Shawn M. Wright is a litigator who concentrates her practice in the area of white collar criminal defense, with a specific focus on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and international anti-corruption laws; criminal antitrust; public corruption; congressional investigations; government contracts matters including False Claims Act litigation; and complex civil litigation matters. She represents corporations, boards of directors, and corporate executives in a wide range of internal and government investigations, audits and risk assessments, parallel proceedings, and complex commercial litigation. She regularly appears before enforcement agencies and bodies such as the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”), Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and other regulatory authorities.
Shawn’s practice includes internal compliance program development for the FCPA, including establishing workplace compliance policies and procedures, due diligence in mergers and acquisitions, as well as post acquisition integration, procedures and protocols for third-party relationships, risk assessments, gap analysis and audits of ABAC compliance programs, and other transactions. She also conducts internal investigations and provides counsel on violations of the Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”).
Additionally, she represents companies and nonprofit organizations and their boards of directors in various matters involving corporate governance, compliance, and internal controls issues. She serves as outside counsel for several nonprofit organizations. As a litigator, Shawn has represented individuals and corporations in state and federal courts throughout the country on a variety of criminal and civil matters.
Outside the Firm
Shawn is Chair of the Board of Directors for My Sister’s Place, one of the oldest domestic violence shelters in the District of Columbia, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She is a tutor and mentor to diverse women law students and law firm associates, and an enthusiastic football and basketball fan, both professional and collegiate.
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- U.S. District Court - District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court - Maryland
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Memberships
- American Bar Association
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- Maryland Bar Association
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- National Bar Association
- National Association of Corporate Directors
Education
- Howard University, BA, cum laude
- Santa Clara University School of Law, JD
Professional Activities
Shawn is currently an independent director for the National Capital Bank of Washington, the oldest community bank in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. She serves on both the Audit and Corporate Governance Committees. She is also on the Board of Directors of D.C. Legal Aid Society, serving on the Nominating Committee. Shawn previously served as chair for the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights , and currently serves as a Commissioner for the Maryland State Racing Commission. Additionally, Shawn serves on the Board of Directors of The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. and is a member of the finance committee. She maintains active membership in various bar associations, currently serving as the Vice Chair of the National Bar Association Division – Minority Partners in Majority Firms, Secretary of the D.C. Chapter of the Women White Collar Defense Association, the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, and the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals. She is also a member of the William Bryant Inn of Court.
Lillian is a U.S. Associate in Linklaters' Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations practice. Lillian has experience in a variety of areas including False Claims Act qui tam actions, internal investigations, class action lawsuits, sports law, government enforcement actions, and white-collar defense.
Her commitment to legal excellence is matched by a profound dedication to pro bono work, primarily centered on the defense of constitutional rights. Lillian played an instrumental role on a Linklaters' team that helped draft an amicus brief for the Supreme Court of the United States, representing the National Women's Law Center and other notable civil rights organizations, advocating for college admissions policies that promote diversity.
Lillian is an alumna of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she dual-majored in Psychology and Legal Studies, demonstrating her diverse interests and comprehensive approach to the field of law. At UW-Madison, Lillian served as president of the undergraduate Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. chapter, a community-conscious, action-oriented organization. Her legal education was furthered at the University of Virginia School of Law, where she obtained her juris doctor degree. There, Lillian served as president of the Black Law Students Association and received the National Chapter of the Year Award during her tenure.
Lillian is admitted to practice in both Washington, D.C. and New York.
