California Attorney General Defense Law Firm
Experienced Defense Attorneys Representing Clients in State and Federal Attorney General Matters in California
Contact NickOur firm represents companies and individuals facing scrutiny from the California Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Central District, Eastern District, Northern District, and Southern District of California. We also provide legal representation in state and federal courts across California for both civil and criminal law enforcement matters.
Oberheiden P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm that represents corporate and individual clients in high-stakes civil and criminal investigations and law enforcement proceedings. Our lawyers rely on decades of combined experience and well-honed trial skills to aggressively defend clients at all stages of the law enforcement process; and, when representing corporate clients, our lawyers and consultants work directly with our clients’ key decision makers to ensure that they are making sound decisions every step of the way.
Our Attorney General Defense Practice in California
We handle attorney general investigations and enforcement litigation throughout California. Our attorney general defense practice includes:
California State Attorney General Investigations (State AG Investigations)
We represent publicly traded companies, privately-held companies, corporate executives, licensed professionals, politicians, public figures, and other clients in investigations conducted by the California Attorney General’s Office. California AG investigations can lead to civil enforcement actions or criminal charges, and potential risks can range from fines to prison time. We handle attorney general investigations in Central, Northern, and Southern California, and our lawyers are available to provide legal representation on an emergency basis when necessary.
U.S. Attorney General Investigations (Federal AG Investigations)
We also represent clients in U.S. Attorney General investigations throughout California. We provide representation for investigations conducted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other federal authorities as well. Our legal team understands the unique complexities and risks involved with facing federal scrutiny (including public relations risks), and we take a proactive approach focused on efficiently and favorably resolving our clients’ federal AG investigations without unnecessary publicity whenever possible.
Civil Defense Representation
Many state and federal attorney general investigations are civil in nature. If your company is facing a civil enforcement action, we can use our experience to help protect your company from unnecessary consequences. We serve as litigation defense counsel for companies facing all types of civil allegations in state and federal court, working alongside our clients’ general counsel to help maximize efficiencies and reduce costs when possible. We have successfully defended clients against a wide range of civil allegations brought by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and state AG offices across the country.
Criminal Defense Representation
While many state and federal attorney general investigations are civil in nature, the California Attorney General’s Office and the DOJ will both pursue criminal charges when warranted. If you (or your company) is facing criminal prosecution in state or federal court, we can use our experience to dispute prosecutors’ allegations by all means available. If it makes sense to target a plea deal, we can negotiate with prosecutors on your (or your company’s) behalf. If it makes sense to target a pre-trial dismissal or a “Not guilty” verdict at trial, we will do everything we can to fight the prosecution’s case at the superior court or district court level.
Civil and Criminal Appeals
We handle appeals in civil and criminal enforcement cases as well. If you need to challenge the outcome of a case involving the California Attorney General’s Office or a U.S. Attorney’s Office in California, we can pursue an appeal with the California Courts of Appeal, the California Supreme Court, or the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit as warranted.
Our Practice Areas
The lawyers in our attorney general defense practice represent clients that are facing all types of serious corporate and white collar allegations under state and federal law. This includes, but is not limited to, allegations of:
- Antitrust violations and unfair trade practices
- Bank, mortgage, and insurance fraud
- Consumer protection violations
- Cryptocurrency-related offenses
- Drug trafficking and related offenses
- Gaming and gambling-related offenses
- False Claims Act violations
- Government contract, program, and grant fraud
- Healthcare fraud (i.e., Medicare and Medicaid fraud)
- Mail fraud and wire fraud
- Money laundering
- Public corruption and bribery
- Securities and commodities offenses
- Tax evasion and tax fraud
- Other white collar crimes and civil offenses
When facing scrutiny from the California Attorney General’s Office or federal prosecutors, it is essential to ensure that you have a clear and comprehensive understanding of the allegations at issue. Once you engage our legal team, we can intervene to ensure that we know both the scope and nature of the allegations at hand, and then we can use our experience to begin building and executing a custom-tailored defense strategy right away.
From Los Angeles County to San Francisco, We Provide Attorney General Defense Representation Statewide
As a California attorney general defense law firm, we represent clients in matters involving the California AG and the DOJ statewide. Regardless of where you (or your company) is under investigation or facing litigation, we can provide the representation you need, and we can get to work immediately if necessary.
Founding attorney Nick Oberheiden, PhD has gained national recognition for both his legal representation and his legal commentary. He has been featured by media outlets including the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Forbes Magazine, among many others. His clients range from medical device companies and other businesses to politicians and government officials, and he works alongside our firm’s former state and federal prosecutors to provide strategic and proactive defense representation.
FAQs: Attorney General Defense in California
What Are the Risks of Facing an Attorney General Investigation in California?
The risks of facing an attorney general investigation in California depend on the scope and nature of the allegations involved. They also depend on whether you (or your company) is under investigation by the California Attorney General’s Office or a U.S. Attorney’s Office in California.
Broadly, attorney general investigations can be either civil or criminal in nature. While civil investigations carry the risk of substantial fines and administrative penalties (i.e., loss of licensure or registration), criminal investigations carry the risk of fines and prison time.
How Do State Investigations and Federal Investigations Differ?
State and federal attorney general investigations differ in several ways—from the priorities and personnel involved to the potential charges stemming from the inquiry. With that said, there are significant similarities as well. Most significantly, state investigations and federal investigations can both present substantial risks; and, in both cases, avoiding unnecessary consequences requires an informed, strategic, and proactive defense.
Do I Need a Civil Law Firm or Criminal Law Firm When Facing an AG Investigation?
The answer to this question depends on whether the AG’s investigation is civil or criminal in nature. At Oberheiden P.C., we represent companies and individuals in both civil and criminal law enforcement matters. We also handle law enforcement matters at both the state and federal levels. As a result, regardless of the nature of the allegations at issue, if the California AG’s Office or a U.S. Attorney’s Office in California is investigating you or your business, our defense team can help.
When Should I Engage Defense Counsel for a State or Federal AG Investigation?
If you (or your company) is facing an attorney general investigation, we strongly recommend that you engage defense counsel immediately. While there are no guarantees, proactively intervening in the investigation can be a key step toward resolving the investigation without formal charges being filed.
Once you engage our firm, our lawyers can intervene in your (or your company’s) investigation immediately. We handle all types of high-stakes attorney general investigations in California, and our lawyers rely on deep experience to efficiently and proactively pursue favorable resolutions for our clients.
What Factors Should I Consider When Choosing a Law Firm for Attorney General Defense in California?
When choosing a law firm for attorney general defense in California, relevant experience is a key consideration. These are complex and high-stakes matters, so you need a law firm that can step in and get to work right away.
At Oberheiden P.C., several of our senior lawyers have extensive experience on both sides of attorney general investigations. As former state and federal prosecutors, these lawyers are familiar with the government’s investigative tactics and priorities, and they rely on these insights to help protect our clients’ interests and legal rights. If you would like to know more about how our legal team can help, we encourage you to contact us for a complimentary consultation today.
Contact Us to Discuss Your Legal Options with a Senior Lawyer at Oberheiden P.C.
To schedule a complimentary consultation at Oberheiden P.C., please call 888-680-1745 or contact us confidentially online. Once you get in touch, we will arrange for you to speak with one of our senior attorneys in strict confidence as soon as possible. We provide state and federal attorney general defense for companies and individuals throughout California, and we have a long track record of securing favorable results for our clients.
