The Debevoise White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group has excelled in some of the most high-profile, difficult corporate crises.

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Helen V. Cantwell

David A. O'Neil

Mary Jo White

Thought Leadership

Band 1 firm for Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption – Global-wide

Band 1 firm in the U.S. for Corporate Crime & Investigations and Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border).

—Chambers Global, 2025

Band 1 firm for Corporate Crime and Investigations – Nationwide.

Band 1 firm for White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations in New York.

Band 1 firm for Securities: Regulation: Enforcement – Nationwide.

Band 1 firm for FCPA – Nationwide.

Leading firm for White Collar Crime & Government Investigations in District of Columbia.

Leading firm for White Collar Crime & Government Investigations in California.

—Chambers USA, 2026

First tier firm in Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Corporates.

Leading firm in Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Individuals.

—The Legal 500 US, 2026

Ranked as a top-tier firm for Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime.

—The Legal 500 UK, 2025

Ranked as a leading firm for Financial Crime: Corporates.

—Chambers UK, 2025

White Collar Criminal Defense Law Firm of the Year

—Chambers USA Awards, 2024 & 2026

Most Impressive Investigations Practice of the Year

—Global Investigations Review, 2023

Named “Firm of the Year” in the Business Crime Defense category

—Who’s Who Legal, 2023 & 2024

White Collar Crime/Enforcement/Investigations Firm of the Year

—Benchmark Litigation U.S. Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022

White Collar Practice Group of the Year

—Law360, 2021

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Debevoise’s White Collar and Regulatory Defense Group excels in high-profile, complex representations for clients facing corporate crises. The group’s depth of experience and global reach means it works strategically and effectively with international clients to anticipate and respond to risks, swiftly identifying the root of any problem.The team’s experience includes defending against criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions, securities related litigation, conducting internal investigations, negotiating complex global settlements, and facilitating cooperation with government regulators. The team also routinely counsels clients regarding preventive measures, compliance programs and the collateral consequences of criminal proceedings. Respected by enforcement agencies, the group’s lawyers are renowned for their investigative skill, seasoned judgment and consistently clear and persuasive presentation of the facts. This makes the team a powerful advocate for clients, and leads to considerable success in matters involving investigations by the SEC, U.S. Department of Justice, New York Attorney General, UK Serious Fraud Office, and other authorities around the world. The Group is made up of highly experienced partners in the U.S., Europe and Asia. It is one of the few in the market to have exceptional capabilities across geographies. Debevoise is the only firm that Chambers & Partners ranks as “Band 1” for corporate crime and investigations in both the UK and the U.S. The team is made up of highly experienced career defense lawyers, as well as former federal prosecutors and regulators. The Group includes Mary Jo White, past Chair of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Litigation Co-Chair Andrew J. Ceresney, past Director of Enforcement at the SEC; John Gleeson, former United States District Judge in the Eastern District of New York and Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York, including two years as Chief of the Criminal Division; David A. O’Neil, former Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division and former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Fraud Section at the Department of Justice; Daniel M. Gitner, former Chief of the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s office in the Southern District of New York; Robert B. Kaplan, former Co-Chief of the Asset Management Unit of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement; Julie M. Riewe, former Co-Chief of the Asset Management Unit of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement; Luke Dembosky, former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the DOJ’s National Security Division; and a number of former Assistant U.S. Attorneys.The Group combines this unique understanding of the enforcement landscape with a deep appreciation for client business issues. As leading trial lawyers, but skilled negotiators, a successful outcome for the client is frequently achieved before a trial begins, and government cases are sometimes dropped altogether. The practice also tailors its solutions, placing an emphasis on flexibility and knowing when to shift gears and adapt to best meet the needs of each unique circumstance. Capabilities are scaled to match the size of any challenge, and adjusted as a case progresses.

White Collar & Regulatory Defense