Global Enforcement & Compliance Program, Part 3

Cross-border hot topics in today's global environment

X

Panelists

Megan Lewis

Partner, McGuire Woods

Former DOJ Prosecutor 

Meg Lewis is a partner at McGuireWoods LLP in Washington DC, where her practice focuses on advising clients on navigating multi-faceted investigations and litigation, including antitrust enforcement and white-collar prosecutions.  She has two decades of experience managing teams and handling complex legal issues and high-stakes litigation in the public and private sectors.   Meg served as Assistant Chief in the Washington Criminal and Criminal II Sections of the Department of Justice Antitrust Division, where she supervised investigations and prosecutions of domestic and international antitrust and fraud violations, including bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation, algorithmic pricing issues, criminal monopolization, and procurement fraud across a range of industries such as health care, energy, financial services, and government contracts.  Prior to joining DOJ, Meg worked at a large law firm, where she represented clients in civil antitrust class action litigation, counseled clients on antitrust compliance, and conducted internal investigations.  Meg received her B.A. from Pomona College and her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

Kara Lynum

KML Strategies

Former Acting GC US Department of Homeland Security

Kara Lynum is the founder and owner of KML Strategies, a boutique law firm providing immigration legal services to law firms, institutions, and individuals. Prior to opening KML Strategies, Kara served as Acting General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where she was the chief legal advisor to the Secretary and senior leadership, overseeing approximately 4,000 attorneys across DHS components including CBP, ICE, USCIS, FEMA, TSA the U.S. Secret Service, and CISA. She led legal strategies on high-profile immigration and national security issues. Prior to serving as Acting General Counsel, Kara served as the Deputy General Counsel and previously held senior legislative affairs roles at DHS, including overseeing Congressional investigations and leading legislative engagement for Operation Allies Welcome. Before joining DHS, Kara was Senator Feinstein and Senator Durbin's immigration counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee. Kara previously operated Lynum Law Office in Minnesota. While at DHS, Kara received DHS's Distinguished Service Medal (the agency's highest civilian honor) and two Secretary's Meritorious Service Silver Medal Awards. 

Sharmistha Das

Partner, Crowell & Moring

Former Deputy GC and Deputy Chief of Staff, US Department of Homeland Security

Sharmi Das’ experience at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice (DOJ), the White House, the U.S. Senate, and private practice positions her to guide clients through regulatory challenges, government-facing issues, and scrutiny from Congress and other oversight bodies. Sharmi has handled dozens of congressional inquiries and managed a program that developed hundreds of regulatory actions relating to homeland security matters, including technology, cybersecurity, contracts and grants, intelligence, health, and immigration. She participated in hundreds of policy discussions at the White House and DHS on high-profile issues that were often in the headlines, including domestic and international crises and emergencies.

Sharmi brings over a decade of experience analyzing statutory and regulatory text to both challenge and defend agency actions in litigation. She uses her knowledge of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and federal rulemaking process to help clients shape regulatory authorities, comply with them, and challenge them. In both the executive and legislative branches, Sharmi crafted strategies to resolve inquiries from the Hill, other federal oversight bodies, and the public, often under immense public scrutiny.

Sharmi was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the Secretary of Homeland Security for exceptional service, the Department’s highest civilian honor. She was also recognized as an honorary Judge Advocate General by the U.S. Coast Guard. Sharmi values public service and maintains a diverse pro bono practice, including her time seconded to the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia.

Moderator

Ann O'Brien

Partner, Sheppard Mullin

Former DOJ Prosecutor

Ann O'Brien is co-leader of Sheppard Mullin's Antitrust and Competition Practice Group and leads the Criminal Antitrust and Cartels team, focusing her practice on criminal antitrust investigations and antitrust cartel litigation. Ann held various leadership and management roles during her nearly 20-year tenure at the U.S. DOJ Antitrust Division, including managing criminal and policy sections and serving as Acting Director of Criminal Enforcement. Ann was also a special AUSA in the District of Maryland in her hometown Greenbelt, MD.

X

CLE Credit

CA: This activity has been approved for 1 hour of Minimum Continuing Legal Education general credit by the State Bar of California.  Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP certifies that this activity conforms to the standards for approved education activities prescribed by the rules and regulations of the State Bar of California governing minimum continuing legal education.

NY: This program has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board for a maximum of 1 credit hour which may be applied toward the Areas of Professional Practice requirement and is suitable for both transitional and non-transitional] attorneys. 

TX: This course has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of Texas Committee on MCLE in the amount of 1 general credit hour.                  

IL: An application for accreditation of this activity will be submitted to the MCLE Board of the Supreme Court of Illinois.

VA: An application for accreditation of this activity will be submitted to the Virginia State Bar.

Many thanks to the annual WWCDA Sponsors that help WWCDA hold this reception as well as other events, programming and WWCDA initiatives throughout the year.

The Women’s White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA) is committed to the well-being of all event participants. While WWCDA will implement reasonable measures in accordance with current public health guidance to promote a safe environment, attendees should be aware that COVID-19 and other communicable illnesses remain present in our communities. By attending this event, you acknowledge and voluntarily assume the inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 or other illnesses, and you agree not to attend if you are feeling unwell, exhibiting symptoms of illness, or have had recent known exposure to someone with a communicable disease. Further, by attending the event, you assume all risks, hazards, and dangers arising from or relating in any way to the risk of contracting COVID-19 and other communicable illnesses, whether that exposure occurs before, during, or after the event, and regardless of how caused or contracted, and you hereby waive any and all claims and potential claims against the Women's White Collar Defense Association.

Photographers will be on site and by attending WWCDA events, you authorize WWCDA (or its designee) to use images from the event on the WWCDA web site, in social media and in future digital, print, and social media promotional materials for WWCDA and its chapters.