Michelle Nasser

In 2024, obtained five criminal declinations on behalf of her clients in five different federal and state jurisdictions. Routinely acts as lead counsel representing companies and individuals who are targets or witnesses in grand jury investigations in various matters across different jurisdictions, particularly matters involving federal white collar investigations of fraud and public corruption in Missouri, Illinois and elsewhere. In this role, she has designed and developed compliance programs in various industries, including a program regarding federal financial regulations and a program for a publicly-traded company. A lead trial counsel representing university professor in federal indictment related to the Department of Justice’s “China Initiative.” Achieved Rule 29 and jury acquittals on the three “China Initiative” charges that were the basis of the DOJ investigation and original indictment. Member of the defense team that achieved dismissal of the federal indictment against our client in U.S. v. Peavler, et al. Lead counsel representing publicly-traded company in criminal investigation by United States Department of Justice regarding the parent corporation’s alleged criminal responsibility for federal firearms offenses allegedly committed by three employees. No civil or criminal charges were brought against the company. Lead counsel representing former Chief Operating Officer of publicly-traded company in investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding alleged accounting fraud schemes that allegedly resulted in the issuance of materially misstated financial statements. No criminal charges brought. Regularly defends large healthcare company in various ongoing False Claims Act lawsuits and government inquiries throughout the country, including responding to federal CIDs, leading related internal investigations, and defending company in national litigation matters. Among other tasks, led internal investigation regarding coding for certain drug prescriptions and regarding possible violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Lead counsel representing a large provider of interactive computer services in responding to CIDs issued by state Attorney General related to data privacy and antitrust investigation. No civil or criminal charges brought. Lead counsel representing president of trucking company in federal investigation regarding public corruption and alleged federal program bribery of public officials. No civil or criminal charges brought. Lead counsel representing NCAA Division 1 university’s coaches in an internal investigation regarding the recruitment of a prospective student athlete. No civil or criminal charges were brought, and no disciplinary action taken. Lead counsel representing company and its Chairman and CEO in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and financial fraud investigation by United States Department of Justice Criminal Division Fraud Section and U.S. Attorney’s Office. No civil or criminal charges brought. Lead counsel defending healthcare corporation and medical provider in federal criminal and civil FCA investigation related to allegedly inappropriate use of CPT codes and submission of false claims to Medicare for unnecessary procedures and medical services not rendered. A lead counsel for sitting Missouri Governor indicted on felony charge of computer tampering related to his campaign’s alleged procurement of a non-profit donor list. Obtained dismissal of charge. Also, a lead trial counsel in separate felony invasion of privacy case against sitting Missouri Governor, obtaining full dismissal after four days of jury selection. Lead counsel representing a corporation in a multi-year FCA investigation by DOJ Civil Fraud Section and DOT-OIG involving the use of a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (“DBE”) subcontractor related to a multi-million dollar government contract. No civil or criminal charges were brought. Represented company in USDA accounting investigation. Led internal investigation and designed and implemented compliance program. No civil or criminal charges brought.

Lead defense counsel in federal civil theft of trade secrets case. A lead plaintiffs’ counsel in civil lawsuit arising out of the Rams’s 2016 relocation from St. Louis to Los Angeles. In the lawsuit, St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and the RSA sued the NFL, Rams, and NFL teams and owners for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, fraudulent misrepresentation, and tortious interference with business expectancy. The 4+ year litigation resulted in a $790M settlement from the NFL and its teams, in what the NY Times describes as “a rare and very public defeat for the NFL.” Lead counsel representing multiple licensed “big four” accounting firm audit professionals with respect to complaints pending before the Missouri Board of Accountancy regarding the individuals’ alleged sharing of answers for examinations on internally administered training courses. Lead counsel in obtaining complete summary judgment in favor of corporate client, dismissing with prejudice all plaintiffs’ race discrimination and retaliation claims filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, including claims of disparate treatment, disparate impact, and retaliation, and obtaining an order for plaintiff to pay client’s costs. In subsequent related case, lead counsel in obtaining—a second time—complete summary judgment in favor of corporate client on former employee’s claim of retaliation. Lead counsel in obtaining full dismissal with prejudice of federal negligence claim against a large provider of interactive computer services. Lead counsel in obtaining a complete summary judgment in favor of executive and favorable settlement for corporate client in gender discrimination and retaliation claim filed in St. Louis County Court. Obtained full summary judgment in favor of corporate client, dismissing all plaintiff’s breach of contract, negligence, strict liability, and failure to warn claims filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming, in which plaintiffs sought damages of approximately $120 million as a result of an explosion and fire at an oil refinery.

U.S. v. Wilder, et al. A lead counsel in kickback case involving Chicago White Sox scouting executive. U.S. v. Leija-Sanchez, et al. Lead trial counsel in 6-week jury trial involving a multi-defendant international document fraud, money laundering, and racketeering conspiracy. U.S. v. Piros. Lead counsel in embezzlement case involving a vice president of St. Xavier University U.S. v. Koll. Lead trial counsel in bribery bench trial. U.S. v. Rago. Lead trial counsel in tax fraud jury trial. U.S. v. Knox. Lead trial counsel in jury trial involving visa fraud by a member of terrorist group Revolutionary United Front. U.S. v. Christ, et al. Lead trial counsel in bribery jury trial involving a Foreign Service Officer. U.S. v. Copeland. Lead trial counsel in bank fraud jury trial. U.S. v. Adame. Lead trial counsel in arson-murder jury trial. U.S. v. Sawyer, et al. A lead trial counsel in human trafficking jury trial.

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