Laura Perkins 

Partner – Washington
T.+1 202 862 2206
laura.perkins@cwt.com
1919 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006 V-CARD

Laura Perkins draws on her experience as a senior official and prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to advise companies and senior executives on high-stakes investigations and enforcement actions.  As a former Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General and Assistant Chief of the DOJ’s Criminal Division’s FCPA Unit, Laura brings deep insight into enforcement strategy, regulatory expectations and engagement with authorities.  

Laura has extensive experience leading high-stakes cross-border investigations, representing corporate and individual clients before U.S. enforcement and regulatory authorities, including the DOJ and the Securities and Exchange Commission, and counselling companies on cross-border compliance matters, including designing and benchmarking corporate compliance programs.

Laura’s work includes matters involving anti-corruption (FCPA), financial fraud, False Claims Act (FCA), sanctions, money laundering, and national security issues. 

An experienced trial lawyer, Laura has handled more than a dozen federal jury and bench trials across the country, including high-profile cases involving FCPA, money laundering, and complex financial crimes. 

While at the DOJ, Laura supervised, prosecuted and tried some of the largest individual and corporate FCPA cases in the U.S. and was involved in the development of the FCPA Pilot Program and the drafting of the FCPA Resource Guide. Laura also oversaw nearly a dozen independent compliance monitors and served as a U.S. Delegate to the OECD’s Working Group on Bribery.  In addition to FCPA cases, Laura successfully investigated and prosecuted complex financial fraud cases, healthcare fraud cases and money-laundering cases while at the DOJ.

Recognition

  • Chambers Global – FCPA (2020–present)
  • Chambers USA – FCPA  (2020–present)
  • Chambers USA – Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (2025)
  • Lawdragon – 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2025, 2026)
  • Lawdragon – 500 Leading Global Litigators (2025, 2026)
  • Lawdragon – 500 Global Leaders in Crisis Management (2025, 2026)
  • The Legal 500 – Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense (2019–2021, 2024)
  • Global Investigations Review – Top 100 Women in Investigations (2018)
  • Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders GIR-USA (2024–present)
  • Counsel for leading defense contractor in multiple DOJ False Claims Act investigations
  • Conduct internal investigations into whistleblower allegations of bid-rigging, bribery, fraud, embezzlement, and export control violations for Forbes Global 2000 technology company.
  • Represented multinational energy corporation in internal and DOJ investigations related to potential misconduct in China, India and Argentina, resulting in closure of the DOJ investigation.
  • Represented global building supply manufacturer in DOJ investigation into sanctions and terrorist financing violations, and guided company through post-resolution compliance obligations and reporting.
  • Represent a medical device manufacturer in a DOJ False Claims Act investigation involving potential off-label marketing and anti-kickback statute violations.
  • Represented Mexican commodities trading company and its CEO in connection with a DOJ and CFTC investigation into potential bribery and market manipulation, resulting in closure of the investigations.
  • Conducted internal investigation for large airline company in connection with allegations of fraud in advance of a bankruptcy filing.
  • Represented international commodities trading company and several of its executives in connection with a DOJ and OFAC investigation into alleged sanctions violations.
  • Served on compliance monitor team appointed by the World Bank in connection with conditional debarment of one of the largest Chinese construction companies.
  • Represented superapp company in DOJ investigation into potential FCPA violations, resulting in closure of the investigation.
  • Represented medical device manufacturer in connection with DOJ, state Attorney Generals and CA Department of Insurance False Claims Act investigation and resolution.
  • Advised independent compliance monitors appointed by global airline manufacturer’s Board of Directors on their review and reporting.
  • Represented senior executives of a Fortune 500 energy company in connection with internal and DOJ investigations into potential bribery in Venezuela.
  • Conducted internal investigation into potential bribery and conflict of interest violations for Latin American airline.
  • Conducted anticorruption compliance program assessments for large defense contractor and global oil field services company.
  • Represented senior executives of multinational bank in connection with DOJ and FinCen investigations into money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act violations.
  • Represented a senior executive of a global telecommunications company in connection with a DOJ investigation into potential bribery in Venezuela.

NEWS

RESOURCES

Newsletters

view more »
Laura Perkins 

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Virginia

Education

  • University of Virginia School of Law
    J.D.
  • College of William & Mary
    B.B.A., cum laude, Finance and Government