Florida Attorney General Defense Law Firm
Experienced Defense Counsel for Matters Involving the Florida Attorney General’s Office
Contact NickOberheiden P.C.’s white collar defense team represents individuals, private companies and publicly traded companies in all law enforcement matters involving the Florida Attorney General’s Office. Our team represents clients in both civil and criminal enforcement actions; and, when necessary, we provide representation in parallel federal civil and criminal matters as well.
While much of our attorney general defense practice involves working with the Florida Attorney General’s Office to pursue favorable resolutions that protect our clients against unnecessary publicity and penalties, we also represent our clients in court when necessary. Our defense attorneys are available to handle trials across the State of Florida involving all types of high-risk allegations.
From Tallahassee to West Palm Beach, We Handle Florida Attorney General Matters Statewide
Our firm provides representation for Florida attorney general matters statewide, from the Florida Panhandle to Palm Beach County. We are available to handle civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings on behalf of companies, corporate executives, public figures, and other targeted entities and individuals. Representative examples of the matters we handle include:
Civil Investigations and Litigation
We represent clients that are facing civil investigations conducted by the Florida Attorney General’s Office as well as civil litigation resulting from these investigations. Many of these investigations involve the Office’s Antitrust Division, which targets entities and individuals suspected of bid rigging, price fixing, and other forms of unfair competition. But, civil investigations can target a wide range of other alleged statutory violations and compliance failures as well, and our attorneys have the knowledge and skills required to provide effective legal representation for all civil law enforcement matters.
Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions
We represent clients that are facing criminal investigations and prosecutions in Florida as well. This includes (but is not limited to) investigations and prosecutions targeting the following allegations:
Antitrust Violations
Although many antitrust enforcement matters are civil in nature, the Florida Attorney General’s Office can (and does) pursue criminal charges when warranted. While civil enforcement actions can present risks for substantial fines and other monetary penalties, in criminal cases, jail time (or prison time) can also be on the table.
Healthcare Fraud (Including Medicaid Fraud)
Healthcare fraud (including Medicaid fraud) is a top white-collar law enforcement priority at the state and federal levels. Businesses and individuals accused of improperly billing under Medicaid and other government benefit programs can face substantial fines and prison time. Along with state enforcement cases, we have extensive experience handling healthcare fraud investigations conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as well.
Investment Fraud
Investment fraud is another top white-collar law enforcement priority, particularly in cases involving widespread fraud impacting retail investors. Our attorneys handle criminal investment fraud cases involving the Florida Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Money Laundering
Money laundering is a common allegation stemming from a broad range of white-collar government investigations. State and federal prosecutors both use money laundering charges to pursue substantial penalties in court, and defending against these charges requires an informed, strategic, and proactive defense.
Tax Crimes
We also defend individual and corporate clients that are facing allegations of tax crimes from the Florida Attorney General’s Office. Whether you are being accused of tax fraud or your company needs outside counsel for a state-level tax fraud investigation, our attorneys can intervene in the Attorney General’s investigation on an emergency basis if necessary.
Administrative Proceedings
Along with civil and criminal law enforcement proceedings, we assist clients with administrative proceedings involving the Florida Attorney General’s Office as well. We are also available to assist with select administrative proceedings involving referrals from the Florida Attorney General’s Office to other state agencies such as the Department of Health, Department of Education, and Department of Financial Services.
Our Services for Companies and Individuals Facing Scrutiny from Florida’s Attorney General
As a Florida Attorney General defense law firm, we provide comprehensive legal representation for all matters involving Florida’s AG. While we take a custom-tailored approach to every legal matter we handle, our comprehensive approach to defending our clients in these matters generally involves:
Internal Investigations
Informed decision-making is critical for formulating an effective defense strategy. In many cases, this involves conducting an attorney-client privileged internal investigation in order to discern the true facts at hand and assess the veracity of the government’s claims or allegations.
