Paul Hastings Named to World’s Top 10 Best Investigations Practices by Global Investigations Review

October 23, 2020

Washington, D.C. – Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, was ranked in the Top 10 of Global Investigations Review’s GIR 100, an annual guide to the world’s leading cross border investigations practices. The citation reads in part: “Few firms can boast the breadth of experience that Paul Hastings can. GIR data shows that Paul Hastings is listed as having advised on more FCPA settlements than any other firm since late 2008, and has had more FCPA monitorships than any other firm since 2004.”

Several key matters were highlighted, including the firm’s representation of Airbus in the first simultaneous resolution with US, UK, and French authorities, which GIR noted is “the largest foreign bribery settlement of all time.”

The publication also noted the firm’s representation of Gordon Sondland, U.S. Ambassador to the EU, during the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump; Germany-based multinational software company SAP in an investigation to determine whether the company or its affiliates committed violations of US sanctions in Iran; the foreign bribery settlement of oil services company TechnipFMC with US and Brazilian authorities; and the conclusion of the Brazilian petrochemical company Braskem's $957 million settlement withU.S. DOJ, U.S. SEC, Swiss, and Brazilian authorities. GIR also noted Kwame Manley’s selection by the U.S. DOJ to serve as Monitor to Panasonic Avionics Corporation following the airline entertainment company's FCPA settlement.

The firm’s global reach and recent growth was also noted, including the high-profile hires of Nicola Bonucci, the former legal chief for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in the Paris office, Shaun Wu in Hong Kong and Shanghai and Haiyan Tang in San Diego and Shanghai; former US Justice Department attaché to Monaco and France, Peter Axelrod, in New York, and Tom Best and Matt Herrington and former Barrick Gold in-house lawyer Jonathan Drimmer in Washington D.C.

The firm’s ranking in GIR ’s Top 10 follows another prominent accolade from earlier this year, when The National Law Journal named the firm Washington D.C.’s White Collar Litigation Department of the Year.

The Airbus settlement also dominated the annual GIR Awards this year, where the matter was named “Most Important Development of the Year” and was referenced in several additional awards of “Outstanding In-House Counsel of the Year” (to Airbus General Counsel, John Harrison); “Investigations Consultancy of the Year” (for Forensic Risk Alliance); and “Enforcement Agency or Prosecutor of the Year” for France’s National Financial Prosecutor’s Office.

At Paul Hastings, our purpose is clear—to help our clients and people navigate new paths to growth. With a strong presence throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America and the U.S., Paul Hastings is recognized as one of the world’s most innovative global law firms.