Shawn M. Wright

Shawn M. Wright
Partner
White Collar Defense & Investigations

Biography

CO-CHAIR, LITIGATION DEPARTMENT

CO-CHAIR, WASHINGTON, D.C., OFFICE

Shawn M. Wright is a litigator who concentrates her practice in the area of white collar criminal defense, with a specific focus on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and international anti-corruption laws; criminal antitrust; public corruption; congressional investigations; government contracts matters including False Claims Act litigation; and complex civil litigation matters. She represents corporations, boards of directors, and corporate executives in a wide range of internal and government investigations, audits and risk assessments, parallel proceedings, and complex commercial litigation. She regularly appears before enforcement agencies and bodies such as the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”), Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and other regulatory authorities.

Shawn’s practice includes internal compliance program development for the FCPA, including establishing workplace compliance policies and procedures, due diligence in mergers and acquisitions, as well as post acquisition integration, procedures and protocols for third-party relationships, risk assessments, gap analysis and audits of ABAC compliance programs, and other transactions. She also conducts internal investigations and provides counsel on violations of the Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”).

Additionally, she represents companies and nonprofit organizations and their boards of directors in various matters involving corporate governance, compliance, and internal controls issues. She serves as outside counsel for several nonprofit organizations. As a litigator, Shawn has represented individuals and corporations in state and federal courts throughout the country on a variety of criminal and civil matters.

Outside the Firm

Shawn is Chair of the Board of Directors for My Sister’s Place, one of the oldest domestic violence shelters in the District of Columbia, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She is a tutor and mentor to diverse women law students and law firm associates, and an enthusiastic football and basketball fan, both professional and collegiate.

Experience

  • Conducted FCPA risk assessments and FCPA due diligence on M&A and joint venture transactions for multiple public and private companies.
  • Developed Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption (“ABAC”) compliance program for non-U.S. company in the manufacturing industry, including policies, procedures, and protocols for third party due diligence, and training for sales, marketing, and finance employees.
  • Conducted internal investigations into allegations involving trade sanctions violations for a Fortune 100 Corporation.
  • Conducted FCPA due diligence review for foreign companies with agents and subsidiaries in multiple countries.
  • Conducted an internal investigation of the foreign subsidiary of a Fortune 100 company involving allegations of FCPA violations.
  • Represented a chief financial officer in an ongoing investigation by the DOJ and SEC regarding allegations of FCPA and trade sanctions violations.
  • Representation and preparation of witnesses to testify before the House Judiciary Committee regarding Enron matter.
  • Represented a major pharmaceutical company in a state court jury trial involving personal injury—favorable settlement reached during jury selection.
  • Conducted multiple internal investigations for multinational companies involving allegations of FCPA, procurement fraud, and anti-kickback issues.
  • Represented medical doctor and practice in a one-week jury trial in federal court against healthcare fraud and tax counts.
  • Represented healthcare organizations in DOJ investigations involving anti-kickback and off-label issues.
  • Represented 501 (c)(6) and 501 (c)(3) organizations on a variety of matters, including third-party due diligence, corporate governance, compliance, and review of financial internal controls.
  • Represented publicly traded shipping company in a federal criminal antitrust investigation.
  • Represented several corporate executives in a criminal antitrust investigation of the automobile industry conducted by the DOJ.
  • Represented pharmaceutical company in a criminal antitrust investigation of the generic pharmaceutical industry by the DOJ and State Attorney General’s office.
  • Conducted an internal investigation of potential fraud allegations for a global manufacturer of high technology military and police products.
  • Part of the bi-partisan team serving as independent counsel to the state Judiciary Committee in connection with an investigation into the conduct of a then-current Attorney General of the State of Pennsylvania.

News & Views

See all News and Views

Recognitions

  • 2024, Most Influential Lawyers in Corporate America, listed in Savoy Magazine
  • 2023–2025, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Washington, D.C., listed in Best Lawyers in America® 
  • 2022–2025, “Top 500 Leading Litigators in America,” listed in Lawdragon
  • 2020, Bonnie Glantz Fatell Women’s Advocacy and Leadership Award, Blank Rome LLP
  • 2020, 2023, Lawyers of Color Power List, listed in Lawyers of Color Power Issue
  • 2020–2023, Washington, D.C., “Super Lawyer” in White Collar Crimes, listed in Super Lawyers
  • 2020, listed in Euromoney’s White Collar Crime Expert Guide
  • 2017–2019, listed in Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll
  • 2015, “White Collar Crime Trailblazer,” listed in The National Law Journal

Affiliations

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • District of Columbia Bar Association
  • Maryland Bar Association
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • National Bar Association
  • National Association of Corporate Directors
Professional Activities

Shawn is currently an independent director for the National Capital Bank of Washington, the oldest community bank in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. She serves on both the Audit and Corporate Governance Committees. She is also on the Board of Directors of D.C. Legal Aid Society, serving on the Nominating Committee. Shawn previously served as chair for the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights , and currently serves as a Commissioner for the Maryland State Racing Commission. Additionally, Shawn serves on the Board of Directors of The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. and is a member of the finance committee. She maintains active membership in various bar associations, currently serving as the Vice Chair of the National Bar Association Division – Minority Partners in Majority Firms, Secretary of the D.C. Chapter of the Women White Collar Defense Association, the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, and the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals. She is also a member of the William Bryant Inn of Court.

Credentials

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • U.S. District Court - District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court - Maryland
  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Education

  • Howard University, BA, cum laude
  • Santa Clara University School of Law, JD

A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here.

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