Lee Stein

Lee Stein, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney and Special Assistant Attorney General, is Co-Chair of the firm's Investigations & White Collar Defense practice. He is an accomplished trial lawyer who represents Fortune 500 companies and individuals in sensitive internal investigations and criminal prosecutions in both federal and state courts. Mr. Stein has represented a number of public officials accused of various forms of public corruption. He also frequently represents clients in matters alleging fraud, forfeiture, money laundering, and RICO.

A particular emphasis of Mr. Stein's practice involves advising companies on compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA"). Mr. Stein has conducted FCPA investigations all over the world. Mr. Stein has represented businesses in connection with voluntary disclosures of suspected FCPA violations to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission. He has also worked with companies to develop policies, investigation protocols, training and due diligence practices to ensure compliance with the Act.

Mr. Stein is a frequent speaker on white collar issues. He has trained corporate investigators on conducting internal investigations, appeared on panels on the FCPA and other white collar issues, and spoken to in-house counsel on ethical issues in internal investigations. Mr. Stein has also taught classes at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University law schools on corporate criminal issues and the lawyering process.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Fraud and Public Corruption

• Representation of the former U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona in the Congressional probe of “Operation Fast and Furious”
• Representation of a Washington D.C. and Arizona lobbying firm in a grand jury investigation involving allegations of public corruption connected to the Jack Abramoff scandal
• Representation of the sitting state Speaker of the House in an investigation alleging misuse of public position and public corruption in connection with the adoption and implementation of the state alternative fuel statute
• Representation of the former President of a publicly traded company into allegations of securities fraud, tax fraud and kickbacks
• Representation of a high-ranking officer in a public corporation into claims of embezzlement and tax fraud 
• Representation of a college district in a massive probe into enrollment fraud and misuse of public funds 
• Representation of a private on-line university in a consumer fraud investigation by a state attorney general's office 
• Representation of an Elections Director in an investigation accusing him of vote tampering 
• Representation of the chief complaining witness in a federal public corruption prosecution of a sitting Congressman 
• Representation of a County Manager in a prosecution involving allegations of misappropriation of public funds 
• Representation of a Washington D.C. lobbyist into allegations that he used public money to further the political interests of a public official
• Defended a large travel consolidator against allegations of money laundering, racketeering and human smuggling
• Representation of a principal of an internet gambling web site in connection with federal gambling probes

• Representation of a public company in connection with an S.E.C. investigation. into bribery allegations in Russia.  The S.E.C. terminated the matter, taking no action against the company
• Representation of a number of multinational corporations in FCPA investigations in Asia, the Middle East, South America and Africa 
• Preparation and execution of Voluntary Disclosures of suspected FCPA violations to the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission
• Development of policies, procedures, training materials, handbooks and other materials to ensure compliance with the FCPA

• Representation of a defense contractor in connection with allegations of export control violations 
• Investigation into allegations of export violations involving the sale of prohibited technology to the Chinese military 
• Investigation into allegations that an employee created falsified government documents and laboratory reports and disseminated them to the public  
• Retained by a public company to investigate allegations that a newly acquired subsidiary intentionally failed to disclose significant regulatory problems during the due diligence process 
• Investigation of a publicly traded corporation into allegations of bid-rigging and other anti-competitive conduct
• Representation of employees of the Fiesta Bowl in connection with multiple investigations of illegal campaign contributions by the Bowl, through its employees
• Represented a Major League baseball player implicated in the Mitchell steroid investigation    

• On behalf of a hospital group, defended successfully a qui tam claim of broad allegations of fraud; conducted an internal investigation of upcoding at a hospital facility; and pursued a claim as the victim in a kickback scheme
• Represented a hospital system in a parallel criminal/False Claims Act investigation involving Stark issues arising out of its relationship with a world class practice group
• Conducted an internal investigation of a physician practice group after the in-house counsel raised allegations of anti-kickback violations
• Conducted an investigation on behalf of a children’s dental clinic that was subject to a Corporate Integrity Agreement into allegations of physical abuse of patients by a dentist.  The HHS-OIG ultimately took no action against the clinic
• Representation of a physician into allegations of prescription of opioids for no legitimate medical purpose.  The matter was resolved with an agreement that the physician enter into a deferred prosecution agreement and his DEA license was returned over a period of years
• Represented a medical device representative in a False Claims Act investigation
• Represented a doctor in an investigation of Stark violations involving medical implants
• Internal investigation for a hospital involving inappropriate behavior by a doctor leading to peer review and loss of privileges; testified at the peer review hearing
• Defended the head of nursing in a death investigation at a nursing home
• Represented a dental clinic against allegations of billing fraud and performance of unnecessary procedures
• Conducted an internal investigation at a hospital involving allegations of sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior by a mid-level manager    

• Representing a nonprofit organization in connection with allegations of criminal violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act
• Representation of a transmix facility accused of failing to properly manage hazardous waste, and of failing to perform necessary testing on its product before offering it for sale
• Representation of the key witness in a criminal investigation by the Department of Justice Environmental Crimes Section into allegations that the employee's former employer knowingly disposed of hazardous waste at a facility not authorized to accept it
• As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, prosecuted many cases alleging violations of the Lacey Act, the Migratory Bird Act, RCRA, CERCLA and other environmental and natural resources statutes

Professional Recognition

• Listed in The International Who’s Who of Business Crime Defense Lawyers
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Criminal Defense
• Listed in Chambers USA, “America's Leading Litigation Lawyers”
• Listed in Southwest Super Lawyers

Professional Leadership

• Co-Chair of the ABA Criminal Justice Section White Collar Crime Committee, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Subcommittee, 2010 - 2012
• Co-Chair of the ABA Criminal Justice Section White Collar Crime Committee, Southwest/Arizona Region Subcommittee, 2010 - 2012
• Board of Directors of the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest (former Board President)
• Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund, Advisory Board Member (former)
• Arizona Attorney General’s Capital Case Commission 
• Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, 2004 - 2007 
• Anti-Defamation League, Arizona Region, Board Member (former)
• Wong Sun Society of San Francisco, Member 
• Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Member

Related Employment

• University of Arizona College of Law, Adjunct Professor, "Corporate Criminal Investigations," Spring 2005
• Fennemore Craig, P.C., Director, 2000 - 2005 
• Arizona State University College of Law, Adjunct Professor, "Lawyering Process," Fall 1995; Spring 2001 
• Arizona Attorney General’s Office, 1999 - 2000 
• Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Chief Counsel, Civil Rights and Public Advocacy Division 
• Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Special Assistant Attorney General 
• Assistant United States Attorney, 1995 - 1998 
• Brown & Bain, P.A., Associate, 1989 - 1995