WilmerHale is featured in The National Law Journal (NLJ) for winning the publication’s white collar defense category in its DC Litigation Departments of the Year contest.

As they considered which firm to choose for the honor, the NLJ’s staff had available for their review several significant matters handled by numerous WilmerHale lawyers across practices. 

In its feature on the firm, however, the publication spotlighted the high-profile, $280 million settlement WilmerHale lawyers helped Panasonic Corp. achieve with the US Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission that resolved federal allegations that the company’s avionics unit violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act between 2007 and 2013.

The article mentioned the roles of Washington DC-based Partners Ronald Machen, Kimberly Parker and Matthew Jones, and New York-based Partner Erin G.H. Sloane in the Panasonic matter. It also extensively quotes Mr. Machen, who noted that the robust, senior-level government experience of many WilmerHale’s lawyers means “we know what we’re looking at,” when dealing with the government on behalf of clients. Mr. Machen was US Attorney for the District of Columbia during the Obama Administration. 

“We specialize in handling high stakes crisis situations for corporations and individuals that require complex solutions that cut across public policy,” says Mr. Machen. “We’re routinely dealing with all the issues you’re reading about in the paper. Everything you read about, there’s likely a WilmerHale role in those cases. We don’t get rattled… and we’re able to advise the client in a calm and strategic way.”