Simon Latcovich has broad experience representing clients in civil litigation, criminal litigation, government investigations, and internal investigations. He has represented corporations, professional firms, senior executives, and senior government officials facing trials or investigations conducted by grand juries, government agencies, and congressional committees. His clients include a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, a United States Senator, the Chief Executive Officer of an international bank, and other senior executives and officials. Simon has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in civil litigation covering a range of issues, including commercial disputes, partnership disputes, false claims, fraud, professional liability defense, antitrust, securities law, and trusts/estates. Simon’s criminal defense work has involved allegations of health care fraud, securities fraud, political corruption, money laundering, false statements, bank fraud, obstruction of justice, disclosure of classified information, violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, violations of the Foreign Agent Registration Act, and environmental crimes. Simon’s first major criminal trial was as a member of the team representing United States Senator Ted Stevens, who was indicted on ethics charges fewer than 100 days before he was to stand for re-election. Senator Stevens was ultimately exonerated after it was established that the prosecutors had intentionally withheld exculpatory evidence from the defense. The American Lawyer has described the firm’s work on the case as “one of the best criminal defense performances in memory, resulting in a heightened scrutiny of prosecutors that will affect the Justice Department for years to come.” Along with two of his partners, Simon is the co-author of a treatise, Federal Criminal Discovery, published in 2011 with a second edition published in 2021. The American Bar Association describes the book as an “invaluable resource for judges, academics, prosecutors, and defense lawyers.” Simon has also taught Trial Practice and Federal White Collar Crime at Georgetown University Law Center. He was named to the Georgetown Law Board of Visitors in 2017. Born in Washington, D.C., Simon grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana and Richmond, Virginia. He received his B.S. in Economics, with distinction, from the United States Naval Academy in 1998 and a M. Phil. in Economics from Oxford University in 2000. After serving as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy, he graduated magna cum laude with a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2006. Simon joined Williams & Connolly in 2007 after clerking for Judge Thomas B. Griffith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. In 2023, Simon was ranked by Chambers USA as one of the leading lawyers in the area of Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations. He was selected for inclusion in the 2014 through 2017 Washington, DC Rising Stars list in litigation by Super Lawyers. Simon currently serves as Co-Chair of the Firm’s Anti-Money Laundering & Economic Sanctions practice group. Representative ExperienceThough all cases vary and none is predictive, Simon’s experience includes:
- Lead counsel in a federal trial regarding a business partnership dispute; judgment issued for both compensatory and punitive damages after jury trial
- Lead counsel in an administrative trial regarding the security clearance for a senior (four-star equivalent) Pentagon official; government conceded mid-trial
- Represented a prominent lobbyist in criminal investigations regarding the Foreign Agents Registration Act by Special Counsel Mueller and the SDNY; government declined to prosecute
- Represented international bank in federal criminal sanctions litigation
- Lead counsel for a successful writ of innocence claim in Maryland for inmate imprisoned for thirty-five years
- Represented United States Senator Ted Stevens in a federal corruption trial; government dismissed based on misconduct uncovered by the defense
- Represented the heirs in litigation challenging a multi-billion dollar estate plan; case settled favorably after successful bench trial that led to removal of the trustee
- Represented Chief Executive Officer of an international bank in multi-national money laundering and securities fraud investigations
- Represented the former Chief Executive of a Fortune 100 company in a class action securities lawsuit; favorable settlement reached in which client paid nothing
- Represented a national pharmaceutical company in a government false claims investigation; government declined to intervene and ultimately moved to dismiss qui tam relator’s claims
- Represented health care clinic owner in federal criminal trial
- Represented real estate developers in litigation against a fellow developer and various banks; obtained settlement in which clients paid nothing
- Represented Army veteran pro bono in first degree murder trial
- Represented a manufacturing plant manager in an environmental criminal investigation; government declined to prosecute
- Represented health care clinics in a government false claims investigation; government declined to prosecute
- Represented a senior intelligence official in an investigation involving the destruction of interrogation videotapes; government declined to prosecute
- Represented a senior real estate executive in New York federal corruption investigation; government declined to prosecute
- Represented bank charged with criminal securities fraud; government settled with a civil resolution on eve of trial
- Represented the Audit Committee of a Fortune 500 company in an internal investigation
- Represented multiple pro bono clients at trial, including successful criminal defense and judgment for renter in dispute with condo association
Recognitions“Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (DC),” Chambers USA, 2023-2024 Selected to Washington, D.C. “Rising Stars” list, Super Lawyers, 2014-2017 Other Government ServiceUnited States Navy, Lieutenant, Surface Warfare Officer, 1998-2003 |
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