Investigations and Audits

Companies in regulated sectors—especially federal government contractors and exporters—operate in high-stakes regulatory environments. An inquiry or investigation by the FBI, the Defense Contract Audit Agency, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, a contracting officer, or a suspension or debarment notice can disrupt operations, impact morale, cost money, and jeopardize contracts, licenses, reputations and even your business.

In addition to government investigations, your business may need to conduct an internal investigation because of concerns raised through your ethics helpline, by subcontractors, prime contractors, your finance team, or external auditors. Internal investigations need to be done efficiently, effectively, and thoroughly to give your employees, business partners, and, at times, the federal government some assurance that your business will address and remediate issues and that you treat employees and business partners fairly.

Government Investigations, Audits, and Inquiries

We guide companies through high-stakes situations with discretion and determination to safeguard your business. Drawing on years of experience as prosecutors, federal government lawyers, and from in-house work leading and overseeing internal investigations, we work with you based on your goals to:

• Respond to government subpoenas and Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs);
• Navigate Defense Contract Audit Agency, Defense Contract Management Agency, Office of Inspector General audits;
• Respond to suspension or debarment notices, and show cause letters;
• Manage inquiries from export regulation officials at Bureau of Industry and Security, or at Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, the Department of Defense, and other federal agencies;
• Collaborate seamlessly with investigations and white-collar defense counsel.

Internal Investigations
If your business needs to conduct an internal investigation to secure and protect assets, to protect your intellectual property, or to determine compliance with laws, we work with you to target the issue and focus on identifying and remediating gaps in controls.

We work with your business to gather the facts, assess the risks, and make sound decisions by:

• Conducting internal investigations with objectivity and discretion;
• Evaluating whether to make and making Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Mandatory Disclosures;
• Advising leadership on legal, reputational, and operational risk;
• Analyzing whether to make a voluntary disclosure to Bureau of Industry and Security or Directorate of Defense Trade Controls;
• Addressing whistleblower complaints and hotline reports.

Government investigations, audits, and inquiries involve a scrutiny that is intense and often result in costly, time-consuming work by those in your organization, as well as the lawyers and other professionals supporting the effort. The stakes are incredibly high, including significant financial penalties, suspension, or debarment from contracting or exporting, criminal ramifications, and termination of federal contracts.

Likewise, when something has gone wrong internally or you suspect some wrongdoing in your business, or as a government contractor or exporter, you are at risk of criminal and civil violations or your assets may be at risk, and you need to understand what may have happened.

How you respond to government scrutiny or to an internal investigation can shape your company’s future. These moments test leadership, culture, and resilience—not just compliance. At Cassidy Law, we don’t just help you respond—we help you lead and communicate with clarity, gather relevant facts, and work with you to chart a path forward.

• Conducted an internal investigation and developed recommended remediation to a U.S. global, publicly traded company on its export and trade sanctions operations relative to extracting itself from Russia.
• Conducted an internal investigation for a U.S. global, publicly traded company with operations in Korea where its Korean CEO was accused of improper payments and retaliating against employees. Worked with client’s legal team to develop responsive remediation to include meeting with employees to address their concerns.
• Conducted an internal investigation for a Department of Defense SBIR awardee who failed to comply with export regulations. Worked with client to file a voluntary disclosure with the Bureau of Industry and Security and to develop a remediation plan. The Bureau of Industry and Security took no action against the client.
• Worked with whitecollar lawyers and forensic accountants to defend a Department of Defense contractor that had been raided by the FBI and was under criminal, civil, and administrative investigations by the Department of Justice’s Civil and Criminal Division, a Department of Defense Suspension and Debarment Official, and a contracting officer for criminal and civil False Claims Act violations, improper payments, and breach of contract. Contractor avoided suspension and debarment; its contracts remained in place; it was awarded new contracts, and it was not charged with any crimes. It reached a settlement with DOJ on claims by a whistleblower.
• Conducted an internal investigation into a global, U.S. publicly traded company’s Chief Technology Officer suspected of embezzlement. Presented factual findings to the U.S. Attorney, and as a result, the CTO was criminally charged and their bank accounts and properties were seized and returned to the company.
• Investigated a defense contractor with a facility clearance to determine if some of its engineers were engaging in behavior contrary to U.S. national security interests, and worked with client’s CEO, COO, and General Counsel to address and develop remediation.
• Responded to and investigated Department of Energy audit findings that a client had to return $1.7 million in payments which resulted in a settlement of $325,000.
• Conducted a cross-border investigation into allegations of fraud and concerns about a USAID contractor’s work environment, provided recommendations that were implemented by the client, and persuaded the Contracting Officer and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) not to take further action.
• Represented a retired Army General in a DoD Inspector General Investigation by the Defense Criminal Investigation Service related to conflicts of interest; the government declined to pursue the matter.
• Represented a defense contractor in a government investigation related to non-compliance with DFARS cybersecurity requirements; resolved the matter through a negotiated settlement with the Department of Justice and Relator.