Peter H. White

Peter H. White, a partner in the Washington, D.C., office, concentrates his practice on representing corporations and executives in criminal and related civil and administrative matters, including grand jury investigations, internal investigations, SEC enforcement proceedings, False Claims Act and qui tam lawsuits, and shareholder class actions. Pete has litigated disputes involving accounting and securities fraud, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations, government program fraud, false claims and statements, antitrust violations, public corruption, tax evasion, insider trading, environmental violations, and other claims. A former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Columbia, Pete has served as lead counsel in over 80 federal and local jury trials and many more bench trials. Recent engagements have involved allegations of accounting and securities fraud, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations, government program fraud, false claims and statements, antitrust violations, public corruption, tax evasion, insider trading, and environmental violations.

A recipient of the Department of Justice Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Pete has performed with comparable skill as a private practitioner. Among the many publications that have recognized him as a leading litigator are: The Best Lawyers in America (white collar criminal defense; corporate governance & compliance law), Washington DC Super Lawyers, Washingtonian Magazine (white collar defense) and The Washington Post (“Their Own Defense,” June 18, 2007). Pete obtained his B.A., with high honors, from University of Notre Dame and his J.D. from The University of Virginia School of Law, where he was Order of the Coif and on the Management Board of the Virginia Law Review. Upon graduation, he had the distinction of serving as a law clerk to The Honorable Richard L. Williams of the Eastern District of Virginia.

Selected Representations

Lead trial and appellate counsel for Chief Marketing Officer of US Foodservice charged criminally and civilly with securities fraud in the S.D.N.Y. All convictions reversed, U.S. v. Kaiser, 2010 WL 2607140 (2nd Cir., July 1, 2010).

Chief Financial Officer of mutual funds complex in DOJ investigation and SEC and civil class action litigation, including award of summary judgment in SEC case. SEC v. Daidone, 476 F.Supp.2d 374 (S.D.N.Y. 2007); In re Smith Barney Fund Transfer Agent Litig., No. 05 Civ. 7583, 2007 WL 2809600 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2007), aff’d in part, vacated in part, 595 F.3d 86 (2d Cir. 2010).

Lead trial counsel for former General Counsel of insurance company in major DOJ Public Integrity Section prosecution. Acquittal on all counts after jury trial. U.S. v. Beardall, 4:08-cr-00212-DCB (D. Az.).

Chief Operating Officer of the largest NYSE specialist firm, defeating charges of securities fraud brought by the SEC after trial. Lead trial counsel for all litigating Respondents. In the Matter of Finnerty, Admin. Proc. No. 3-11893.

Lead counsel for government contractor involved in providing security for diplomats overseas, including conduct of internal investigations, responding to grand jury subpoenas, negotiations with multiple government agencies, and defense of civil lawsuits. Brady v. Xe Services, et al, Civil Action No. 5:09-CV-00449-BO (EDNC); In re Xe Services Alien Tort Claims Act Litigation, No. 1:09-cv-615, et al (EDVA 2009); U.S. v. Slough, et al, 677 F. Supp. 2d 112 (D.D.C. 2009).

Publicly traded company investigated for government contract fraud in sales to GSA, including conduct of internal investigation, defense of criminal investigation, settlement of False Claims Act lawsuit, and successful litigation, through jury verdict, of related contractor/subcontractor suit. C&E Services v. Ashland, 1:2003cv01857 (D.D.C.).

Chief financial officer of publicly traded insurance company in SEC/DOJ accounting fraud investigation.

General Counsel of major defense contractor in DOJ investigation of export control violations.

Senior executives of defense contractors in multiple criminal bid-rigging investigations.

Executives of multiple companies involved in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations.

Publicly traded medical device manufacturer in investigation of export control violations by the SEC, DOJ, and the Departments of Commerce and Treasury.

Major pulp and paper manufacturer investigated for potential violations of the Clean Air Act.

Internal investigation of government contracts price-fixing allegations for large construction company.

Multiple student loan fraud investigations, including representation of executives and corporate entities against False Claims Act and government program fraud charges.

Senior executives of international bank and major hedge fund involved in tax shelter investigations in the S.D.N.Y. and the W.D. Wash.

Managing directors of business development company in parallel SEC and DOJ investigations.

Senior executives of publicly traded company in investigation of alleged criminal immigration violations.

Executives involved in DOJ and SEC investigations of finite reinsurance contracts.

Selected Publications

Selected Speaking Engagements

Other Distinctions

Department of Justice Director’s Award
Listed as a leading litigator in many publications, including:

• The Best Lawyers in America (white collar criminal defense; corporate governance & compliance law)
• Washington DC Super Lawyers
• Washingtonian (white collar defense)
• The Washington Post (“Their Own Defense,” June 18, 2007)

Bar Admissions

• District of Columbia
• Virginia

Court Admissions

• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia

Education

Prior Experience

Assistant U.S. Attorney, 1992-99
    District of Columbia, 1992-97
    Eastern District of Virginia, 1997-99
Law Clerk to Hon. Richard L. Williams, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, 1989-90