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Ian Herbert represents global companies, executives, and trustees through government investigations and related litigation. Mr. Herbert has handled all aspects of multi-jurisdictional investigations, including complex legal analysis, global litigation strategy, and factual development. A member of the firm's Trust and Family Office and Anti-Money Laundering practice groups, Mr. Herbert has experience advising both individuals and entities, including multinational corporations, offshore trustees and financial services companies on a range of issues, including foreign bribery, tax fraud, and other financial crimes. 

Mr. Herbert has deep experience engaging with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other federal and state regulators. Additionally, because his matters often involve a coordinated response to both U.S. and foreign regulators, Mr. Herbert is familiar with the relevant enforcement authorities outside the United States and is experienced in navigating the complex issues that occur in multi-jurisdictional investigations. Mr. Herbert has also represented individuals in federal district court on federal charges for racketeering, mail fraud, health care fraud, and obstruction of justice. 

Mr. Herbert maintains a robust pro bono practice focused primarily on representing individuals in criminal prosecutions and post-conviction proceedings. In 2017, he briefed, argued, and obtained a reversal of a criminal conviction in the D.C. Court of Appeals. In 2020, he secured the early release of another client under the First Step Act. 

Mr. Herbert writes regularly on issues related to white-collar criminal enforcement and money-laundering. He is an editor of both the Executives at Risk newsletter, which reports on noteworthy cases and investigations impacting corporate executives, and the Money Laundering Enforcement Trends newsletter, which focuses on developments in money laundering regulation and enforcement.

 

Representative Engagements
  • Defended an offshore trust company in a criminal tax investigation involving the DOJ and regulators in multiple offshore jurisdictions. Helped coordinate the global strategy for the trust company’s interactions with regulators and extensive litigation in multiple jurisdictions. 
  • Represents an executive in litigation in several countries regarding the state-sponsored hacking of the client by a foreign government. Helped develop key factual and legal theories to support the allegations of hacking, which are now the subject of litigation following a global investigation of misconduct.
  • Defended employees of a financial services and banking company in connection with internal and government investigations regarding allegations of fraud, disclosure and regulatory violations. 
  • Represented a national oil company in connection with an independent investigation and interactions with the DOJ and SEC regarding allegations of corruption, cost overruns, and internal control deficiencies.  
  • Represented the former general counsel of a pharmaceutical company in connection with an FCPA investigation. 
  • Defended a telemarketing executive in prosecution in the District of Maryland for mail fraud and wire fraud relating to the telemarketing business.
  • Defended an individual in an 80-defendant RICO conspiracy case in the District of Maryland involving bribe payments to correctional officers. 
  • Directed a successful effort to reverse a client’s conviction in the DC Court of Appeals, including identifying appealable issues, drafting the briefs, and arguing the case.  
     
Rankings and Recognition
  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, 2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Trusts and Estates, 2024
  • DC Bar Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll, 2016 - 2020
Admissions
State Admissions
  • District of Columbia
  • New York
Court Admissions
  • United States District Court for the District of Columbia
  • United States District Court for the District of Maryland
  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Clerkships
  • Clerk, The Honorable Catharine Easterly, District of Columbia Court of Appeals
News and Events
Publications