Covington & Burling LLP continues to make progress in the compliance and investigations field. It has represented clients in a series of major DOJ investigations involving alleged FCPA violations. The firm has a sizeable white-collar defence and investigations team, which features a number of former prosecutors and former senior officials within the DOJ and SEC. It has fluent or native Spanish and Portuguese speakers at every level of seniority. Its client base is largely US or Europe-based businesses that have operations in Latin America. Prominent name Veronica Yepez has impressed the market since becoming a partner in 2022, representing clients in a number of DOJ investigations and internal investigations, and is almost entirely focused on Latin America. Steven Fagell co-heads the white-collar defence and investigations team and is a former senior official in the Criminal Division at the DOJ, now representing a number of multinationals in a number of DOJ investigations involving Latin America operations. Donald Ridings is chair of the global anti-corruption practice and is another experienced figure in Latin America-related matters. Leah Saris impresses at associate level. All named individuals are based in Washington DC.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Covington & Burling's compliance and investigations team has extensive experience managing internal investigations, defending government investigations, and representing clients in litigation related to compliance. The firm has a global network of offices that allows it to offer advice and representation to companies around the world. The team is comprised of attorneys from diverse backgrounds and cultures, allowing them to offer a unique perspective to their clients. They collaborate effectively with other lawyers and professionals to offer comprehensive solutions. They develop innovative tools and strategies to face the challenges of compliance.
‘The team has experience in investigating a wide range of compliance and investigations matters. The team has experience drafting legal documents and representing clients in litigation. The team has experience in managing complex compliance and investigations projects. The team is committed to providing its clients with the best advice and representation possible.'
Key clients
- Stanley Black & Decker
Work highlights
- Represented Stanley Black & Decker in a pending DOJ/SEC investigation into potential violations of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in multiple countries across Latin America, Asia, and Europe.