Julian Okonkwo-Hart
Partner | Washington, D.C. | White Collar Defense & Investigations
Profile
Julian Okonkwo-Hart is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Corvane Ryle LLP and a member of the firm's White Collar Defense & Investigations practice. A former federal prosecutor, he represents companies, boards and executives in investigations by the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission and other agencies.
Julian's work covers anti-corruption, sanctions and export controls, fraud, and cyber-related enforcement. He conducts internal investigations, advises audit committees and helps clients build compliance programs that stand up under scrutiny, including after a data incident in coordination with the firm's Privacy & Cyber team and in financial institutions and technology matters.
His recent insights include Anti-Corruption Enforcement Priorities, Whistleblowing in the US and UK and, with Tomás Ellery-Vance, After the Breach: Lessons From Recent Retail Security Incidents.
Experience
Julian Okonkwo-Hart's representative matters include the following, many of which are confidential and described in general terms.
- Led an internal investigation for the audit committee of a NYSE-listed consumer products company into sales practices in three emerging markets, resulting in no enforcement action.
- Represented Kestrel Systems in a Department of Commerce inquiry concerning export controls on advanced semiconductors.
- Defended an executive of a global logistics company in a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation, concluding with a declination.
- Advised Quillon Payments on its anti-money laundering program and a regulator's examination findings.
- Represented Halvern Retail Group in coordinating regulatory responses following a data security incident.
- Conducted an independent review of whistleblower complaints for the board of a healthcare services provider.
- Advised Arvelo Health on a Department of Justice civil investigative demand concerning federal health program billing.
- Represented a bank in a joint SEC and DOJ inquiry concerning trading controls, resolved with a deferred prosecution agreement on negotiated terms.
- Advised Northwall Capital on sanctions and anti-corruption diligence for acquisitions in Latin America and the Middle East.
- Counseled Solenne Energy on anti-bribery controls for projects with state-owned counterparties.
- Defended a technology executive in an SEC investigation into revenue recognition.
- Advised Tidewater Logistics on customs and trade compliance following a voluntary self-disclosure.
- Built a global speak-up and investigations protocol for a multinational retailer operating in 20 countries.
Qualifications
Bar admissions
- District of Columbia Bar
- State Bar of Virginia
- US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- US Supreme Court
Education
- JD, University of Virginia School of Law
- BA, History, Howard University