Lauren Briggerman focuses her practice on antitrust and competition enforcement, with substantial experience representing companies and senior executives in global cartel investigations and related civil litigation. She has played a central role in many of the most significant cross‑border cartel matters in recent years, defending clients in investigations spanning the auto parts, air cargo, freight forwarding, pharmaceutical and poultry production industries. Lauren also has represented clients in the Department of Justice’s criminal “no‑poach” investigations involving alleged labor‑market collusion.
Lauren’s work extends across the full spectrum of competition enforcement, including counseling clients facing parallel proceedings and follow‑on class actions in US courts. Her experience with international discovery, and complex, multijurisdictional strategy positions her to guide clients through the legal, operational and reputational risks associated with cross‑border investigations.
In addition to her competition practice, Lauren represents corporations and executives in white collar investigations and litigation that often intersect with antitrust enforcement. She has handled investigations into alleged financial services and securities fraud, government contracts fraud, bribery and corruption, and violations of the False Claims Act. In that capacity, she regularly represents executives before the Department of Justice (DOJ), US Attorneys’ Offices, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
She also regularly represents clients in white collar-related civil litigation, including Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) claims, trade secrets matters, computer intrusion issues and sanctions enforcement.
Lauren writes and speaks frequently on competition and enforcement trends. She is a founding member of the Women’s Antitrust Forum, a networking and programming group for antitrust practitioners. She also has leadership roles in the Women’s White Collar Defense Association and the American Bar Association’s International Cartel Task Force. She previously served as vice chair of the Antitrust Compliance and Ethics Committee. Earlier in her career, she clerked for the Honorable Thomas C. Wheeler of the US Court of Federal Claims.
Lauren is ranked by Chambers for litigation: white collar crime & government investigations and by Legal 500 in the Antitrust – Cartel category and as a Next Generation Partner. Recognized by Legal 500 as a “highly talented, experienced, and committed” litigator, Lauren brings deep antitrust knowledge and practical enforcement insight to high‑stakes competition matters.
Antitrust and Competition Enforcement and Litigation
Defended a poultry producer from indictment in the DOJ’s investigation into price fixing and bid rigging in the broiler chicken industry, the DOJ’s largest ongoing cartel investigation, involving charges against multiple companies and executives.
Representing numerous pharmaceutical executives in the DOJ’s investigation into price fixing in the generic drug industry and the related multidistrict civil litigation.
Defended numerous corporate executives in the DOJ’s auto parts investigation, its largest antitrust investigation in history, resulting in none being prosecuted.
Representing a foreign executive indicted for allegedly rigging bids and fixing prices for fuel supply contracts with the US military.
Represented a former executive of a defense contractor staffing company in the DOJ’s investigation into alleged labor market collusion (no poach).
Successfully defended the CEO of a public construction materials company in a DOJ price fixing investigation.
Obtained a rare nolo contendere (no contest) plea for a US-based cargo airline in a criminal antitrust case involving alleged price fixing in the air cargo industry, avoiding a felony guilty plea.
Defended a public company facing allegations of price fixing in the freight forwarding industry across at least eight jurisdictions, convincing all but one to close their investigations.
Competition related Investigations and Litigation
Defended one of the largest 200 US construction companies in a joint DOJ Antitrust Division/US Attorney’s Office investigation involving alleged anticompetitive conduct in government small business set aside contracting.
Litigated a RICO action in the Southern District of New York against a global law firm and co conspirators related to fraudulent litigation and improper investigations, resulting in multiple settlements.
Litigated a federal trade secrets misappropriation case in the Middle District of North Carolina involving individuals tied to the hacking scheme.
Financial Services, Securities Enforcement and Litigation
Represented numerous current and former Discover Financial Services executives in investigations by the SEC and FDIC into the alleged misclassification of consumer credit cards.
Successfully defended numerous Wells Fargo executives in investigations by the SEC, DOJ and OCC into sales practices issues and in related civil litigation.
Represented Wells Fargo executives in SEC and Southern District of New York investigations involving the bank’s diversity hiring practices.
Defended former executives of a US bank in a five week FDIC jury trial involving the bank’s failure.
Antibribery and Anticorruption Enforcement
Represented the audit committee of a multinational food processing company in investigations involving interactions with government officials in Latin America and Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Represented a manufacturing company in a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) related internal and government investigation, resulting in DOJ’s decision not to prosecute.
Represented a financial technology company in UK money laundering allegations, coordinating local counsel, investigators and communications strategy to secure return of client funds.
