Leading Global FCPA and Anti-Corruption Attorney Robert Appleton Joins Olshan White Collar Defense & Government Investigations Practice

Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP today announced that prominent cross-border and internationally focused attorney Robert Appleton has joined the firm as a partner in the firm’s White Collar Defense & Government Investigations practice. Appleton is a globally recognized expert in white collar criminal law, internal and cross border investigations and in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) matters and has been involved with many of the world’s most prominent corruption scandal cases.

“Bob’s broad experience and global reputation as a leading government and internal investigations attorney is a terrific enhancement to Olshan’s White Collar Defense and Government Investigations team, with companies facing increased scrutiny on cross-border and regulatory issues, including FCPA matters,” said Steven Gursky, co-administrative partner at Olshan. “As our clients’ needs continue to become more complex with expanding global regulatory and compliance demands, Bob’s addition is a natural fit for the firm.”

Appleton’s practice is focused on assisting global, foreign and U.S. companies, organizations and individuals in regulatory and enforcement actions in FCPA, AML OFAC, fraud and corruption, insider trading, government investigations and compliance, and related matters and he has led, supervised or managed more than 1,000 corruption and compliance cases in over 150 countries. 

“I am delighted to join Olshan’s exceptional White Collar Defense and Government Investigations team,” said Appleton. “In seeking a platform to advance my practice to the next level, Olshan is an excellent fit to further leverage my extensive global contacts throughout organizations, corporations, and enforcement authorities. I am looking forward to working alongside my new partners and their clients and contributing to the firm’s continued success in this important area.”

Appleton served with distinction in the U.S. Department of Justice for 15 years, both as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division and as Branch Chief, Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney. During his tenure he twice received the highly coveted Director's Award from the United States Attorney General, the 2nd highest award in the Department of Justice. Appleton tried more than 30 cases to juries, and briefed and argued more than 20 appeals before the Second Circuit.

Appleton has also served in leading enforcement, chief compliance and legal roles in a number of international organizations and NGO’s, including at the United Nations, where he served for three years as Chief of the first-ever UN Anti-Corruption Unit. He has led White Collar and Government Investigations practice groups at two large law firms, and served as Director of Financial Investigations and Forensic Audit Deputy Inspector General at the Global Fund to Fight AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Appleton is an expert in Africa, Latin America, Middle East and Asian jurisdictions and has developed steep contacts and connections in these regions throughout his career.

While serving as Special Counsel for former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker’s Independent Inquiry Committee Investigation into the Iraqi Oil for Food Investigation, Appleton served as lead counsel of the Procurement Forensics Team responsible for investigating all bribe payments to the Iraqi regime providing advice and assisting the Committee chairs on recovering assets and losses in foreign jurisdictions.

As an asset recovery expert Appleton has represented numerous entities and organizations with U.S. regulatory issues as well as domesticating foreign judgments. He has most recently focused his efforts on Brazil based financial institutions and asset management organizations and assists them in the recovery of funds in the U.S. and abroad.  He has been involved with, and also called upon as an authority, regarding many of the world’s most prominent corruption scandals. Most recently, Appleton has been active in addressing the Lavo Jato (“Car Wash”) scandal in Brazil, assisting companies to navigate the FCPA risks and defending individuals.

Appleton served as a Law Clerk to Judge T. Emmet Claire. He earned his J.D. magna cum laude from Western New England School of Law and his B.A. cum laude from Emory University.

About Olshan’s White Collar Defense & Government Investigations Practice

Olshan has represented clients in connection with investigations, regulatory enforcement actions, and prosecutions brought by a wide variety of federal and state authorities, including the U.S. Department of Justice, various U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA, formerly NASD), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the New York State Attorney General and other state attorneys general offices. These matters have likewise included investigations concerning alleged violations of, among other things, the FCPA and the federal securities laws.

About Olshan

Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP, a law firm based in New York, represents major businesses and entrepreneurs in their most significant transactions, problems and opportunities. Olshan’s clients range from public companies, hedge, venture capital, private equity and other investment funds to entrepreneurs and private companies worldwide. Clients choose Olshan for innovative strategies and sophisticated, game-changing advice in corporate, securities law, equity investment and shareholder activism, complex commercial, corporate and securities litigation, real estate, intellectual property, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, and advertising. Since its founding, Olshan has offered an alternative to the AmLaw 50 law firm business model with responsive, independent and client-focused legal counsel provided by the firm’s senior lawyers.