Perkins Coie Launches New White Collar & Investigations Podcast

CHICAGO (June 23, 2020) – Perkins Coie is pleased to announce the launch of its White Collar & Investigations podcast, co-sponsored by the American Bar Association's Global Anti-Corruption Committee that discusses the high-stakes world of white-collar defense, investigations, compliance and litigation. The White Collar Briefly podcast will be hosted by Markus Funk, chair of the White Collar & Investigations practice, and partners Kevin Feldis and Chelsea Curfman, as well as occasional guest-hosts. The podcast is available on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and the practice blog.

The podcast hosts experienced in-house counsel, outside experts, and other thought-leaders to join the conversation on various hot topics, including criminal justice reform, government insider perspectives, SEC enforcement and U.S. Department of State matters, investigation and trial topics, compliance, corruption, and while collar defense tactics. The first episodes feature insightful and candid conversations with a variety of guests, including the following:

• Author Dave Eggers
• Joel Esquenazi (defendant in the high-profile U.S. v. Esquenazi FCPA case)
• Molson Coors' Global Ethics & Compliance Chief Caroline McMichen
• Chicago-based U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall
• University of Colorado COO (and former GC) Patrick O'Rourke
• Avanos Medical Deputy GC Ross Mansbach

"The popularity of podcasting remains high, especially in this current environment of listeners being able to curate their own content with ease," said Funk. "We're excited those who tune in will be able to listen in on open and honest conversations with thought leaders about interesting and relevant trends and topics affecting the world of white collar investigations, specifically, and the criminal justice system, generally."

By way of example, listen to this episode:

A Conversation With Author Dave Eggers About Criminal Justice Reform

Dave Eggers and Markus have a candid and probing conversation about today's calls for fundamental criminal justice reform. Dave and Markus cover a wide range of topics, including why we need to fundamentally rethink the state's treatment of suspects, defendants, and inmates; whether non-violent offenders like actress Lori Loughlin and Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff ought to receive prison sentences; what it means to "defund" the police; the tragic George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, Ariel Roman, and Ahmaud Arbery cases; how to improve law enforcement recruitment and training; whether it is time to reconsider arresting DUI, shoplifting, and other suspects in the absence of a threat to the public; the epidemic of criminalization and mass incarceration; the importance of empathy in law enforcement; qualified immunity; procedural justice and the need to ensure systemic legitimacy and creditworthiness; and the pros and cons of including imprisonment as part of an incremental punishment regime. This episode can be found on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast and Spotify Podcast.

The White Collar Briefly Podcast Team

• Markus Funk is the firmwide chair of Perkins Coie's White Collar & Investigations practice. A former federal prosecutor in Chicago and section chief with the U.S. State Department-Balkans, he earned a PhD (DPhil) in law from Oxford University, where he started his career as a Lecturer in Law. Markus, who is Chambers ranked in "Band 1", has also authored hundreds of law-related articles and book chapters, as well as eight books, including From Baksheesh to Bribery: Tracing the Global Fight Against Corruption and Graft (Oxford University Press, 2019); The ABA Compliance Officer's Deskbook(American Bar Association, 2017); and Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking: Examining the Global Challenges and U.S. Responses (Rowman Littlefield, 2nd ed. 2016).
• Kevin Feldis is a partner in the White Collar & Investigations practice and has a global practice responding to government enforcement actions, conducting internal investigations, managing crisis response, litigating business disputes and white collar cases, and counseling on a variety of corporate compliance issues. Kevin served as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice for 18 years prior to joining the firm, including as the first assistant United States attorney, criminal division chief, and computer hacking and intellectual property (CHIP) attorney in Alaska.
• Chelsea Curfman is a partner in the White Collar & Investigations practice. She focuses her practice on conducting confidential internal investigations for clients facing potential legal exposure due to issues involving bribery, corruption, accounting and securities fraud, violations of company policy, or other misconduct. Experienced in managing both multinational and small-scale investigations, Chelsea helps clients identify and assess potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), U.K. Bribery Act, and other anti-bribery and anti-corruption (ABAC) laws and supply chain regulations.

Perkins Coie's team of more than 60 White Collar & Investigations attorneys represents companies and individuals in a range of complex matters at the federal, state, and local levels, and advises clients on all aspects of corporate compliance programs. The team includes high-profile attorneys with years of experience designing and implementing effective compliance programs, conducting and evaluating complex investigations, negotiating with enforcement authorities and regulators, and representing clients in high-stakes litigation and trials. Their ranks include former assistant U.S. attorneys, former SEC enforcement attorneys and branch chiefs, SEC chief litigation counsel, a U.S. State Department attorney, state prosecutors, and other former federal and state government regulators.