Jul 2018–Present
Current role
Partner
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
Washington DC, District of Columbia
AttorneyCivil LitigationWhite Collar CrimeGovernmentCorporate LawCriminal Investigation
About
Ben Singer represents multinational corporations and their boards and executives in high-stakes criminal and civil investigations by the US Department of Justice, US Department of Health and Human Services, Securities and Exchange Commission, and other federal and state agencies.
Ben has been recognized by Chambers USA as a leading lawyer in Washington, DC for White Collar Crime and Government Investigations since 2021. The 2021 edition of Chambers USA quotes a client who describes Ben as a “very smart, talented and tenacious lawyer” and notes that “he has handled multiple, large-scale investigations, and has done so with finesse and an attention to detail that is particularly admirable.” In the last year, Ben has also been named a Washington DC Super Lawyer for white collar criminal defense, selected by Best Lawyers in America for white collar criminal defense, and named by Law360 as an “MVP” for his successful representation of a series of health care clients in complex investigations and litigation. Ben has represented such notable corporate clients as Elevance Health, Hyundai, Health Care Services Corporation, Humana, FedEx, General Mills and AIG.
Ben joined O’Melveny after a decade at DOJ, where he most recently served as Chief of the Department of Justice’s Market Integrity and Major Frauds Unit. In that role, Ben oversaw approximately 50 federal prosecutors investigating complex securities, commodities, and other corporate fraud and corruption offenses, including market manipulation, spoofing, insider trading, accounting fraud, procurement fraud, money laundering, environmental crimes, antitrust offenses, and bribery. Ben was also the lead prosecutor on several of the largest cross-border cases in DOJ history, including Volkswagen’s alleged evasion of US emissions standards.
Prior to that, Ben served as Chief of the DOJ’s Health Care Fraud Unit, where he supervised a team of over 30 prosecutors that prosecuted offenses in the health care industry, including fraud, kickbacks, money-laundering, and FCPA-related offenses. Ben is a formidable trial lawyer, having served as first-chair trial counsel in eight felony white-collar jury trials during his time at the DOJ. His work twice earned him the DOJ’s highest honor: the Attorney General’s Award.
Prior to his government service, Ben worked in the New York office of two international law firms.
Roles
Mar 2009–May 2018
Former role
Chief, Assistant Chief, Trial Attorney
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities, Financial Fraud Unit, Health Care Fraud Unit, Fraud Section, Criminal Division
(appointed)District of Columbia
Security and Law EnforcementHealthcare & MedicalHealth LawCriminal LawCorporate Law
Oct 2006–Mar 2009
Former role
White Collar Associate
Linklaters
New York, New York
Legal AssistanceWhite Collar CrimeCriminal Law
Oct 2002–Oct 2006
Former role
Litigation Associate
White & Case LLP
New York, New York
Attorney
Representative matters
In Private Practice
March 2025
Representing a global automobile manufacturer in a criminal DOJ investigation relating to recall notices. Representing a Fortune 50 company in multiple DOJ investigations under the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute. Representing a Fortune 50 company in litigation under the False Claims Act. Representing an international company in a criminal DOJ investigation relating to allegations of fraud in defense contracting in Africa. Representation of a Fortune 50 company in a criminal DOJ investigation relating to allegations of healthcare fraud. Representation of a global construction company in a criminal DOJ investigation related to alleged FCPA violations. Representation of a Global 100 company in a criminal DOJ investigation relating to allegations of fraud and bribery in defense contracting. Representation of an audit committee of a national manufacturer in an internal investigation relating to allegations of self-dealing, conflict of interest and other misconduct by executive management. Representation of a Global 50 company in a criminal DOJ investigation relating to alleged FCPA violations. Representation of a Fortune 500 company in parallel DOJ criminal and CFTC investigations into manipulation in the futures markets. Representation of a major financial institution in a criminal DOJ investigation relating to insider trading. Representation of a global automobile manufacturer in a criminal DOJ investigation relating to safety defects, resulting in no criminal charges being filed. Co-lead trial counsel for a Fortune 100 company during a month-long arbitration of a multi-million dollar contractual dispute with former executive management. Representation of a Fortune 100 company in an internal investigation relating to fraud and self-dealing. Representation of a national managed-care organization in an internal review of its compliance with Medicare Advantage risk-adjustment reimbursement rules.
