, both DOJ and SEC closed their investigations with no action taken against client
Represented former high-level engineer of German automaker in connection with DOJ, EPA, CARB, and German investigation concerning the alleged concealment of illegal defeat devices designed to circumvent diesel emissions standards in violation of the Clean Air Act and similar European environmental laws
Represented current and former employees of pharmaceutical manufacturer in DOJ antitrust investigation concerning allegations of price fixing and market allocation in the generics pharmaceutical industry
Defended multi-billion-dollar defense contractor in DOJ criminal investigation relating to allegations of SBA fraud and bid rigging; client obtained criminal declination and favorable no-admit, no-deny civil settlement
Represented current and former employees of multinational investment bank and financial services company in DOJ, SEC, and FCA investigation of potential FCPA and securities violations related to sovereign loans made to South African nation
Defended former executive of non-profit charter school in related federal criminal investigation and civil litigation initiated by D.C.’s Office of the Attorney General concerning allegations of Medicaid fraud, theft, and improperly diverting funds from a not-for-profit corporation for personal benefit; all criminal charges were declined and a favorable civil settlement was reached
Assisted globally-focused SEC-registered investment advisor and private equity fund with the design and implementation of the fund’s, and 20 of its portfolio companies’, anti-corruption risk management policies and compliance programs; annually train directors, executives, employees, and agents regarding U.S. and foreign anti-corruption laws and risk mitigation strategies; conduct pre-acquisition/pre-investment anti-corruption due diligence; perform periodic audits of compliance with anti-corruption policies
Defended former executive of U.S.-based oil exploration company in connection with DOJ investigation into alleged FCPA violations in West African country
Successfully defended client in an investigation by the FTC relating to the cyber breach and public release of data associated with millions of user accounts, and helped client remediate its data security practices; FTC declined to pursue charges
Advised multiple clients on regulatory risks related to accepting, mining, transacting, or lending cryptocurrencies, as well as supporting such operations through joint ventures, power supply agreements, or other arrangements
Education
Admissions
Client Alerts
DOJ Issues New, Comprehensive Corporate Enforcement Policy
On March 10, 2026, the Department of Justice (the “Department”) announced a new Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy (“CEP”) …
March 13, 2026
March 13, 2026 • 3-minute read
Client Alerts
On June 9, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ” or the “Department”) will resume investigating and prosecuting violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”) with a decidedly new “America First” approach to enforcement.
June 18, 2025 • V&E White Collar Update
June 18, 2025 • 6-minute read
Event Recaps
FCPA and White Collar Enforcement Under the Trump Administration
V&E lawyers discussed FCPA and anticorruption enforcement and how DOJ’s new memos demonstrate the Administration’s shifting white collar enforcement priorities.
June 5, 2025
June 5, 2025 • 2-minute read
Client Alerts
On May 12, 2025, the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ” or the “Department”) issued a series of significant policy changes outlining the Trump administration’s new approach to white-collar enforcement.
June 3, 2025 • V&E White Collar Update
June 3, 2025 • 9-minute read
Client Alerts
As we previously discussed and in alignment with the U.S. Treasury Department’s previous announcement, on March 21, 2025, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued an interim final rule that dramatically narrows the reporting requirements for beneficial ownership information (“BOI”) under the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”).
March 27, 2025 • V&E CTA Update
March 27, 2025 • 2-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins advised Goldman Sachs, its West Street Climate Credit Fund (part of Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s private credit …
September 21, 2026
September 21, 2026 • 2-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins advised Industrial Development Funding (“IDF”) and its affiliates in connection with a $1.7 billion project investment supporting …
August 6, 2026
August 6, 2026 • 2-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins Advises Diameter Capital on Investment in Delfin Midstream
Vinson & Elkins served as counsel to Diameter Capital in its investment in Delfin Midstream Inc. (“Delfin”). Delfin is developing …
July 31, 2026
July 31, 2026 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins Advises Blackbeard Holdings in $2.2 Billion Combination
Vinson & Elkins advised Blackbeard Holdings, LLC (“Blackbeard”), a portfolio company of NGP Energy Capital Management, in its entry into …
July 29, 2026
July 29, 2026 • 2-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins Advises on Beusa Investments’ Inaugural $800 Million Senior Notes Offering
Vinson & Elkins advised the initial purchasers in connection with Beusa Investments, LLC’s inaugural upsized private offering of $800 million …
July 16, 2026
July 16, 2026 • 1-minute read
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