Defense Strategy Formulation and Execution
In all cases, we prioritize formulating a custom-tailored defense strategy as efficiently as possible. Once we have a strategy in place, we execute—while maintaining the flexibility necessary to respond to shifting dynamics in the Florida AG’s case.
Direct Communication with the Attorney General’s Office
Our attorneys communicate directly with the Attorney General’s Office on our clients’ behalf. We work to open a dialogue immediately, and then we maintain open lines of communication as we work to steer the Florida AG’s inquiry toward a favorable resolution.
Settlement and Plea Bargain Negotiations (When Warranted)
In many cases, we have been successful in resolving attorney general investigations at the state and federal levels without our clients facing any formal charges or liability. When this outcome is not feasible under the circumstances at hand, we focus on securing favorable settlements or plea bargains for our clients as warranted.
Civil and Criminal Enforcement Litigation (When Necessary)
As discussed above, we also litigate our clients’ cases when necessary. Our defense team includes highly experienced trial attorneys, many of whom have prior experience litigating enforcement cases on behalf of the government.
FAQs: Protecting Your Company (or Yourself) During a Florida Attorney General Investigation
Why Is the Florida Attorney General’s Office Targeting My Company (or Me Personally)?
The Florida Attorney General’s Office targets companies and individuals for a wide range of reasons. In many cases, Florida AG investigations will stem from tips from other state or federal authorities, from current or former employees, or from members of the public. But, the Florida AG initiates investigations on its own accord as well, particularly in its priority enforcement areas such as antitrust, investment fraud, and healthcare fraud.
When facing scrutiny from the Florida Attorney General’s Office, it is important to understand why. Discerning the source of the allegations against our clients is always among our first priorities. This provides our defense team with critical insights into both the scope and nature of the inquiry, and these insights help inform our defense strategies and recommendations.
Does Florida’s Attorney General Coordinate with the United States Attorney’s Office?
Yes, the Florida Attorney General’s Office coordinates with the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) in many cases. The USAO is part of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and it prosecutes individuals and companies for a wide range of federal offenses. In many cases, the Florida AG’s priorities and the USAO’s priorities overlap; and, when this is the case, they can work together to pursue parallel state and federal enforcement proceedings that involve substantial civil or criminal exposure.
Does Florida’s Attorney General Coordinate with Other State Attorneys General Across the Country?
Yes, the Florida Attorney General’s Office coordinates with other state attorneys general in many cases as well. If your company operates in multiple jurisdictions across the country, scrutiny from one attorney general’s office could lead to additional scrutiny from several others. In this scenario, a comprehensive and coordinated defense strategy is critical.
At Oberheiden P.C., our team includes attorneys who are licensed to practice in jurisdictions across the country. As a result, in addition to handling matters involving the Florida AG, we are able to handle matters involving many other state AGs as well. By handling your company’s entire defense in-house, we can help keep your company’s defense costs down while efficiently building and executing a comprehensive and coordinated defense that takes all pertinent risks into account.
Does Your Law Firm Have Attorneys Who Are Licensed By the Florida Bar?
Our defense team includes attorneys who are licensed by the Florida Bar. If your company is facing scrutiny from the Florida AG (or if you personally are facing scrutiny from the Florida AG), we can provide on-the-ground legal representation, and we can get to work immediately if necessary.
When Should I Engage Defense Counsel for a Matter Involving the Florida Attorney General’s Office?
We recommend engaging defense counsel as soon as you are aware of a pending (or impending) investigation. When facing scrutiny from the Florida Attorney General’s Office, executing a proactive defense strategy can be critical for avoiding unnecessary consequences. Unnecessary delays can lead to unnecessary consequences, and you do not want to allow the Florida AG to pursue charges against you or your company unchecked.
Contact the Florida Attorney General Defense Lawyers at Oberheiden P.C.
If you would like to speak with a Florida Attorney General defense lawyer at Oberheiden P.C., we invite you to get in touch. To schedule a complimentary and confidential consultation as soon as possible, call us at 888-680-1745 or tell us how we can reach you online now.