Latrice Burks-Palmerio, also known by her powerful online presence as #blkgrlmgclwyr, is an impact litigator specializing in employment law for marginalized communities and representing survivors of sex crimes. Latrice combines her legal acumen with a deep commitment to justice. She has also contributed to the public discourse through self-published articles that analyze and critique the evolving political landscape of America. Latrice’s work examines how the structures of American fascism and empire-building manifest in law, policy, and social movements, making her a critical voice in understanding the political currents shaping the nation today. Latrice is an expert in American politics with a deep focus on the intersection of American fascism and the decline of empire. Latrice’s academic journey began with an International Baccalaureate class on totalitarian regimes, which laid the foundation for her nuanced understanding of authoritarianism. She graduated with honors in Political Science from the College of Wooster, where her thesis examined the dynamics of Black social movements in the U.S. Further refining her expertise, Latrice earned her law degree from USC Gould School of Law, gaining invaluable insights into U.S. Constitutional law. Latrice was a litigator at an Am Law 100 firm where she gained experience in intellectual property, product liability, and business litigation. As a third-year associate, she obtained a dismissal of defamation and contractual interference claims filed against a prominent financial company. For this victory, Latrice was named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2023 Leaders of Influence – Minority Attorneys list. She received invaluable training as a judicial law clerk to senior U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson for the District of Connecticut. While attending the USC Gould School of Law, she was a judicial extern for the Hon. Andre Birotte, Jr. of the U.S.D.C. Central District of California. She also served as an extern for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. She was the founding member and former co-president of USC Womxn of Color Collective (WOCC)1, an organization dedicated to discussing and tackling the issues specific to women of color in the legal field. Also while in law school, she served as a research assistant and teaching apprentice for renowned constitutional law scholar Professor Samuel Erman. Latrice is passionate about mentorship and has served as a mentor to prospective and current law school students and to younger associates at her previous firm. A true champion for DEI, she also serves as the first African American woman on USC’s Clerkship Committee Board of Directors. Outside the office, Latrice enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Michael, and her Persian cat Diva Kitty. [1] The “x” in Womxn of Color is used intentionally to embrace and include people who identify as women and are not cis women. Education University of Southern California Gould School of Law, JD, 2020 The College of Wooster, BA, cum laude , with Honors, 2016 Higher Education Honors and Achievements The Order of Arête Edward and Eleanor Shattuck Award Womxn of Color Collective, Founding Member & Co-President First Generation Professionals Teaching Apprentice Practices Commercial Litigation White Collar Defense & Government Investigations Complex Civil Litigation Intellectual Property Litigation Employment Litigation Admissions California U.S. District Court for the Central District of California U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California Insights Author, Bending The Arc Towards Justice (Ketanji Brown Jackson), Daily Journal, April 8, 2022 Author, New Complaint – Oregon JV LLC v. Advanced Investment et al., Ponzi Perspectives, March 31, 2022 Affiliations Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Trustee, The College of Wooster, 2021-2024 Young Lawyers Committee Co-Chair, Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles County (BWL), 2021-2022 Scholarship Committee Member, John B. Langston Bar Association, 2020-2021 Founding member and former co-President, USC Womxn of Color Collective (WOCC), 2018-2019 Recognition Named to "2023 Leaders of Influence – Minority Attorneys" list, Los Angeles Business Journal Named to "Top 40 Under 40: California," The National Black Lawyers, 2022 Recipient, Edward and Eleanor Shattuck Award, USC Gould School of Law, 2020 Recipient, Judge Barry Russell Federal Practice Award, Federal Bar Association of Los Angeles, 2020 Order of Arête, University of Southern California (USC), 2020 Recipient, Legal Opportunity Scholarship, American Bar Association (ABA), 2017
Roscoe represents corporate and individual clients at virtually every stage of the criminal defense process, handling parallel civil and administrative litigation, grand jury subpoenas, multi-jurisdictional matters, congressional inquiries, and cases from onset through settlement, trial and appeal. He knows, from his experience as a federal prosecutor, the serious consequences that can result from criminal and regulatory investigations, and works diligently to mitigate and resolve claims at every phase of development.
Roscoe vigorously defends clients in matters involving bet-the-company sanctions and where personal freedom is on the line. A veteran advocate and trusted adviser, Roscoe brings seasoned experience to companies facing multiple investigations, whether criminal, regulatory, congressional, internal, or by other parties or commissions. His guidance can direct productive decision-making and facilitate resolution. Roscoe can provide counsel on suspension or debarment actions following indictment or conviction and can guide clients through international investigations.
When businesses and executives need help, Roscoe is personally committed to helping clients obtain the desired result either before a charge is brought or at trial. Civil and polite, yet aggressive, formidable and effective, Roscoe knows how to negotiate with government agencies and advocate both in and out of the courtroom. His extensive experience at trial on both sides of the aisle when it comes to white collar crime is enhanced by his honed people skills. A direct communicator able to grasp the big picture, Roscoe remains dedicated to assessing his client’s position accurately in order to mount the right defense.
