Squire Patton Boggs is pleased to announce that Claiborne (Clay) W. Porter has joined the firm’s Government Investigations & White Collar Practice as a partner based in the Washington DC office.
Mr. Porter formerly served as the Acting Principal Deputy Chief of the US Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and as Chief of the MLARS Bank Integrity Unit. He most recently was Head of Investigations in the Global Investigations & Compliance Practice at Navigant Consulting.
“Clay’s well-known expertise in financial crime enforcement and compliance enhances the depth and capability of our premier government investigations practice,” said Squire Patton Boggs Global Chair and CEO Mark Ruehlmann. “His significant leadership positions at the Justice Department equipped him to provide invaluable advice and assistance to our clients at a time of heightened enforcement scrutiny, and we are delighted to have him on board.”
“Clay brings unparalleled expertise in sanctions, Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering and illicit finance to our team,” said Ben Wood, Squire Patton Boggs partner and co-leader of the firm’s financial crime defense team. “He also knows first-hand the priorities and expectations of the US and foreign agencies who enforce those laws – insight that is uniquely valuable to our clients.”
At the Department of Justice, Mr. Porter supervised approximately 160 attorneys and staff while managing complex financial crime investigations and prosecutions conducted in partnership with US Attorneys’ offices across the country. During his seven years at the Department of Justice, he was involved in almost every significant Bank Secrecy Act and sanctions investigation of a financial institution. He also interacted on an almost daily basis with OFAC, FinCEN, federal and state banking regulators, and international regulatory and law enforcement agencies, providing him with a rare perspective on how those agencies approach investigations.
Commenting on his move to the firm, Mr. Porter said, “In recent years I have gained tremendous respect for Squire Patton Boggs and its attorneys’ dedication and skill in guiding their clients through complex financial crime investigations around the globe. I’m very excited to join this talented team.”
Over the last 18 months, Squire Patton Boggs has added several key members to its Government Investigations & White Collar Practice. Congressional investigations specialist Margaret Daum joined in Washington DC from the US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; David Maria, former Trial Attorney in the Department of Justice’s Fraud Section and former Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota, joined the firm in Washington DC; Marisa Darden, former Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, joined the firm in Cleveland; and former Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Franklin Monsour, Jr. joined the firm in NY.