Securities Enforcement

When a governmental agency threatens to investigate or begin a legal action against our client in a criminal or civil proceeding, we use every opportunity, at each phase of the process, to halt the action and prevent any adverse outcome.

Experienced Securities Enforcement and Litigation Defense attorneys based in Washington, DC

Our attorneys have extensive experience as former SEC enforcement attorneys and DOJ prosecutors. We know how the government plans and implements securities investigations because we have planned and implemented them with success and we know where the administrative and procedural gaps bubble up.

We represent US and foreign corporations, boards, executives, auditors, accountants, broker-dealers, investment advisers and others which and whom the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Justice, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, state securities agencies, and other U.S. and international agencies and regulators seek to question, investigate, name or prosecute as defendants or respondents in legal matters.

The advantage we bring to our clients is the use of a strategy we call “truncation”: shortening and ending the government’s adverse momentum against our client by

Identifying the government’s theory of potential liability
Specifying the often implicit and highly problematic assumptions the government has about the relevant law and its application to the story
Developing a fuller, three-dimensional narrative of events that provides necessary context to an often two-dimensional story.

We know from experience that our processes of identifying the trajectory of the government’s action and responding fully and affirmatively offer our clients optimal outcomes.

Securities investigations can involve multiple agencies in the U.S. and globally, and we have led defense teams in joint DOJ/SEC investigations involving global operations, including in the European Union, the United Kingdom, South America, India, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Many of these investigations have involved other countries’ financial regulators and criminal authorities. We understand and know how to manage the complexity and fast-moving dynamic of these parallel, multi-agency investigations.

Are you being investigated for potential violations of federal securities laws and regulations?

SECIL is comprised of former SEC enforcement attorneys and DOJ prosecutors with over 100 years of collective expertise navigating complex SEC/DOJ investigations and proceedings.

Meet Our Team Contact Us

When and where necessary or desirable, we also assist clients with remediating issues and building compliance procedures to prevent future problems.

Our team includes a highly experienced and successful forensic investigator and compliance expert, as well as former in-house compliance attorneys. We strive to design programs that bring our clients into compliance with a myriad of regulatory frameworks to protect the corporations and its executives. As an example of our capabilities in this area, our attorneys helped a multinational corporation create and implement a comprehensive compliance program that focused on risk mitigation in various geographic regions and across different global business units. SECIL Law attorneys are experienced trial lawyers who have conducted numerous trials and arbitrations.

Once an issue is identified, our goal is to help our clients resolve it early. If that is not possible and an investigation leads to criminal or civil litigation, we zealously defend our clients’ interests throughout the entire process.

Securities Enforcement and FINRA Attorney Successes

Represented the former vice president of operations of a U.S. software developer in parallel DOJ and SEC investigations into accounting for software sales, resulting in no indictment and no claims against our client.
We represented the Chairman of the Board of a technology startup in a securities fraud case filed by multiple investors who alleged they relied on the Chairman’s false assurances about the viability of the company and its technology product when they purchased their stock. The company’s CEO was convicted of criminal securities fraud after trial in US District Court (Alexandria Division). We successfully obtained a declination of charges from the US Attorney’s Office and subsequently prevailed in the securities fraud case filed by the investors in Fairfax Circuit Court under the Virginia Securities Act, 13.1-502 & 13.1-522 (A) and (C).
We represented the former Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors of Royal Dutch Shell in parallel with DOJ, SEC, and UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) investigations into Shell’s restatement of one-fifth of its proved oil and gas reserves. The company agreed to a Non-Prosecution Agreement with the DOJ and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York noted that his office was “continuing to evaluate the case against the individuals.” Shell settled to a civil claim of securities fraud with the SEC and paid a $120 million civil penalty. Shell also settled to market abuse with the FSA and paid the UK regulator $30 million in penalties. Despite the company’s settlements, we successfully demonstrated to each government agency, including in a hearing before the FSA’s Regulatory Decisions Committee, that no violations had been committed and all government investigations concluded with no charges brought against our client. Ultimately, the SEC significantly modified its rule on proved oil and gas reserves–we believe as a result of our work in these investigations.
Represented a former C-suite executive of a pharmaceutical manufacturer in an SEC investigation into potential accounting issues involving contracts in China.
Represented a senior executive of a publicly traded investment adviser in an SEC investigation into certain disclosures in public filings involving assets under management.
Represented an assistant general counsel of a regional broker-dealer in a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority investigation into sales practices for variable annuities; no charges were brought against our client.
Represented the independent consultant for UBS AG in a DOJ Non-Prosecution Agreement and SEC Cease and Desist Order to ensure that UBS executed on undertakings to discontinue providing prohibited services to US taxpayers as stipulated in the relevant agreements.
Represented the lead audit partner of a Big Four accounting firm in an SEC investigation into the audit of a large global banking firm’s accounting treatment of certain entities and instruments involving a financial crisis in Argentina.
Represented the compliance director of the broker-dealer subsidiary of a major financial services firm in a FINRA enforcement investigation involving late trading and market timing allegations.
Represented a broker-dealer in SEC. FINRA and state investigations involving multiple allegations or regulatory issues, including the failure to implement adequate AML and CIP programs and to establish, maintain, and enforce supervisory procedures.
Represented the chief executive officer of a US-based oil drilling company in a joint DOJ and SEC FCPA investigation into payments made by the company in connection with its operations in Africa and South America.

