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 fiscal year 2021, 75 federal offices of inspectors general closed more than 17,000 investigations, leading to more than 4,000 indictments and criminal informations, 1,000 civil actions, 2,000 suspensions or debarments of government contractors, and $12 billion in funds recovered.

WilmerHale is proud of its long and successful track record representing clients from myriad industries in complex, high-stakes inspector general investigations. In the past decade, our team has resolved dozens of investigations by many of the most active inspectors general, for clients in the defense, energy and natural resources, life sciences, media and entertainment 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 senior officials from the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Interior, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Energy, the Department of Commerce and the 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, the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Senate Finance Committee, as well as other committees and Member offices.