Esther Suarez, Former Hudson County Prosecutor is Chair of the Firm’s White Collar Defense and Corporate Investigations Practice. She provides strategic counsel and dispute resolution services to corporations, boards, and individuals facing compliance challenges, government inquiries, and potential litigation

White Collar Defense

When government scrutiny turns into an investigation, indictment, or trial, the stakes are high and immediate, strategic defense is critical. Our White Collar Defense team delivers sophisticated counsel backed by decades of hands-on courtroom and regulatory experience. We focus on protecting both reputations and futures.

Because we understand how agencies operate, we are well positioned to guide clients through investigations led by the DOJ, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the SEC, IRS, OFAC, DDTC, BIS, state attorneys general, and other regulatory authorities.

Our lawyers advocate for corporations, boards, and audit committees, as well as individual executives, directors, and financial professionals. We handle a wide spectrum of matters, including FCPA compliance and enforcement, criminal antitrust, securities and tax fraud, healthcare fraud, internal investigations, political corruption, and broader regulatory issues.

Respected nationally for our strength in white collar litigation—particularly in healthcare, antitrust, and FCPA matters—we combine aggressive advocacy with practical judgment. Some cases are best fought publicly, others resolved quietly. Our ability to secure discreet, favorable outcomes in highly sensitive situations is one of the reasons clients trust us when everything is on the line.

Corporate Investigations

Our Corporate Investigations  team advises clients at every stage of compliance and oversight from building forward-looking compliance frameworks to navigating the pressures of a government inquiry. We frequently lead internal reviews involving employee misconduct, vendor fraud, sanctions and export controls, import classifications, company expenditures, and related controls. Our client base is diverse, spanning corporations, boards of directors, audit committees, government entities, and individual executives.

We believe prevention is the strongest form of protection. By working closely with clients to design compliance programs tailored to their industries, we help establish credibility, strengthen controls, and reduce exposure to investigations. These programs not only mitigate the risk of regulatory scrutiny but also position companies to respond quickly and credibly should issues arise. When government attention is unavoidable, we conduct thorough investigations and guide clients through every step of the process to achieve swift, favorable resolutions.

Because discretion is critical, we also counsel clients on managing public perception. Our team has significant experience shaping tactical communications when media attention cannot be avoided, and we draw on the added resources of our White Collar Defense practice when necessary. Having represented clients as both investigators and advocates, we understand how government agencies approach corporate reviews, what regulators prioritize, and how best to engage with enforcement authorities while minimizing risk.