Our Washington, DC securities enforcement and FINRA defense attorneys’ experience includes:

15 U.S.C. 77e
15 U.S.C. 77q
15 U.S.C. 77t
15 U.S.C. 78j(b)
15 U.S.C. 80b-1
15 U.S.C. 80b-7
Anti-Bribery
Anti-Corruption
Anti-Fraud
Bitcoin
Bitcoin mining
Blockchain
Books and records
Broker license
Chief compliance officer
Chief financial officer
Code of Conduct
Compliance
Compliance Audit
Conflict of Interest
Control person liability
Corporate Investigations
Crypto currency
Crypto exchange
Crypto wallet
Customs
Digital tokens
Due Diligence
Economic Crime
Ethereum
Ethics Audit
Failure to register
False statements
Family office
FINRA Violations
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
Foreign jurisdiction
Forensic Accounting
Fraud
Fraud Audit
Fraud Examination
Injunction or penalty
Investment adviser code of ethics
Investment Advisers Act of 1940
Investment fraud
Joint settlement
Material misstatement
Material omission
Misappropriation
Misappropriation theory
Officer and director bar
Parallel investigation
Private equity
Prohibited transactions
Prohibition from serving as officer or director
Retaliation
Sale of unregistered security
Section 10
Section 17(a)
Section 20
Section 20
Section 20(b)
Section 5
Securities
Securities Act of 1933
Securities crime
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Securities fraud
Securities law
Securities litigation
Securities regulation
Securities violation
Shadow trading
Subpoena
Tippee
Tipper
Tipping
U.S.C. 78t
Venture capital fund
Whistleblower
Whistleblower Investigations

Why SECIL Law?

Credibility, communication, empathy

Our team is staffed with former Justice Department prosecutors, Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement attorneys, and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority lawyers. SECIL Law attorneys are experienced litigators who previously worked at large firms and specialty boutiques. In other words, the lawyers on the other side of the table know and respect our capabilities.

We excel at presenting our clients’ cases after an in-depth evaluation of the evidence backed by a comprehensive understanding of the law. We are able to explain the most complex concepts in terms that a jury can understand and appreciate. Because many of our attorneys worked for the federal government, we also know how prosecutors approach charging decisions and evaluate the strength of the cases they file. We leverage all of this in settlement discussions as well as at trial.

Defending against criminal charges can be a trying time for any defendant. We pride ourselves on being trusted advisors who not only provide nuanced legal advice but leverage our tested expertise to help our clients through the process.

Our firm’s name, SECIL Law, stands for Securities Enforcement Compliance Investigations & Litigation, and that is precisely what we do. We aren’t simply able to handle litigation; we also serve our clients from the early phases of an investigation and through any litigation, criminal or civil.

Ready to discuss your securities enforcement case?

Contact our Washington securities enforcement defense attorneys to discuss your case.

Who We’ve Helped

C-Suite

Represented the former vice president of operations of a U.S. software developer in parallel DOJ and SEC investigations into accounting for software sales, resulting in no indictment and no claims against our client.

Corporate directors and officers

Represented the chairman of Royal Dutch Shell’s Committee of Managing Directors in joint investigations by the DOJ, SEC, and UK Financial Services Authority and private securities class action litigation related to alleged fraud and other charges against the company. No charges were filed in any jurisdiction against our client and the client was dismissed from the class action cases.

Broker-dealer executives

Represented an assistant general counsel of a regional broker-dealer in a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority investigation into sales practices for variable annuities; no charges were brought against our client.

How We Can Help You