Investigations and Criminal Defense
Client-Focused – Thorough – Creative
The lawyers of Osborn Maledon’s Investigations and Criminal Defense group represent public and private companies and executives in connection with complex, high-profile, sensitive investigations and prosecutions. We regularly represent individuals facing state or federal charges throughout all phases of the criminal process, from grand-jury proceedings through trial and appeal. Our team also handles internal and independent investigations for companies and organizations across a variety of industries, including financial services, health care, defense contractors, media, and hospitality. We bring a client-focused, thorough, and creative approach to each and every representation.
We have substantial experience in matters involving the False Claims Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and Hatch Act. We have represented clients in connection with investigations by various government agencies, including the Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, and the Arizona Corporation Commission. Our attorneys are well versed and experienced in corporate internal investigations, regulatory investigations, and enforcement proceedings conducted by federal and state authorities, as well as the major self-regulatory organizations, including the NYSE and FINRA.
We have significant experience representing public agencies and tribal entities in connection with internal investigations, as well as investigations by state, federal, and regulatory agencies. These include corporate governance, government contracting, procurement, use of proprietary information, employee misconduct, and antitrust issues. Our representation of individuals is wide-ranging, including white-collar cases and all levels of felony and misdemeanor charges.
We have experienced trial lawyers on our team, but we know that our clients’ legal challenges do not begin and end in the courtroom or a law office. Our group also includes effective crisis managers and negotiators, who are savvy in dealing with media and public relations, and we work with trusted, experienced private investigators, so we can respond quickly to urgent crises and emergency situations. We pride ourselves on our strategic thinking and ability to reach positive resolutions for our clients.
Associated Attorneys
Associated Announcements
- Osborn Maledon receives top recognition by prestigious Chambers USA guide
- Osborn Maledon announces the addition of attorney Kimberly Friday
- Osborn Maledon ranked in Band 1 by prestigious Chambers guide
- Sturr Honored with Judge Learned Hand Award
- Osborn Maledon receives award from Arizona Public Defenders Association
- 14 Osborn Maledon Attorneys Named in Prestigious Chambers Guide, Firm Named 1st in 3 Practice Areas
- Osborn Maledon ranked in "Best Law Firms" 2015 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
- Osborn Maledon ranked in "Best Law Firms" 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
Associated Recognition
- Osborn Maledon Practice Groups and Attorneys Ranked as Tops in Chambers Guide
- Four Osborn Maledon Partners Named 'Lawyer of the Year'
Associated Publications
- Arizona Justice Project founder Larry A. Hammond speaks about the cases that have “gut-hooked” him
Southwest Super Lawyers, May 2014 - Solitary Confinement in Need of Review
Arizona Attorney, April 2016 - Civil Discovery Standards Influence New Criminal Guidelines
Pretrial Practice & Discovery, 0:4© by the American Bar Association, August 2012 - Sentence Must be Fair: Death-Penalty Defendants Need Competent Attorneys
The Arizona Republic, May 2012 - Capital Case Crisis in Maricopa County, Arizona: A response from the Defense
Judicature, March 2012 - Arizona's Crisis in Indigent Capital Representation
Arizona Attorney, March 1998 - Fixing Arizona's Mass Incarceration Dilemma
Morrison Institute for Public Policy, August 2017 - New Rules on Indigent Representation
Arizona Attorney, February 1997 - Rethinking Arizona's System of Indigent Representation
Arizona Attorney, October 1996 - Opinion: What Did Jeffrey Landrigan's Execution Teach Us About Respect?
Maricopa Lawyer, November 2010 - Protecting Moscow from the Soviets -- Book Review
Experience, 2009 - Napolitano will Defend State Death Penalty Law before Supreme Court
The Arizona Republic, April 2002 - Why Should You Oppose the Death Penalty?
The Arizona Republic, April 2011 - Innocent Until Interrogated
Law Journal for Social Justice, May 2011 - John Sears, John J. Flynn Lifetime Achievement Award 2011
The Defender, April 2011 - 5 Steps to Follow When Responding to a Government Subpoena
Phoenix Business Journal, November 10, 2017
Representative Matters
White-Collar Defense and Government Investigations
- Negotiated settlement and diversion agreement with Department of Commerce and U.S. Attorney’s Office for violations of Export Administration Regulations.
- Represented government contractor in pre-intervention negotiation and settlement of False Claims Act action.
- Represented multiple employees of national company in large-scale FBI mail- and wire-fraud investigation into manipulation of customer contracts resulting in no charges against clients.
Felony and Misdemeanor Charges
- Represented client charged with participating in a drug-related criminal syndicate resulting in dismissal of charges.
- Represented client charged with fraud in connection with medical billing resulting in dismissal of charges.
- Represented client tried for negligent homicide in drowning death of her child.
Internal Investigations
- Represented professional sports organization in investigation concerning employee sexual misconduct.
- Represented residential developer subsidiary of publicly-traded company in investigation of bribery of public officials.
- Conducted internal investigation for cybersecurity firm concerning allegations of board-member misconduct.
Appeals and Post-Conviction
- State v. Dozier, No. 1 CA-CR-12-0207 (Ariz. App. Sept. 30, 2014).
- State v. Bigger, 227 Ariz. 196, 254 P.3d 1142 (App. 2011) (raising issues of pretrial publicity, DNA evidence and third-party witness evidence in appeal of first degree murder conviction).
- Bashir v. Pineda, 226 Ariz. 351, 248 P.3d 199 (App. 2011) (affirming that state must inform grand jury of matters on which accused would like to address it).
Financial Services Fraud and Regulation
- Represented publicly-traded financial-services company in connection with anti-money-laundering investigation by the Arizona Attorney General's Office, ending in a high-profile settlement.
- Represented former managing partner of national accounting firm in connection with fraud and embezzlement charges by SEC, Arizona Attorney General's Office, and Arizona Accountancy Board.
- Represented loan officer in connection with federal charges related to multi-million-dollar mortgage-fraud scheme resulting in a favorable plea agreement.
Health-Care Fraud and Regulation
- Represented client charged with forging medical records in Arizona Attorney General prosecution resulting in dismissal of charges.
- Represented physician in connection with DEA investigation regarding anti-aging medicines resulting in no charges.
- Represented dentist in connection with FBI investigation, who was charged with billing fraud against self-insured quasi-public entity.