Investigations
Beirne, Maynard & Parsons conducts investigations and provides advice to companies and individuals in matters initiated by various government authorities, as well as purely internal investigations initiated by corporations themselves. These investigations may be in response to serious allegations of misconduct and other kinds of impropriety, or they may be conducted as a preventive measure to ensure that proper checks and balances are in place to prevent misconduct or violations from occurring.
Because we are a litigation law firm, we are especially well suited to assist clients by representing management or special committees in actions involving such allegations as corporate malfeasance, whistleblower claims, questionable foreign payments, conflicts of interest, director and officer indemnification and insurance, and other questions involving fiduciary responsibilities. Our attorneys work with a team comprised of in-house corporate counsel, auditors, and specialized forensic experts to conduct or oversee fact-finding, to assess areas of vulnerability, and to advise our clients on the appropriate action to be taken.
One of the primary functions of outside counsel in such investigations is to conduct impartial and completely objective fact-finding. The goal of an internal investigation is generally to find the facts and determine whether any legal violations have occurred – usually in a climate of heightened sensitivity and potential risk to the company, its board, and its senior executives. The relevant facts must then be synthesized into actionable information as promptly as possible to facilitate informed decisions. Working with its legal team, company management will use the results of such an investigation to determine an appropriate response.
Only attorneys with substantial experience in navigating these waters can succeed. We have the experience and the skill to help companies, their boards, and their senior executives make the right decisions. We have conducted such investigations in a variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, health care, public accounting, energy, financial services, food and beverage, and telecommunications, among others.
We have conducted internal investigations and responses to government inquiries regarding such issues as:
- Responses to government inquiries
- Claims of employment discrimination
- Allegations of internal vendor preference
- Licensing issues
- Energy pricing-related claims
- Environmental violations
- Foreign Corrupt Practices Act allegations
- RICO investigations
Board Training in Investigations
Beirne, Maynard & Parsons attorneys participate as faculty members on Beecher Carlson's TopBoardsTM program, an ISS-accredited, custom Board training program comprised of modules designed through a collaboration of nationally recognized thought leaders with unique perspectives and experiences on a variety of topics critical to today's corporate directors. Martin Beirne and Brit Brown are part of the faculty for the module entitled "What to Do When You Are in the Middle of an Internal Investigation."
Click below to visit the Beecher Carlson TopBoards web site.
