Role of an Attorney During DC Federal Financial Crimes Investigations

Federal financial crimes can have serious consequences. In the event that you have been charged with a federal financial crime, retaining legal counsel is important because of the intricacies of the federal financial crimes investigation process. If you want to know more about the role of an attorney during DC federal financial crimes investigations, consult a knowledgeable attorney that could answer your questions and fight for you.

Value of Knowledge

Experienced legal counsel understands the need to preserve all documents and emails. They understand that there should be no hint that a document was altered or destroyed and is of the utmost importance when dealing with the corporate side of a criminal investigation. Knowing who may be doing an investigation and which corporate officers might need their own lawyer is most important. An attorney should know what is and is not privileged, and what is covered under attorney-client privilege. This can affect the course of a corporate criminal investigation, so it is important to have experienced counsel involved that can help companies avoid pitfalls that may damage them. The role of an attorney during DC federal financial crimes investigations is to guide the defendant through the investigation and trial process.

Attorneys as Liaisons

A DC federal financial crimes lawyer may have several roles in a financial crime investigation. One aspect of the role of an attorney during DC federal financial crimes investigations responsibility is to be the buffer between the defendant and law enforcement to make sure that law enforcement does not attempt to speak to their potential client. When a search the search warrant is executed, the lawyer may try to retrieve the items that were subject to the warrant.

The counsel retained to handle all communications between law enforcement and anyone else at the company should handle communications between the party under investigation and the federal agency conducting the investigation in DC.

Receiving Guidance on What Steps to Take Next

Multiple considerations are considered before someone makes a decision about cooperating with the federal agency conducting the investigation. An attorney could be instrumental in determining what those considerations are, and whether cooperating with the federal agency is helpful. When a person cooperates, that means they are not going to trial and are not fighting the charge. Usually, an individual does not have a deal locked in before they start cooperating in a federal investigation.

Sometimes it is a good idea to cooperate, but the defense attorney should do a thorough assessment of the case and evidence before their client makes that decision. There are consequences to collaborating with a federal agency that one should know about before making a decision to cooperate in a federal investigation. Once a person starts cooperating in an investigation, they cannot go back.

Consequences of Working with an Inexperienced Lawyer

Companies can get themselves in trouble if they hire an attorney who does not have the experience or expertise in federal and financial crimes law. Mistakes could be made such as documents being destroyed or the wrong documents disclosed. When a subpoena is issued or offers to speak to the government about the investigation are made, an inexperienced defense counsel might pick the wrong battles to fight. Many things can go wrong in any investigation and if counsel does not have the appropriate experience, there might be a problem.

Value of a DC Federal Financial Crimes Attorney

The role of an attorney during DC federal financial crimes investigations is to work vigilantly to protect an individual’s rights. They can leverage their knowledge and experience in order to advocate for an individual. A seasoned federal defense attorney could devote the time and resources necessary to achieve a positive outcome for those who have been charged.