Reginald J. Brown is a partner in the firm's Litigation/Controversy and Regulatory and Government Affairs Departments, and is vice-chair of the firm’s Public Policy and Strategy Practice Group. Mr. Brown joined the firm in 1997, and served as special assistant to the President and associate White House Counsel from 2003 to 2005.
Practice
Mr. Brown's practice focuses on providing strategic counsel, investigation-related expertise and crisis management assistance to a broad range of companies and senior executives confronting challenges and opportunities at the intersection of government, law, media and public policy. He has assisted companies with more than 60 significant congressional inquiries within the last four years and leads teams of lawyers managing some of the most challenging Justice Department and State Attorneys General investigations. Mr. Brown has also served as lead CFIUS counsel for many of the most complex transactions post-Dubai Ports, including energy deals, state-owned transactions involving Asian entities and a merger transaction for the New York Stock Exchange. A sampling of his representative matters includes:
Investigations
- Counsel for numerous institutions and senior executives in connection with Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission inquiries.
- Counsel for several financial institutions in connection with congressional, State AG, or federal mortgage foreclosure crisis inquiries.
- Counsel for a former member of the Hewlett-Packard Board of Directors in connection with the HP "pretexting" scandal, including corporate, congressional, SEC and DOJ inquiries.
- Counsel for numerous entities in connection with stimulus program inquiries by the House Energy and Commerce and House Oversight and Government Reform Committees.
- Counsel for a global financial institution in a DOJ, IRS and PSI inquiry regarding offshore banking by US taxpayers.
- Counsel for former Congressman Jim Kolbe in connection with a House Ethics Committee Investigation and DOJ Preliminary Inquiry; both matters closed with no finding of wrongdoing.
- Counsel for a CEO in connection with House Ethics Committee investigation of Congressman Charles Rangel.
- Counsel for a global energy company in connection with a Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) inquiry regarding trading activities.
- Counsel for a global financial institution in connection with a TARP Special Inspector General inquiry.
- Counsel for a medical device company in connection with a House Energy and Commerce Committee inquiry regarding dual use technology and national security issues.
- Counsel for an energy company in connection with a House Energy and Commerce Committee inquiry regarding fracturing.
- Counsel for a global financial services company in connection with House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and other inquiries regarding a TARP-assisted merger.
- Counsel for automotive dealers and community banks in connection with Department of Justice Civil Rights Division investigations.
- Counsel for a financial institution in connection with DOJ Civil Rights Division and HUD inquiries.
- Counsel for a former defense industry CEO in connection with a Department of Justice public corruption investigation.
- Counsel for a media company in connection with a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee inquiry regarding possible false statements by a CEO.
- Counsel for a CEO in connection with a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee inquiry regarding hedge funds and the financial markets.
- Counsel for a financial institution in connection with a PSI investigation regarding dividend tax payments.
- Counsel for a financial institution in connection with an offshore tax shelter abuse investigation by the PSI and other government entities.
- Counsel for an internet company in connection with a House Judiciary Committee hearing regarding privacy issues.
- Counsel for a financial institution in connection with a AML related PSI inquiry.
- Counsel for a transportation and shipping company in connection with a House Judiciary Committee inquiry regarding corporate downsizing.
- Counsel for a financial institution in connection with a PSI inquiry regarding the tax treatment of complex financial instruments.
- Counsel for a CEO in connection with a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee investigation and hearing regarding executive compensation.
- Counsel for a financial institution in connection with an Office of Congressional Ethics inquiry.
- Counsel for several senior US government officials in connection with congressional and executive branch inquiries.
- Counsel for a senior foreign official in connection with US inquiries relating to the United Nations "Oil for Food" investigation.
- Counsel for a defense contractor in connection with a congressional ethics probe.
- Counsel for a large student loan company in connection with multistate and federal investigations into lending practices.
- Counsel for a financial institution in connection with Ethics Committee investigation of Congresswoman Maxine Waters.
- Additional significant recent experience representing clients before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, House Energy and Commerce Committee, House Education and Labor Committee, House Armed Services Committee, House Financial Services Committee, House International Relations Committee, Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, Senate Ethics Committee, Senate Banking Committee, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Department of Justice Public Integrity Section and the State Attorneys General for Florida, New York, Iowa, Texas and Virginia.
Regulatory Affairs
- Represented a large US energy company in connection with two transactions involving a major Chinese-owned energy company.
- Represented Lucent Technologies with respect to the CFIUS review of its merger with Alcatel, and in connection with a related Congressional inquiry.
- Represented a large Asian sovereign wealth fund in connection with CFIUS analysis of a major energy transaction.
- Represented a Deutsche Bank subsidiary with respect to the CFIUS review of its acquisition of Maher Terminals, Port of New Jersey and New York.
- Represented the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the world's largest bank, in connection with its successful application for Federal Reserve Board approval of expanded US branch operations.
Pro Bono
- Pro Bono counsel for Charles Winters in successful application for posthumous presidential pardon.
- Pro Bono counsel for American aid worker Jim Allen in successful effort to secure release from detention in Haiti.
- Pro Bono counsel for former Peace Corps volunteers who were victims of sexual assault in connection with successful legislative effort.
Background
Most recently, Mr. Brown served in the White House Counsel's office, where he was the White House's principal legal liaison to the Departments of Treasury and Housing and Urban Development, as well as many independent financial services agencies. In this role, he provided counsel on a wide variety of issues. Mr. Brown also served as a counselor for the White House Office of Political Affairs, Presidential Personnel Office and the National Economic Council.
Prior to his government service, Mr. Brown served as assistant to the CEO and vice president of corporate strategy at Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, and as the deputy general counsel to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Mr. Brown also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Federated States of Micronesia early in his professional career. While working as an associate at WilmerHale in the 1990s, Mr. Brown served as co-counsel to victims of the Oklahoma City Bombing in connection with sentencing proceedings for Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier.
Professional Activities
Mr. Brown was appointed by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell to serve as a member of the Board of Visitors for George Mason University and is also a member of the Board of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, chaired by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Mr. Brown is also a member of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Advisory Committee on Procedures. Mr. Brown is also an active member of The Federalist Society and The American Council on Germany. In 2011, Mr. Brown co-chaired Harvard Law School’s Celebration of Black Alumni reunion.
Mr. Brown has appeared on C-Span's "America and the Courts" program to discuss the Supreme Court nomination process and is also a frequent commentator regarding other legal and policy issues in Washington, DC. He was recently quoted in The American Lawyer article, "Painful Scrutiny" by Seth Hettena, in which Mr. Brown was interviewed regarding PSI investigations into the financial industry.
