As co-chair of  the Davis Polk's White Collar Criminal Defense and Government Investigations Group, Ms. Burgess has represented leading clients in some of the most high-profile and complex white collar and regulatory matters in recent years. Her global practice focuses on representing companies as well as individuals in matters involving allegations of fraud, violations of anti-bribery laws, insider trading, money laundering, criminal tax fraud, antitrust, fraud and other financial crimes. She also routinely advises boards of directors, audit committees and companies on corporate governance and compliance matters, including the design of strategies, policies and procedures to mitigate risk. 

Many of Ms. Burgess’s most successful matters have not resulted in public charges and therefore remain confidential.

Work Highlights

• Telia in the global settlement of FCPA investigations relating to allegations that employees paid bribes to enter into the Uzbekistan market, including resolutions with DOJ, SEC, Dutch Prosecutor and Swedish authorities
• BHP Billiton in connection with SEC and DOJ investigations into potential FCPA breaches related to previously terminated exploration and development efforts, as well as hospitality provided as part of the company's sponsorship of the 2008 Beijing Olympics resulting in a DOJ declination and a settled SEC administrative order
• A global financial institution in connection with U.S. and other regulators' inquiries into the hiring of family members of high-ranking foreign officials in China and elsewhere (the so-called "princeling" investigations)
• McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. and Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC in connection with landmark settlement agreements with DOJ, the SEC and the Attorneys General of 19 states and the District of Columbia concerning S&P's ratings of residential mortgage-backed securities
• A global financial institution in connection with cross-border tax investigations conducted by DOJ, the New York Department of Financial Services and other international regulatory enforcement authorities
• Siemens AG in the resolution of SEC and DOJ FCPA investigations, coordinating the company's defense of multiple and simultaneous international investigations and leading the effort to assist the company in the creation of a state-of-the-art FCPA compliance program
• A global financial institution in connection with DOJ, IRS, U.S. Senate Permanent Sub-Committee on Investigations and foreign regulators' inquiries into the use of offshore vehicles to evade U.S. taxes
• A global financial institution in connection with an SEC FCPA investigation relating to sovereign wealth funds
• A global financial institution in connection with inquiries by the SEC and other regulatory and enforcement authorities related to a capital overstatement
• Smith & Nephew in connection with SEC and DOJ anti-corruption investigations into practices in the medical device industry
• A global construction, energy and industrial-services company in connection with a World Bank investigation relating to the company's activities in Bangladesh
• A major financial institution in connection with the publicized industry-wide investigation by the SEC into participation in analyst surveys and alpha-capture programs
• The Shell Audit Committee in its investigation of the reclassification of Shell's oil reserves
• Credit Suisse First Boston in the multiple investigations into research independence conducted by federal and state enforcement and regulatory authorities
• The former chairman and CEO of an investment bank on allegations of insider trading
• A major financial institution in parallel investigations brought by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the SEC, the U.S. Senate Permanent Sub-Committee on Investigations and multiple banking regulators concerning potential violation of anti-money laundering laws in connection with correspondent banking services

Recognition

Ms. Burgess is consistently recognized for her work in the legal industry:

• New York Business Journal – “Women of Influence,” 2017
• Chambers USA– FCPA
• Global Investigations Review – “Women in Investigations,” 2015
• Ethisphere – “Attorneys Who Matter,” 2014, 2017
• ILO Client Choice Award – “White Collar Crime – New York,” 2014
• Benchmark Litigation – "Star": National and New York, "Top 250 Women in Litigation"
• Legal 500 U.S. – Leading Lawyer, Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense

Of Note

• Frequent speaker on the FCPA and internal investigations

Memberships

• Counsel, New York Justice Task Force
• Member, Board of Directors, Office of the Appellate Defender
• Member, Women in the Legal Profession: White Collar Crime Subcommittee, New York City Bar Association 
• Former Deputy Counsel, Chief Judge Kaye’s New York State Commission on Drugs and the Courts

Professional History

• Partner, 2002-present
• Associate, 1995-2002
• Law Clerk, Hon. Benson E. Legg, U.S. District Court, Maryland, 1994-1995

Bar Admissions

• State of New York
• S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
• S. District Court, E.D. New York
• S. District Court, S.D. New York