Government Investigations & White Collar Defense

Vedder provides clear, steady guidance to public companies and their directors and officers facing government investigations, enforcement actions, or related litigation. Our team understands the distinct responsibilities of board members, senior executives, and audit committee leaders, and we tailor our approach to the unique risks each role may face.

We handle matters involving financial fraud, accounting issues, whistleblower claims, corporate governance concerns, internal controls, disclosures, and investor communications. Because regulatory inquiries often trigger follow-on securities class actions or shareholder derivative demands, we work with clients to develop coordinated strategies that address all fronts efficiently and effectively.

Our experience includes internal and special investigations and civil or criminal matters involving securities laws, financial fraud, insider trading, books and records issues, internal controls concerns, FCPA and False Claims Act matters, and other complex allegations. Throughout each engagement, we focus on responsive service, practical solutions, and protecting the long-term interests of companies and their leaders.

Vedder advises investment advisers, funds, and senior professionals through sensitive regulatory inquiries, enforcement actions, and related litigation. Our team includes attorneys with significant experience at the SEC and DOJ, giving us a practical understanding of how regulators evaluate advisory practices, compliance programs, and industry conduct. We combine this insight with the deep capabilities of Vedder’s Investment Services group to deliver coordinated, business-focused strategies.

We represent investment advisers, investment companies, commodities trading advisers, fund directors and trustees, hedge funds, private funds, mutual funds, portfolio managers, chief compliance officers, and senior executives. Our work covers fraud and misconduct allegations, conflicts of interest, disclosure issues, insider trading concerns, governance and oversight matters, compliance breakdowns, and remediation. We also assist clients with internal reviews, mock audits, and self-reporting decisions.

Whether navigating an SEC exam, responding to an enforcement inquiry, or addressing parallel litigation risks, we provide clear guidance and steady advocacy focused on protecting your business and reputation.

Vedder’s broker-dealer defense team brings deep industry knowledge and decades of experience representing firms and registered representatives across the highly regulated securities landscape. We help clients navigate the full lifecycle of regulatory scrutiny—from early-stage inquiries and examinations to enforcement actions, complex litigation, trials, and appeals. Our team regularly defends clients before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Department of Justice (DOJ), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and other self-regulatory organizations, as well as in state and federal courts nationwide.

In addition to litigation and enforcement defense, we work extensively with clients on the proactive side of compliance. Our attorneys develop, review, audit, and test compliance programs, supervisory systems, and operational controls to help firms mitigate risk before problems arise. We frequently conduct internal investigations and mock regulatory examinations to prepare clients for government oversight and to identify potential vulnerabilities early.

When you work with Vedder, you gain a defense team that understands the complex, fast-moving realities of the broker-dealer environment. We provide practical, business-aligned guidance on regulatory obligations, supervisory expectations, emerging risks, and the intricate issues that affect dual registrants and diversified financial institutions.

Our experience covers a full range of industry-specific matters, including:

• Dual registrants, fiduciary obligations, and related compliance issues
• Sales practice allegations and customer disputes
• Claims involving collateralized debt obligations, mortgage-backed securities, auction-rate securities, hedge funds, variable annuities, exchange-traded funds, and prime brokerage activities

Across all matters, our goal is simple: protect your business, reduce exposure, and deliver a strong, strategic defense that aligns with your operational realities and long-term objectives.

Vedder’s Financial Institutions defense team provides strategic guidance and advocacy to banks, savings institutions, financial services providers, and their directors and officers facing regulatory investigations or enforcement actions. By combining deep regulatory knowledge with extensive litigation and enforcement experience, we help clients navigate complex federal and state matters efficiently and effectively.

Our team represents institutions and individuals in proceedings involving the FDIC, SEC, SIGTARP, DOJ, and other regulators. We handle open-bank investigations and enforcement actions, closed-bank proceedings involving claims against former officers or directors, and inquiries into lending, investment, or management decisions.

