Joseph Simpson

Joey focuses his practice on representing companies and individuals in criminal matters and parallel civil proceedings, as well as internal investigations. He has significant experience advising clients facing a variety of legal challenges, including those involving antitrust, U.S. export controls & sanctions and anti-money laundering regulations, and data privacy laws, as well as those arising under the False Claims Act. Joey also maintains an active pro bono practice and has appeared in state and immigration court on behalf of clients seeking asylum.

Joey received his J.D., cum laude, degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC, and his Bachelor of Science in business management from the University of Maryland R.H. Smith School of Business. While at Georgetown Law, Joey was a staff member of the Georgetown Technology Law Journal, where he published an article on the role of artificial intelligence in expanding access to mental health.

He was also a Barrister’s Council Appellate Advocacy member and was named Best Oralist at the 2017 New York University’s National Immigration Law Competition. In his final year at Georgetown, Joey was a student attorney with the Center for Applied Legal Studies Immigration Clinic, where he represented persons seeking asylum in immigration court.

Experience

White Collar Defense & Government Investigations

Health Care

• Represented a pharmacy chain in successfully avoiding criminal indictment and resolving, with a best-case scenario civil settlement, allegations of federal health care fraud. 
• Represented the owner of an international health care marketing company in a criminal prosecution that resulted in a sentence of 48 months imprisonment where the applicable Sentencing Guidelines range called for a minimum of 12 years.
• Represented the owner of a medical device company in a criminal fraud prosecution that resulted in a sentence of 72 months imprisonment where the applicable Sentencing Guidelines range called for a minimum of 10 years. 
• Represented a whistleblower witness in a multi-year DOJ investigation into health care fraud related to overbilling Medicare and Medicaid for unnecessary medical services. 

Fraud

• Represented a nationally recognized casual dining restaurant and its CEO in a DOJ investigation into potential PPP loan fraud that resulted in no action being taken by DOJ.
• Represented a business owner and alleged co-conspirator in a criminal investigation for honest services fraud that resulted in the client being granted full immunity from criminal prosecution. 

Antitrust

• Represented a minority-owned government contractor in a DOJ criminal investigation into alleged antitrust violations that resulted in no action being taken by the DOJ against the company. 
• Representing the owner of a government contractor in a DOJ criminal investigation into alleged bid-rigging of government contracts in violation of the Sherman Act. 

Securities & Trade Regulations

• Represented a witness in a multi-year DOJ and CFTC parallel investigation into potential market manipulation in the commodities market for oats futures. 
• Represented two individuals in an SEC insider trading investigation that resulted in no action being taken by the SEC.
• Represented a national clothing retailer in an OFAC investigation into alleged violations of U.S. sanctions laws that resulted in no action being taken by OFAC. 

Civil Litigation

False Claims Act

• Represented a Florida-based textile manufacturer in a False Claims Act investigation that resulted in DOJ declining to intervene and filing a motion to dismiss that resulted in dismissal of Relator’s qui tam action.
• Represented a mid-sized skilled nursing facility in a False Claims Act investigation involving alleged health care fraud that resulted in the DOJ terminating the investigation.
• Represented the principals of investment firm who acted as key witnesses in large scale False Claims Act litigation involving alleged fraud related to FCC spectrum auction. 

General

• Representing an executive of a generic pharmaceutical company in wide-sweeping multidistrict litigation involving alleged price fixing of generic drugs in violation of the Sherman Act. 
• Representing an international supplement chain in a RICO class action brought by minority shareholders alleging fraudulent bankruptcy dissolution.

Publications