Greenberg Traurig Expands Miami White Collar Practice with Former U.S. Attorney Benjamin Greenberg

MIAMI, Dec. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A. has expanded its Miami office White Collar Defense & Special Investigations Practice and Litigation Practice with the addition of Benjamin G. Greenberg, a former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Greenberg spent nearly 20 years with the U.S. Attorney's office, and most recently served in the role of Senior Litigation Counsel.

Greenberg is an experienced trial attorney who has tried more than 20 cases to verdict. He has handled numerous government investigations regarding issues involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), health care fraud, financial institution fraud, money laundering, the Bank Secrecy Act, the False Claims Act (FCA), and the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). Greenberg will counsel corporations and individuals on white collar matters and an array of regulatory issues, as well as advising them regarding compliance and investigation matters.

"It is a pleasure to welcome Ben to our team of veteran white collar defense and litigation attorneys in Miami, where he will be an asset to the Greenberg Traurig platform in Florida, around the country, and globally," said Matthew B. Gorson, senior chairman of Greenberg Traurig.    

Greenberg's arrival comes on the heels of other high-profile lateral hires in the Miami office, including Litigation Shareholders Michael N. Kreitzer and Rebecca A. Ocariz, and Corporate Shareholders Carol Barnhart and Michael George Taylor. Nationally, the firm also recently welcomed white collar defense and trial attorney David I. Miller to the New York office.

"Ben has a long and impressive history in the Southern District of Florida, which, combined with his healthcare industry focus and cross border experience, will help clients looking for guidance in high-stakes white collar investigations involving the Department of Justice," said Jaret L. Davis, co-managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig's Miami office.

Greenberg's significant knowledge in health care fraud matters derives from his role as U.S. Attorney in Florida, which consistently ranks as the number one state in the nation for the volume of health care fraud matters, the dollars lost in them, and dollars collected in their prosecution.

"Whether it's the threat of a government investigation or preventive counseling, Ben's well-rounded experience will be an invaluable resource to our clients as they navigate the complexities associated with these investigations," said Nathan J. Muyskens, co-chair of Greenberg Traurig's Global White Collar Defense & Criminal Investigations Practice. "His arrival helps bolster our already strong capabilities in white collar defense, and internal and government investigations to meet increasing client demand."

As the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida from March 2017 to September 2018, Greenberg served as the chief federal law enforcement officer for one of the largest and busiest offices in the country, responsible for overseeing more than 200 attorneys and close to 500 employees. In this capacity, he worked closely with the Criminal Division and the National Security Division in Washington to supervise high-profile and complex cases in South Florida. Greenberg also traveled abroad to meet with senior law enforcement officials regarding joint investigations and to develop strategies for combatting transnational crime.

Prior to assuming leadership of the office, Greenberg held a variety of senior management positions at the U.S. Attorney's Office. As First Assistant U.S. Attorney, he actively participated in and approved major investigative and prosecutorial decisions in all areas of criminal litigation, including FCPA, white collar, money laundering, and national security cases, as well as in civil cases under the FCA and the Federal Tort Claims Act. His other roles within the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida include chief of the Narcotics Section, chief of the Special Prosecutions Section, and Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Section.

Under Greenberg's leadership as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, the office prosecuted numerous notable matters, some of which are illustrated below:

• Brought 124 charges against South Florida doctors, nurses, and other licensed medical professionals as part of what is considered the largest nationwide takedown on health care fraud. The indictment involved 601 charged defendants across 58 federal districts for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving more than $2 billion in false billings.
• Prosecuted participants in a billion-dollar scheme to launder funds embezzled from the Venezuelan state-owned oil company. The conspirators involved a network of money managers, brokerage firms, banks, and real estate investment firms in the United States and beyond, all operating as an international network of money launderers.
• Reached a $1.5 million settlement with a healthcare company and its owners to settle allegations that the company paid kickbacks to marketers to induce patient referrals for home health services. The lawsuit was filed under the whistleblower provisions of the FCA.
• Prosecuted a U.S.-based financial advisor for his role in an international money laundering conspiracy involving the proceeds of a scheme to pay bribes to officials of Ecuador's state-owned and state-controlled energy company.
• Prosecuted an Aruban government official residing in Florida regarding money laundering charges in connection with his role in a scheme to arrange and receive corrupt payments to influence the awarding of contracts with an Aruban state-owned telecommunications corporation.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my work in government, handling criminal and civil matters locally, nationally, and internationally. As I begin this new chapter in my career, I am excited to join one of the country's preeminent white collar practices," Greenberg said. "Greenberg Traurig is the perfect firm for me to deploy my knowledge and skills, as it is the only home-grown firm in South Florida with a truly global platform. I look forward to building on the firm's robust success and utilizing my experience to advise clients regarding their most challenging legal issues."

Greenberg received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and his B.A. cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania. He also served as a law clerk for the Hon. Jon Phipps McCalla, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.

About Greenberg Traurig's White Collar Defense & Special Investigations Practice: Greenberg Traurig's White Collar Defense & Special Investigations Practice protects companies and individuals under government scrutiny. GT's creative defense lawyers in the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific are at the forefront of white collar defense, with wide-ranging experience in structuring internal investigations, developing guidelines, implementing compliance programs, and addressing issues of voluntary disclosure. Their representations involve alleged securities and commodities fraud, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations, health care/pharmaceutical fraud, environmental crimes, money laundering, financial services fraud, public corruption/campaign finance, tax corruption, defense contracting, and bankruptcy fraud. In addition, the majority of GT's litigation shareholders and counsel have first-chair trial experience.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2100 attorneys in 41 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.

SOURCE Greenberg Traurig