In Government
March 2025
Lead trial counsel for the United States in investigation and trial of CEO, CFO, and other key executives of a publicly-traded medical device manufacturer in a $750 million accounting fraud case involving revenue recognition and “channel stuffing.” Lead counsel for the United States in investigation of Volkswagen, Audi, and their current and former executives for fraud, violations of the Clean Air Act, and obstruction of justice in the "Dieselgate" emissions case, including negotiation of one of the largest fines in U.S. history. Co-lead counsel for the United States in investigation of five global financial institutions for alleged manipulation in the foreign-exchange markets. Trial counsel for the United States in trial of a senior executive of a health care company who allegedly participated in a $205 million Medicare billing fraud. Supervised investigation of major financial institutions for alleged manipulation of LIBOR and related benchmark interest rates in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and negotiated related corporate resolutions. Supervised investigation of Takata Corporation for alleged fraud in the sale of defective airbag inflators to its customers and helped negotiate related corporate resolution. Supervised investigation and extradition of Navinder Sarao, the so-called "Flash Crash Trader" for fraud and spoofing in the commodities markets. Supervised investigation of the largest bribery scandal in the history of the U.S. Navy, involving a Malaysian defense contractor known as "Fat Leonard" Francis, and his company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia. Supervised investigation of two former employees of a global financial institution for defrauding one of its customers in a multi-billion dollar foreign exchange transaction through front-running and ramping. Supervised investigation of a global pharmaceutical manufacturer for allegedly bribing physicians and government health officials in China in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Lead trial counsel for the United States in eight white-collar criminal trials involving securities fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, health care fraud, money laundering, structuring, and identity theft.
Recognition
Honors
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
Chambers USA
January 2021
Recognized, through 2024
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Best Lawyers in America®
Washington, DC | January 2024
Recognized
“Super Lawyers”
White Collar Criminal Defense
Washington DC | January 2020
Also 2021
Future Leader, Investigations
Who’s Who Legal Global Investigations Review
January 2019
Through 2021
Lawyer for Antitrust in Cartel, Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense, and Merger Control
The Legal 500 US
January 2019
Recomendation
Award for Distinguished Service
Attorney General’s Award
January 2016
Award for Fraud Prevention
Attorney General’s Award
January 2012
Recipient
Department of Justice Director’s Award
January 2018
Award for Exceptional Service
Assistant Attorney General’s Award
January 2011
Also in 2015
Award for Distinguished Service
Assistant Attorney General's Award
January 2010
Also in 2014
Recipient
Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Integrity Award
January 2011
Publications & speeches
“Turning the Tables on DOJ: Individual Defendants Wield Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policies Against the Government”
New York Law Journal
March 2023
“Trends in US Criminal FCPA Enforcement – Record Numbers Being Driven by Increased Resources and Cooperation Incentives”
Financier Worldwide
January 2020
“DOJ Eases Requirements in Corporate Enforcement Policy Update”
O’Melveny & Myers LLP Client Alert
November 2019
“DOJ Lifts the Curtain on Evaluating Claims of ‘Inability to Pay"
O’Melveny & Myers LLP Client Alert
October 2019
“International Financial Fraud Enforcement Trends in a Globalized World”
The Review of Securities & Commodities Regulation
December 2018
“Preserving Privilege in Cross-Border Internal Investigations”
Global Investigations Review
October 2018
“Second Circuit Decision Limits FCPA Jurisdiction as to Foreign Nationals Outside the United States”
O’Melveny & Myers LLP Client Alert
August 2018
“Federal Appeals Court Refuses to Void Criminal Service of Process on Counsel for Foreign Corporation Making Limited Appearance”
O’Melveny & Myers LLP Client Alert
August 2018
“California Decision Distorts Bank Liability Under FIRREA”
Law360
July 2018
“Managed Care Enforcement Trends and Compliance Risks”
HCCA Compliance Institute
January 2020
Also in 2021
“Managed Care Fraud & Enforcement”
ABA National Institute on Healthcare Fraud
January 2019
“Managed Care Fraud: Enforcement and Compliance”
HCCA Compliance Institute
January 2019
“Financial Fraud Enforcement Trends: A Conversation with the SEC and DOJ”
University of Texas School of Law, Annual Government Enforcement Institute — Texas
January 2017
Keynote Speaker, Panelist (2018)
“Current Trends in Criminal and Civil Investigations”
University of Texas School of Law, Annual Government Enforcement Institute — Texas
January 2015
Panelist (2015, 2018, 2019)
“Securities Enforcement in 2018 and Beyond”
ABA National Institute on White Collar Crime
January 2018
“Perspectives from Government Agencies”
Practicing Law Institute, Swaps and Derivatives and Market Enforcement
January 2016
Panelist
“Current Developments Materially Affecting Corporations, Financial Institutions, Individuals”
SEC & DOJ Hot Topics
January 2016
Panelist (2016, 2017)
“US and Global Market Abuses: Price Manipulation and Other Issues”
SIFMA, Compliance & Legal Annual Seminar
January 2016
Panelist
Financial Crimes Conference
FDIC/DOJ
January 2016
Keynote Speaker
“Enforcement Developments”
Securities Litigation and Regulatory Practice Seminar
January 2016
Panelist
“Enforcement/Litigation Developments”
ABA Business Law Section, Derivatives & Futures Law Committee Winter Meeting
January 2015
Panelist
“Wall Street to the Hill: The Continuing Evolution of Insider Trading Investigations”
American Bar Association, National Institute on Securities Fraud
January 2015
Panelist
“Medicare Fraud Strike Force and Beyond”
National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association, Annual Training Conference
January 2011
Speaker (2011, 2012)
“Summary Evidence in Health Care Prosecutions”
National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association, Annual Training Conference
January 2012
Speaker