Morrison Foerster has appointed Paul Perkins as a partner in its Investigations and White Collar Defense Group and chair of its False Claims Act practice in Washington, D.C.
Perkins joins the firm after serving in several senior leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Justice, most recently as Associate Deputy Attorney General.
He brings more than 15 years of government and private practice experience, including more than a decade focused on False Claims Act investigations and enforcement.
During his government career, Perkins worked on major enforcement matters, negotiated settlements involving nine-figure amounts, and helped develop federal enforcement policies.
As Associate Deputy Attorney General, he worked on enforcement strategy involving complex civil, criminal, and regulatory matters.
Before that appointment, Perkins spent four years as Deputy Director of the DOJ’s Civil Fraud Section.
In that role, he helped lead an office of more than 150 attorneys involved in enforcement activities that contributed to more than $13 billion in False Claims Act recoveries.
His previous DOJ positions also included Chief of Staff and Special Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Division, Counsel and Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General, and Trial Attorney in the Civil Division’s Fraud Section.
Earlier in his career, Perkins worked as a litigation attorney at an international law firm, representing Fortune 500 companies in government and regulatory investigations.
At Morrison Foerster, he will advise clients on government enforcement matters, internal investigations, regulatory compliance, and False Claims Act litigation.
His appointment expands the firm’s ability to represent clients in highly regulated industries, including healthcare, life sciences, cybersecurity, technology, and international trade.
These businesses often face complex regulatory requirements and may need legal help responding to government inquiries, conducting internal investigations, and addressing potential compliance issues.
Perkins brings experience in both government enforcement and private practice.
His responsibilities will include leading Morrison Foerster’s False Claims Act practice while collaborating with attorneys across its broader investigations and white-collar defense organization.
The appointment follows several other additions to the firm’s Washington, D.C., office.
Recent hires include Annie Wartanian Reisinger in National Security; Carlos Uriarte and Kim Hamm in Congressional Investigations; and Jason Lebowitz in National Security.
The firm has also expanded its Investigations and White Collar Defense practice in California with the additions of Leif Dautch in San Francisco and Tara McGrath in San Diego.
Perkins’ appointment adds senior DOJ leadership experience to the firm’s national investigations and regulatory defense practice.
KEY QUOTES:
“During his over 10 years at DOJ, Paul handled major healthcare fraud matters while also serving in senior leadership roles at Main Justice. That unique combination of frontline and leadership experience, and his insider’s understanding of how enforcement priorities are set, staffed, and resolved, will be a tremendous asset to our clients.”
Ruti Smithline, Global Co-Chair of Morrison Foerster’s Litigation Department
“MoFo’s leading government enforcement and crisis management team and its sophisticated multinational corporate clients make it an ideal place to strengthen its top-tier False Claims Act practice.”
Paul Perkins, Partner and False Claims Act Practice Chair at Morrison Foerster
