Joseph M. Bargnesi

joseph.bargnesi@lw.com

+1.202.637.2114

Profile

Joseph Bargnesi advises clients in connection with internal corporate investigations, white collar criminal defense and civil enforcement matters, and related litigation.

Mr. Bargnesi represents global companies and organizations, as well as high-profile individuals, in domestic and cross-border investigations, enforcement matters, and related litigation.

He regularly guides multinational clients through matters involving complex regulatory regimes, including:

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other anti-corruption laws
US securities laws
US antitrust laws
Controlled Substances Act (CSA)

He skillfully leverages this experience to help clients navigate matters involving the Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and other regulators worldwide.

Complementing his investigations and defense work, Mr. Bargnesi works closely with clients to proactively mitigate enforcement risks by reviewing and enhancing their corporate compliance programs. He draws on extensive experience to help clients:

Draft policies and procedures
Conduct risk assessments
Develop training programs
Leverage innovative compliance monitoring and analytics

Mr. Bargnesi also regularly advises clients in connection with cross-border M&A and capital markets transactions, including pre- and post-acquisition due diligence counseling and related disclosures.

Prior to joining Latham, Mr. Bargnesi worked as a law clerk for the United States Attorney’s Office for Western District of New York and United States Magistrate Judge F. Bradford Stillman on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Experience

Investigations and Enforcement

Mr. Bargnesi’s investigations and enforcement experience includes representing:

Companies, as well as high-profile individuals in connection with DOJ and SEC FCPA investigations, including multiple cases in which investigations were closed without enforcement action
Several multinational companies in connection with internal anti-corruption investigations around the world, including field work in Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, the Middle East, and South America
A state-owned entity in an investigation and related civil recovery stemming from a DOJ and SEC FCPA resolution in which the client was a victim of bribery and financial misconduct
Public companies, as well as their directors, officers, and employees, in SEC investigations related to accounting, financial reporting, internal controls, and other securities laws and regulations
Audit committees of boards of directors in conducting investigations related to financial restatements and similar matters
Special committees of boards of directors in connection with investigations into potential misconduct by senior executives
Multiple individuals in connection with DOJ and SEC insider trading investigations
An industrial pipe manufacturer in an FTC investigation of the ductile iron pipe industry involving allegations of violations of the Sherman Act
A leading pharmaceutical distributor in criminal and civil investigations by DOJ related to the distribution of controlled substances

Compliance and Transactional Matters

Mr. Bargnesi’s compliance and transactional experience includes helping:

A multinational oil and gas company in designing and conducting a global anti-corruption risk assessment
A global technology company in building a best-in-class anti-corruption compliance program
Several multinational companies — including major private equity firms — in advising on anti-corruption risks and risk mitigation strategies associated with acquisition and investment decisions
A global manufacturing company in conducting a post-acquisition risk assessment
Several trade associations and non-profit organizations in designing, implementing, and executing risk-based anti-corruption compliance programs