The False Claims Act can pose significant financial and reputational risks to companies and individuals in a wide range of industries.
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The False Claims Act can pose significant financial and reputational risks to companies and individuals in a wide range of industries.
Perkins Coie’s False Claims Act (FCA) lawyers regularly defend companies and individuals in high-stakes investigations, litigation, whistleblower actions, and related counseling involving allegations of fraud against the government.
As the federal government's primary civil remedy to combat alleged fraud against the government, the False Claims Act imposes treble damages and penalties on those who submit false or fraudulent claims for payment to the government or those who submit such claims pursuant to business generated through kickbacks. Violators may also face criminal sanctions, suspension, and debarment, among other parallel proceedings. This statute has been used to recover more than $70 billion against companies and individuals in many sectors such as defense contracting, healthcare and life sciences, pharmaceuticals, construction, education, financial services, scientific grants, and research. The False Claims Act applies to all types of goods and services and implicates government contracts, grants, federal health insurance claims, and numerous federal programs. The False Claims Act and many similar state laws authorize private citizens to file qui tam "whistleblower" actions against persons or companies who are alleged to have defrauded the government, creating unique risks to companies.
How Perkins Coie Can Help
Perkins Coie has successfully defended many companies and individuals against False Claims Act allegations in defense contracting, healthcare, and other sectors. Our experience includes representing some of the country's most respected businesses in bet-the-company cases involving hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars in claims.
Many False Claims Act matters require a coordinated defense on multiple fronts, including thorough investigation; early and effective communications with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ); state attorneys general, or other authorities; and a rigorous defense in court—including on appeal, if necessary. Our lawyers regularly help companies assess and mitigate risks of exposure to alleged violations of the False Claims Act, including by conducting internal investigations; counseling companies related to statutory, regulatory, and contract requirements; preparing mandatory and voluntary disclosures to agencies; and developing tailored compliance programs.
To most effectively represent our clients, we bring together lawyers with a wide range of skills and experience. These include seasoned trial lawyers, appellate lawyers, and lawyers with extensive prior government experience prosecuting False Claims Act cases at every level of the federal court system. The cross-discipline team includes lawyers with deep subject-matter expertise in relevant industries including government contracts, healthcare and life sciences, information technology (IT) (including software), and financial services.
Our False Claims Act team includes lawyers with significant experience at the DOJ, including former DOJ prosecutors and civil fraud lawyers; former state prosecutors; a former Assistant to the U.S. Solicitor General; and former counsel with government departments and agencies.
Perkins Coie’s False Claims Act (FCA) lawyers regularly defend companies and individuals in high-stakes investigations, litigation, whistleblower actions, and related counseling involving allegations of fraud against the government.
As the federal government's primary civil remedy to combat alleged fraud against the government, the False Claims Act imposes treble damages and penalties on those who submit false or fraudulent claims for payment to the government or those who submit such claims pursuant to business generated through kickbacks. Violators may also face criminal sanctions, suspension, and debarment, among other parallel proceedings. This statute has been used to recover more than $70 billion against companies and individuals in many sectors such as defense contracting, healthcare and life sciences, pharmaceuticals, construction, education, financial services, scientific grants, and research. The False Claims Act applies to all types of goods and services and implicates government contracts, grants, federal health insurance claims, and numerous federal programs. The False Claims Act and many similar state laws authorize private citizens to file qui tam "whistleblower" actions against persons or companies who are alleged to have defrauded the government, creating unique risks to companies.
How Perkins Coie Can Help
Perkins Coie has successfully defended many companies and individuals against False Claims Act allegations in defense contracting, healthcare, and other sectors. Our experience includes representing some of the country's most respected businesses in bet-the-company cases involving hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars in claims.
Many False Claims Act matters require a coordinated defense on multiple fronts, including thorough investigation; early and effective communications with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ); state attorneys general, or other authorities; and a rigorous defense in court—including on appeal, if necessary. Our lawyers regularly help companies assess and mitigate risks of exposure to alleged violations of the False Claims Act, including by conducting internal investigations; counseling companies related to statutory, regulatory, and contract requirements; preparing mandatory and voluntary disclosures to agencies; and developing tailored compliance programs.
To most effectively represent our clients, we bring together lawyers with a wide range of skills and experience. These include seasoned trial lawyers, appellate lawyers, and lawyers with extensive prior government experience prosecuting False Claims Act cases at every level of the federal court system. The cross-discipline team includes lawyers with deep subject-matter expertise in relevant industries including government contracts, healthcare and life sciences, information technology (IT) (including software), and financial services.
Our False Claims Act team includes lawyers with significant experience at the DOJ, including former DOJ prosecutors and civil fraud lawyers; former state prosecutors; a former Assistant to the U.S. Solicitor General; and former counsel with government departments and agencies.