We provide practical, business-focused counsel on civil money penalties, restitution, industry prohibitions, and compliance-related issues, while also advising on risk management and remediation strategies. Whether responding to a regulatory inquiry, negotiating with agencies, or litigating complex matters, Vedder helps clients protect their financial, operational, and reputational interests with clarity and confidence.

Vedder provides accounting and auditing firms with strategic guidance and practical defense in regulatory investigations, enforcement actions, and related litigation. Our team combines deep experience in SEC and PCAOB proceedings, state licensing matters, professional association inquiries, and private litigation, including class actions, to help firms address potential risks proactively.

We advise on complex matters such as audit quality reviews, alleged independence violations, deficient audit claims, and cross-border document requests. Our attorneys assist firms with PCAOB investigations under AU Section 316 and Auditing Standard No. 3, as well as SEC inquiries and subpoenas, ensuring thorough preparation and effective engagement with regulators.

Vedder also represents clients in securities class actions involving audit opinions and related allegations, helping firms focus on their business while managing regulatory scrutiny. Across all matters, we deliver practical, results-driven counsel aimed at protecting firms’ financial, operational, and reputational interests.

Vedder provides comprehensive guidance and defense to health care providers, companies, executives, and government contractors facing complex civil and criminal regulatory matters. Our team leverages extensive experience in investigations and litigation involving the Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark Law, False Claims Act, Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and related federal and state regulations.

With former federal health care fraud prosecutors on the team, we offer a unique perspective on government priorities and investigative strategies. Vedder assists clients in responding to grand jury and administrative subpoenas, search warrants, False Claims Act and whistleblower litigation, and internal investigations. We also advise on voluntary disclosures and compliance programs to mitigate risk and enhance regulatory credibility.

Across all matters, we focus on practical, results-driven counsel that protects clients’ financial, operational, and reputational interests while navigating high-stakes regulatory environments with integrity and confidence.

Vedder conducts thorough, timely internal investigations to help companies address allegations of misconduct, whistleblower complaints, or emerging business risks before they escalate. Our team works quickly to understand the relevant facts, identify key personnel, and assess potential legal and regulatory exposures.

We develop practical investigation plans and procedures tailored to each organization, ensuring results that can withstand external scrutiny. Our approach includes document review, interviews with relevant individuals, and reporting findings, conclusions, and recommendations to senior management, boards, or audit committees as appropriate.

When warranted, we guide clients through proactive remediation and self-reporting strategies to enhance regulatory cooperation. Beyond individual investigations, Vedder advises on risk mitigation, compliance program development, and employee training, helping organizations detect and prevent potential issues while protecting operational, financial, and reputational interests in high-stakes environments.

Vedder represents companies, officers, directors, and executives facing allegations under the False Claims Act and related federal and state laws. Our team helps clients navigate high-stakes matters initiated by government regulators or qui tam whistleblowers, where potential financial penalties and parallel criminal investigations can create significant risk.

We provide guidance at every stage, from developing compliance policies and responding to whistleblower complaints, to conducting internal investigations and defending clients in litigation and at trial. Vedder’s team has achieved favorable outcomes across health care, government contracting, and other industries, including early resolution, dismissal, or mitigation of potential penalties.

Our approach combines seasoned white collar defense attorneys, many of whom are former prosecutors or investigators, with deep industry knowledge in government contracts and health care. This integrated perspective allows us to design tailored defense strategies that minimize risk, protect reputations, and secure practical, results-driven outcomes.

Vedder represents public and privately held companies in a wide range of matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Our team assists clients in both proactive compliance initiatives and reactive responses to potential violations, providing practical, results-driven guidance across complex cross-border environments.

We conduct internal investigations, pre-acquisition and third-party due diligence, and reviews of existing compliance programs to identify potential risks and strengthen internal controls. Vedder also advises on the development, implementation, and auditing of compliance programs to ensure effective prevention of misconduct and adherence to global regulatory requirements.

By combining experienced white collar defense attorneys with deep knowledge of corporate compliance, Vedder helps clients navigate FCPA matters efficiently and strategically. Our focus is on minimizing legal, financial, and reputational risk while supporting clients’ operational and business objectives worldwide.