Successfully defended from prosecution the former CEO of a publicly traded multinational company in a DOJ/SEC investigation into alleged bribery of Chinese officials.
Obtained a favorable sentence for an Afghan construction company and senior executive in criminal bribery cases in US District Courts in Chicago and Honolulu involving alleged bribery of US military officials.
Member, International Cartel Task Force, Antitrust Law Section, American Bar Association
Founding Member, Women’s Antitrust Forum
Member, American Bar Association Cartel & Criminal Practice Committee
Member, Antitrust Section, American Bar Association
Member, Litigation Section, American Bar Association
Member, Development Committee, Women’s White Collar Defense Association
Recognized in Chambers USA 2025 for White Collar Crime & Government Investigations (District of Columbia)
Recognized in Who’s Who Legal 2019-2020, 2022, 2024 for Investigations – Future Leaders: Partners
Recognized in Legal 500 2023 for Dispute Resolution – Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense
Recognized in Legal 500 2025 as a Next Generation Partner
Recognized in Legal 500 2017-2025 for Antitrust – Cartel
Recognized in Washington DC Super Lawyers 2018-2019 as a Rising Star, Criminal Defense: White Collar
Recognized in DC Bar Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2015, 2017-2018, 2020
Recognized in DC Bar Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll, 2016
George Washington University Law School Community Legal Clinics Volunteer Service Award, 2008
Moderator, “Artificial Intelligence Under the Antitrust Radar,” Women’s Antitrust Forum, October 7, 2024.
Speaker, American Bar Association 2024 International Cartel Workshop, June 25, 2024.
Co-author, “DOJ’s New Safe Harbor Policy Raises Stakes on M&A Due Diligence,” Corporate Compliance Insights, January 8, 2024.
Speaker, “Hands Off, They’re Mine! Protecting Staffing Agency Employees and Goodwill,” 2023 American Staffing Association Staffing Law Conference, May 18, 2023.
Speaker, “Tips for Handling Non-Competes and Employment Issues in Today’s Antitrust Climate,” American Bar Association Webinar, May 4, 2023.
Speaker, “Ethics & Compliance in Global Investigations,” ABA Antitrust Spring Meeting, March 30, 2023.
Moderator, “Monaco Memo and its Impact on Antitrust Compliance Programs,” American Bar Association Webinar, February 21, 2023.
Co-author, “The Monaco Memo and Implications for Navigating Ethical Issues in Antitrust Investigations,” Compliance Elliance Journal, June 1, 2023.
Co-author, “Is ‘No Poach’ No More?” Am Law Litigation Daily, May 31, 2023.
Co-author, “2022 Hurdles Failed to Deter DOJ Antitrust Enforcement Goals,” Law360, December 15, 2022.
Moderator, “The Changing Cartel Enforcement Climate: Wisdom & War Stories,” Women’s Antitrust Forum, November 1, 2022.
Co-author, “How Can Outside Counsel Sidestep Ethical Pitfalls in Internal Investigations of Antitrust Wrongdoing?” Corporate Compliance Insights, June 8, 2022.
Moderator, “Hot Topics in Antitrust Compliance and Enforcement in the EU and U.K.,” American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law, March 9, 2022.
Speaker, “Cross-Border Investigations: What’s New and What Lies Ahead,” The Knowledge Group Webcast, January 20, 2022.
Moderator, “Hot Topics in Antitrust Compliance and Enforcement in Brazil,” American Bar Association Webinar, June 1, 2021.
Moderator, “Antitrust Predictions 2021 & Beyond,” Women’s Antitrust Forum, April 12, 2021.
Speaker, “DOJ’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force: Cracking Down on Bid-Rigging in the Government Procurement Process,” ISOA Webinar, November 19, 2020.
Co-author, “Trends in Recent FCPA and Cartel Cases Against Execs,” Law360, February 13, 2020.
Co-author, “Challenges to Obtaining Foreign Evidence in Cross-Border Criminal Cases,” The Champion, November 15, 2019.
Speaker, “White Collar Investigations Impacting Corporate Executives – Key Developments,” PLI One-Hour Briefing, March 19, 2019.
Moderator, “The Auto Parts Cartel Investigation & Litigation: Where Do We Go From Here?” Women’s Antitrust Forum, March 15, 2018.
Speaker, “White Collar Crime: Emerging Trends and Developments,” The Knowledge Group Webcast, November 21, 2017.
Speaker, “The DOJ’s Cartel Enforcement Actions: What You Need to Know in 2017,” The Knowledge Group Webcast, June 21, 2017.