WWCDA Mission Statement
The Women’s White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA) promotes the common business and professional interests of attorneys and other professionals who specialize in white collar and other defense and compliance and ethics work. Their clients are corporations, other organizations and individuals facing government enforcement actions (criminal, civil, regulatory, and administrative), internal investigations, other defense and compliance and ethics matters. WWCDA promotes equal opportunity for all in the legal and consulting professions, including organizing business activities to facilitate networking and business development opportunities, and providing educational programming focused on the defense of government enforcement actions, conducting internal investigations, other defense matters, and counselling on compliance and ethics matters.
WWCDA Goals
- Promotes members specializing in the legal fields of criminal, civil, regulatory, and administrative enforcement, as well as internal investigations, compliance and ethics.
- Provide networking and business development opportunities for our members and other participants in their local markets, as well as nationally and internationally.
- Develop educational programming focused on the legal fields of criminal, civil, regulatory, and administrative enforcement, as well as internal investigations, compliance and ethics.
- Facilitate collaboration and communication among our members and other participants.
- Develop resources to assist our members and other participants.
WWCDA Membership Criteria
WWCDA has chapters throughout the world. Membership is free. To become a member of WWCDA, you must be a lawyer in a law firm or a professional in a consulting firm that represents or otherwise assist clients facing government enforcement actions (criminal, civil, regulatory, and administrative), and/or internal investigations, other defense and compliance and ethics matters. You can see a list of the practice areas that meet this criteria here. You must also join a chapter where your primary work address is located and meet the additional membership criteria of the particular chapter. The membership criteria for each chapter can be found on the individual chapter webpages. Review the chapter criteria. When applying for membership, be sure to use the correct membership category as defined by your chapter criteria. The membership categories are:
- Law Firm Attorney Member
- Consultant Member
- Law Firm Attorney Affiliate Member
- Consultant Affiliate Member
Select the category you satisfy according to the chapter criteria chapter membership category rules and Apply now.
Chapter Membership & Categories -- Further Explained Below
All chapters welcome as members attorneys who work in law firms who primarily practice in the area of White Collar Defense and Investigations, defined as those who specialize in the representation of corporations, other organizations and individuals facing government enforcement actions (criminal, civil, regulatory, and administrative), and/or internal investigations, compliance and other defense matters. This category of membership is called: "Law Firm Attorney Member."
Some chapters, however, may limit Law Firm Attorney Membership to those of certain seniority in order to facilitate the strength and growth of the professional support and referral network in that chapter. Although law firm attorneys of all levels (partner, counsel, associate, staff) may apply to join a chapter, for those chapters that limit membership based upon seniority, those more junior attorneys can still join the chapter under an "affiliate member" status, which permits them to participate in certain activities of the chapter and WWCDA. This category of membership is called: "Law Firm Attorney Affiliate Member."
Many WWCDA chapters also welcome as members attorneys and other professionals who work at consulting firms (or non-attorney professionals who work at law firms) that also specialize in the White Collar Defense and Investigations field while offering support services and referral opportunities to attorneys in private practice. This category of membership is called: "Consultant Member."
Some chapters, however, may limit membership of consulting professionals and/or require a certain seniority. Although consulting professions who otherwise qualify under the criteria set forth herein may apply to join a chapter, for those chapters that limit membership of consulting professionals, the chapter will still offer the opportunity to become a “affiliate member” of the chapter. The affiliate member status will permit the consulting professional to participate in certain activities of the chapter and WWCDA. This category of membership is called: "Consultant Affiliate Member."
To apply, review the chapter criteria, select the membership category you satisfy, and then fill out your application.
WWCDA Sponsors who are not otherwise a member or member affiliate, may be able to participate in certain WWCDA event and activities. Learn more about becoming a sponsor.
Some WWCDA events and activities may be limited to law firm attorneys.