Main Practice Contacts

Ronald W. Breaux
+1 214.651.5688


In the News

Ryan McConnell in Corporate Counsel: Cracking the Codes - Companies can now benchmark their compliance policies by clicking a mouse

There's a new tool in the compliance officer's toolbox. And not only is it free, it also answers one of the most common questions asked by those who have to update company compliance policies: What is everyone else doing? >>

David Siegal in the Scranton Times-Tribune: Guidelines suggest long sentences for Cordaro, Munchak


Ryan McConnell in BNA's Prevention of Corporate Liability Report: Think Tank's Database Offers Hundreds of Codes of Conduct

A Texas attorney has gathered 489 publicly available corporate codes of conduct, and they are now searchable through the website of the Ethisphere Institute, a compliance and ethics think tank. >>

David Siegal in Reuters: Analysis - On the hotseat Corzine stakes his legal ground

Even with an apology and an insistence he has no idea what happened to missing client money, MF Global's former chief Jon Corzine cannot distance himself from the mess at the bankrupt futures brokerage.

Corzine testified to Congress on Thursday about the chaotic final days of MF Global, defying some predictions that he would refuse to answer questions...

"It is far from clear if anyone did anything intentionally wrong at MF Global," said David Siegal, a former federal prosecutor who is a white-collar defense lawyer with Haynes and Boone in New York. >>

Ryan McConnell in Corporate Counsel: Codes of Conduct Dataset Available to In-House Counsel

A company's code of conduct sends a strong message to employees and federal investigators, alike—whether it's clear and instructive, full of ambiguities, or altogether void of certain policies. >>

Ryan McConnell in The Wall Street Journal: Catnip For Compliance Officers

Say you’re an in-house lawyer developing a compliance policy on gifts and hospitality for an oil and gas company. Or maybe you’re in private practice and helping a telecommunications company implement a whistleblower hotline.

Where do you turn for a benchmark?

On Tuesday, the business ethics think tank [The Ethisphere Institute] rolled out a new online database that compiles the codes of conduct and policies from the 500 largest corporations by revenue into a searchable dataset. Access to the database, which was created in partnership with attorneys Ryan D. McConnell, Katharine Southard and Charlotte Simon, is free. >>



Recent Publications

DOJ Report Emphasizes Continued Growth of False Claims Act Cases

On Monday December 19, 2011, the Department of Justice announced year-end results for False Claims Act (“FCA”) cases in fiscal year 2011. The results demonstrate a dramatic increase in FCA cases brought by the government and private whistleblowers. >>

Corporate Counsel Guest Article: Undervaluing the Most Important Assets

For most companies, employees represent the most valuable asset. They make the products companies sell. They run the business. >>

D.C. Circuit Dismisses Sallie Mae FCA Suit Based on First-to-File Rule

The United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit recently held that a complaint does not need to meet the heightened pleading standards for fraud claims in order to satisfy the first-to-file rule under the False Claims Act (“FCA”). >>




Our experience includes defending companies in:

  • Antitrust Violations
  • Environmental Compliance and Reporting Violations
  • Mail and Wire Fraud
  • Government Contracting and Procurement Fraud
  • False Claims Act and QuiTam Proceedings
  • Health Care Fraud and Abuse
  • Money Laundering Violations
  • Internal Investigations
  • International Trade and Customs Fraud
  • Securities Law Violations
  • RICO Violations
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Violations

White Collar Criminal Defense

Haynes and Boone’s White Collar Criminal Defense practice group vigorously defends companies and their executives and directors against charges of criminal misconduct and related civil claims. Utilizing a talent base composed of former high-ranking federal prosecutors and long-time defense practitioners, we have delivered successful results through both the adversary process as well as through skillful negotiation. Our matters span varied industries and have involved concerns of criminal misconduct under antitrust, banking, environmental, false claims, healthcare, and securities laws, among others. With the support of the firm’s more than 525 attorneys in ten offices in the United States and in Mexico City and Moscow, our Group can defend clients nationally and internationally from our group’s home bases in Texas and Washington, D.C.

Corporate Investigations

Our group quickly delivers the experience and resources necessary to perform complex and often time-pressured internal investigations that usually accompany any significant government investigation and related civil plaintiffs’ litigation. Providing coordinated and consistent defenses to such “parallel proceedings” has been the hallmark of our practice for decades. We react quickly when there is an opportunity to understand the scope of any potential problems before they are discovered by potential governmental or civil plaintiff adversaries. Our group’s ability to manage the competing pressures and restraints of a matter has been proven in numerous industries. Our knowledge of the criminal process and civil fraud litigation means that our investigations are conducted with eye toward both the potential benefits of a successful investigation as well as an awareness of the pitfalls inherent to such investigations.

Compliance Program Counseling

We also provide counsel in the development of compliance programs to minimize the risk of future criminal or civil problems. Our lawyers recognize the value of prevention or at least early detection of possible misconduct. Our lawyers are experienced with the importance of compliance programs under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and, more importantly, in persuading prosecutors to decline indictment. Toward that end, our lawyers assist management in developing effective compliance programs, carefully tailored to the client’s industry and particular needs.