Federal Inspector General Investigations

Federal Inspector General Investigations

Leveraging multidisciplinary solutions to resolve inspector general investigations.

Inspectors general investigate fraud, waste and abuse in the federal government and present a significant enforcement risk for companies and other organizations that receive federal funds or interact with federal agencies. In a given year, federal offices of inspectors general typically close over 15,000 investigations, leading to thousands of indictments, criminal informations, civil actions and suspensions or debarments of government contractors, as well as billions of dollars of recovered funds.

WilmerHale is proud of its long and successful track record representing clients from myriad industries in complex, high-stakes inspector general investigations. Our team has resolved dozens of investigations by many of the most active inspectors general, for clients in the defense and government services, energy and natural resources, life sciences, media and entertainment, financial and technology industries, among many other sectors. Because inspector general investigations frequently arise in conjunction with congressional inquiries and civil or criminal investigations by the Department of Justice, as well as probes by other authorities—and often attract intense media scrutiny—these matters call for a multidisciplinary approach that addresses the full range of legal, regulatory, policy and reputational issues at stake. With a comprehensive lineup of market-leading practices focused on Congressional Investigations, Crisis Management and Strategic Response, Government Contract Investigations, White Collar Defense and Investigations, Securities Enforcement and the False Claims Act, WilmerHale is singularly well equipped to help our clients navigate these matters.

Our team includes former government officials who are intimately familiar with inspector general investigations from their prior service in the Department of Justice, Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of the Interior, Department of the Treasury, Department of Energy, Department of Commerce and Securities and Exchange Commission, among other agencies and regulators. As inspectors general also report to their respective congressional oversight committees—which wield significant influence—our team also draws on the firm’s extensive Capitol Hill experience. Our lawyers have served as senior staff on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senate and House Judiciary Committees, and Senate Finance Committee, as well as other committees and Member offices.

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Experience

  • Department of Defense

    • Represented a leading industrial technology company in an investigation by the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (Defense Criminal Investigative Service) and Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General regarding the sale of allegedly faulty equipment.
    • Represented a defense contractor in a National Reconnaissance Office Inspector General investigation regarding the installation of a suspected counterfeit part at a secure client site.
    • Represented a titanium supplier in a Department of Defense Inspector General (Defense Criminal Investigative Service) inquiry regarding alleged non-conformance with technical specifications in the aerospace metal supply chain.
    • Represented a leading telecommunications company in a Department of Justice and Department of Defense Inspector General investigation of an Army contract pertaining to a complex telecommunications system in Iraq.
    • Represented a major defense contractor in a Department of Justice criminal investigation related to fraud that started with a Department of Defense Inspector General subpoena.
    • Represented a communications and media company in a Department of Defense Inspector General investigation regarding alleged waste in spending at an embassy in Europe.
    • Represented a global technology company in a Department of Defense Inspector General investigation involving allegations of forced labor in manufacturing facilities.
    • Represented a global technology company in investigations by the Inspectors General of the General Services Administration and Department of Defense regarding alleged Trade Agreements Act violations.
    • Represented an industrial service company in a Department of Defense Inspector General investigation related to the False Claims Act.
    • Represented a senior Department of Defense official in a Department of Defense Inspector General investigation regarding a sensitive personnel matter.
    • Represented a senior government official in a Department of Defense Inspector General investigation related to ethics compliance.
    • Represented a medical device manufacturer in an investigation and related debarment proceeding by the Department of Defense Inspector General (Defense Criminal Investigative Service) and a US Attorney’s Office arising from the sale of allegedly defective medical devices to the Army.

  • Department of the Interior

    • Represented a leading renewable energy company in an inquiry by the Department of the Interior Inspector General into alleged conflicts of interests and preferential treatment.
    • Represented an energy company in a Department of the Interior Inspector General investigation regarding significant contracts related to its mining operation.
    • Represented an energy company in a Department of the Interior Inspector General investigation regarding potential conflicts of interest.
    • Represented an oil and gas company in a Department of the Interior Inspector General investigation with respect to Clean Water Act issues and potential debarment.

  • Department of State and US Agency for International Development

    • Represented a global technology company in a Department of State Inspector General investigation related to the False Claims Act regarding the company’s use of certain visas for short-term workers.
    • Represented a financial institution in a Department of State Inspector General investigation regarding immigration practices.
    • Represented a contractor for the US Agency for International Development in a Department of Justice investigation into a contract for the provision of services in Iraq following a referral from the USAID Inspector General.

  • Department of Energy

    • Represented a government contractor in a Department of Energy Inspector General investigation regarding alleged retaliation against a former employee.
    • Represented a major government contractor in a Department of Energy Inspector General investigation and other parallel inquiries regarding alleged malfeasance.

  • Department of Veterans Affairs

    • Represented a senior government official in a Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General investigation, a GAO investigation, a congressional investigation and a civil action against the VA.
    • Conducted an internal investigation and advised a company about the potential disclosure of alleged misconduct by one of its subcontractors to the Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General.

  • Department of Homeland Security

    • Conducted a sensitive internal investigation for the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General involving complex allegations against multiple former senior officials. 

  • Department of Housing and Urban Development

    • Represented a bank in a Department of Housing and Urban Development Inspector General investigation regarding HUD financing for an apartment development. 
    • Represented a crop insurance company in a joint Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Justice Inspector General investigation into alleged False Claims Act violations.

  • Department of Health and Human Services

    • Represented a healthcare company in an HHS IG investigation. 
    • Represented major pharmaceutical companies in negotiations with the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General concerning exclusion and corporate integrity agreements in connection with the resolution of False Claims Act and related allegations.

  • Securities and Exchange Commission

    • Represented a senior SEC official in an SEC Inspector General investigation regarding procurement issues. 
    • Represented a former senior SEC employee in an SEC Inspector General investigation regarding leasing issues.
    • Represented an SEC employee and a law firm partner in separate SEC Inspector General investigations.

  • Special Inspectors General

    • Represented a defense contractor in a Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction investigation regarding Defense Base Act issues. 
    • Represented financial institutions in connection with several high-profile inquiries by the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program and the Department of the Treasury Inspector General.

  • Other Federal Agencies

    • Represented a university-affiliated company in a NASA Inspector General investigation. 
    • Represented a major satellite television company in a Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission Inspector General investigation of the advanced wireless services auction.
    • Represented the subsidiary of a utility holding company in an investigation by the Inspectors General of the General Services Administration and the Small Business Administration into an alleged conspiracy to obtain federal contracts.
    • Represented a senior US Postal Service official in a USPS Inspector General investigation relating to compensation issues.

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