ARENT FOX EXPANDS WHITE COLLAR & INVESTIGATIONS PRACTICE IN NEW YORK WITH RETURN OF PARTNER M. SCOTT PEELER

Arent Fox LLP announced that M. Scott Peeler, an experienced litigation and compliance lawyer, has rejoined the firm in New York as a partner in its White Collar & Investigations practice. Mr. Peeler was previously a partner with Arent Fox from 2000 to 2010 and focuses his practice on all aspects of white collar criminal defense, while having extensive experience handling complex civil litigation and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters.

“We are excited to welcome Scott back to the firm to take a key role in growing our New York white collar group,” said New York Managing Partner Michael S. Blass. “Scott brings a wealth of experience in internal investigations and corporate compliance, as well as with major litigation and FCPA work.”

Mr. Peeler was most recently a managing director and head of the compliance division for Stroz Friedberg, a global risk management and investigations firm. He previously served as an Assistant District Attorney for New York County under former longtime New York District Attorney Robert Morgenthau.

“Regulatory enforcement has become an almost unavoidable part of doing business in many sectors,” said Stephen G. Larson, head of the firm’s Complex Litigation practice. “Scott’s addition will be important both in helping clients respond to government inquiries and proceedings, and with advising them on the best ways to avoid enforcement actions. His experience is a great addition to our capabilities in high-stakes matters on behalf of corporations, institutions, and individuals.”

Mr. Peeler’s return to the firm continues a recent string of growth for the Complex Litigation practice, including last year’s additions of litigators Malcolm S. McNeil and Gary Wolensky in Los Angeles and white collar partner Peter R. Zeidenberg in Washington, DC.

Mr. Peeler has led internal investigations and compliance initiatives for some of the world’s largest companies, including engagements with Fortune 50, 100, and 500 corporations, where he developed rigorous anti-corruption and compliance programs. He has also handled numerous investigations related to potential violations of the FCPA. For one case, he led a team of 80 litigators in an investigation of a multinational company spanning Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe. He also led an internal investigation and negotiation for a global manufacturing company with the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice. And he won an acquittal in a jury trial for the CEO of a publicly-traded health care company charged with conspiring to commit securities fraud.

Mr. Peeler regularly speaks with corporate executives, managers, and line employees around the world each year, while developing strong anti-corruption policies and risk mitigation strategies for clients. He is also the creator and designer of a suite of desktop and mobile applications that help clients better mitigate their legal exposure when conducting business overseas and in highly-regulated industries. Mr. Peeler received both his JD and his BA, with honors, from the University of North Carolina.

Arent Fox’s White Collar & Investigations practice is recognized by Chambers USA for its “success” counseling high profile clients and “tremendous” recent growth. The group offers extensive experience in the high-stakes representation of corporations, executives, managers, and public officials. The team routinely works on both internal and external investigations surrounding potential allegations of corporate misconduct and personal criminal liability involving securities law, banking, financial services, accounting, and all matters relating to kickbacks, bribery, and corruption.