David Leland is co-head of Skadden’s Litigation Group in Washington, D.C. and co-leader of the firm’s congressional investigations practice. He represents corporations, officers, directors, and employees in connection with criminal, civil, regulatory and congressional proceedings. Mr. Leland’s practice focuses on white collar criminal defense, cross-border government enforcement actions and related complex civil litigation at all stages, from the inception of an investigation through trial. Mr. Leland has defended corporations and individuals in the U.S. and abroad against allegations of corruption, money laundering, mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, health care fraud, securities fraud, market manipulation, tax evasion and unlawful antitrust practices. He has represented clients in connection with investigations conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), state attorneys general, the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and foreign regulators, such as the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority and Serious Fraud Office. He also has extensive experience conducting internal investigations on behalf of global corporations, boards of directors and audit committees. Mr. Leland regularly advises clients on congressional investigations and legislative matters. Utilizing his prior experience as a senior congressional staffer, media spokesman and campaign consultant, he provides clients with unique perspectives to help navigate congressional inquiries and related sensitive public relations issues. Accordingly, he frequently assists clients with developing comprehensive strategies for responding to such inquiries, helps manage risk associated with parallel proceedings and prepares witnesses for transcribed interviews, depositions and hearing testimony. Mr. Leland also has substantial experience conducting internal investigations and representing companies in connection with cross-border competition and criminal antitrust matters. He has represented institutions in investigations involving the DOJ’s Antitrust Division, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and state attorneys general relating to bid rigging, collusion and market manipulation. Mr. Leland also has served as international coordinating counsel for investigations conducted by foreign competition commissions, antitrust enforcement agencies and various related governmental authorities, including in Australia (ACCC and ASIC), Brazil (CADE), Hong Kong (HKMA), Japan (JFSA), Korea (KFTC), Mexico (COFECE), South Africa (SARB and SACC) and Switzerland (ComCo), as well as the European Commission (EC).
Updated Sep 2024
