R. Stephen Stigall—the former Attorney-in-Charge of the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) in Camden—has joined Ballard Spahr as a partner in the firm’s New Jersey and Philadelphia offices, firm Chair Mark Stewart announced today.
During 16 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Mr. Stigall led multiagency government investigations and prosecuted high-profile white collar cases involving securities, bank, health care, and mortgage fraud as well as corporate embezzlement, bribery, and export violations. He also worked closely with federal agencies, including the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigations, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Mr. Stigall was Attorney-in-Charge of the USAO in Camden for five years and Deputy Attorney-in-Charge for three years. He handled the District of New Jersey’s first criminal prosecution based on evidence obtained under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and the District’s first criminal prosecution based on amendments to the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, and he prosecuted the first federal criminal fraud case in the District involving self-proclaimed “sovereign citizens,” who attempted to cause $17 million in losses. For his work on the case, Mr. Stigall received the Department of Justice’s Director’s Award for Outstanding Performance as an Assistant U.S. Attorney.
“Stephen is a highly regarded trial lawyer whose practice range and government experience will increase our depth in investigations and enforcement work in New Jersey and across the firm,” Mr. Stewart said. “His experience handling FDA-related matters will be particularly beneficial to clients in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries.”
In addition to his government service, Mr. Stigall was a partner at Morgan Lewis & Bockius, where he represented clients in white collar civil and criminal matters with a focus on internal corporate investigations and violations of FDA laws and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Mr. Stigall’s trial experience is extensive, both in private practice and as a former federal prosecutor.
At Ballard Spahr, Mr. Stigall joins a White Collar Defense/Internal Investigations team that is quickly developing a reputation as a powerhouse. Over the past year, the group has added prominent litigators with strong, specific experience in money laundering and criminal tax matters, cybercrimes, health care fraud, mortgage fraud, drug trafficking, and SEC enforcement.
“We’re growing quickly but methodically, and with an eye toward attracting the very best people in specific areas of focus,” said Hank Hockeimer, who leads the group. “The government has a lot of resources at its disposal. Understanding how they structure investigations and bring cases is critical to mounting an effective defense. We have an exceptionally strong team with diversified experience in both private practice and government.”
Recent additions to the group include the former Supervisory Trial Counsel for the Philadelphia Regional Office of the SEC, the former U.S. Attorney for Arizona, a former National Security Cyber Specialist for the District of Delaware and cybercrime prosecutor for the Eastern District of Virginia, a former trial attorney for the Department of Justice’s Tax Division, and the former Chief Deputy District Attorney in Las Vegas.
“Ballard’s white collar group is deep enough to try the significant cases, but it remains agile and client-focused,” said Mr. Stigall. “I have the highest regard for lawyers in the group and for my new colleagues in the New Jersey and Philadelphia offices. I look forward to adding my experience to the team.”
Source: www.ballardspahr.com