Roscoe served as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia from 2001-2004, by appointment of President George W. Bush. During his appointment, he served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. Roscoe was appointed as U.S. Attorney from a tenured, full professorship at the University of Kansas School of Law, where he taught from 1994 to 2001. He has twice served as associate independent counsel, and was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia and in the Eastern District of Virginia in both Richmond and Alexandria.
As a federal prosecutor, Roscoe handled criminal cases involving narcotics trafficking, homicides, fraud and public corruption, as well as dozens of trials and numerous grand jury investigations. He has also argued appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and served as the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force coordinator while in Richmond and chief of the task force that prosecuted cases arising from a local prison.
As charismatic speaker and author, Roscoe frequently speaks nationally at white collar crime seminars and institutes and has written articles on criminal law and procedure..
Karin Portlock is a Partner in the New York office of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher and a member of the White Collar Defense and Investigations, Litigation, Labor and Employment, and Crisis Management Practice Groups. As a former federal prosecutor, Ms. Portlock has a broad-based government enforcement and investigations practice, ranging from government and internal corporate investigations to criminal defense and regulatory enforcement litigation through trial.
Drawing on her experience, Ms. Portlock represents individuals and companies under criminal investigation and indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice as well as in civil government probes by federal regulators and state Attorneys General and in civil enforcement actions and major litigation arising from regulatory inquiries. Ms. Portlock also regularly provides strategic counseling to corporate clients in connection with a broad range of law enforcement requests.
Ms. Portlock is an experienced trial lawyer and courtroom advocate, having served as lead counsel in numerous federal jury trials in the course of her career. Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Ms. Portlock was as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York from 2015 to 2020. In that role, she tried multiple cases to verdict and prosecuted a broad range of federal criminal violations, including fraud, racketeering, and violent crimes, leading large-scale investigations of murder, firearms, and sex trafficking offenses as well as crimes involving minors and other vulnerable victims. Ms. Portlock worked closely with the FBI and other federal and local law enforcement agencies. She has particular expertise with victims of trauma and represents victims and witnesses at all stages of investigation and prosecution, including in cases involving highly sensitive subject matter.
Ms. Portlock leads independent investigations of all kinds, particularly in the employment context. She has conducted numerous confidential investigations into #MeToo, discrimination, harassment, and related allegations of misconduct, including executive misconduct, for companies in a variety of industries, including the media, technology, financial services, and entertainment sectors. Ms. Portlock often conducts investigations on behalf of audit committees and special committees of corporate boards into workplace-related issues.
With her prosecutorial background, courtroom experience, and investigative expertise, Ms. Portlock is equally comfortable leading complex and diverse investigations as she is advocating on behalf of her clients before law enforcement authorities and in all manner of court proceedings.
Ms. Portlock has a robust pro bono practice. As lead trial counsel, Ms. Portlock recently secured a unanimous federal jury verdict in the Central District of California in a historic civil rights case for the firm’s pro bono client, Deon Jones, who was shot in the face with a rubber bullet by a Los Angeles Police Department officer while peacefully protesting during the May 2020 mass demonstrations in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. The result represents the first jury verdict for a protester victimized by the LAPD in connection with the 2020 mass demonstrations and the first time there has been a finding of wrongdoing by an LAPD officer in connection with those demonstrations. Following the 7-day trial, the jury awarded $375,000 to Mr. Jones, including $125,000 in punitive damages, finding that the officer acted maliciously and in reckless disregard of Mr. Jones’s rights in using unconstitutional and excessive force against him. Ms. Portlock also currently leads a pro bono team representing an incarcerated domestic violence survivor seeking resentencing under New York’s Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act.
Ms. Portlock received her undergraduate degree from Stanford University and is a graduate of Columbia Law School where she was the Editor-in-Chief of the Columbia Law Review —the first Black student to hold that position. She was also a Harlan Fiske Stone scholar and Chair of the Civil Rights Law Society. Following law school, Ms. Portlock clerked for Judges Amalya L. Kearse and Jon O. Newman, both of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She later served as a member of the Second Circuit’s Pro Bono Panel and has argued multiple appeals before that court. Prior to her government service, Ms. Portlock practiced for several years at another major international law firm, where she litigated complex civil cases and appeals before state and federal appellate courts.
Ms. Portlock is an advocate for diversity in the profession and has written on the advantages of diverse investigative teams. She is consistently cognizant of the benefits that diverse legal teams bring to her clients and is committed to developing diverse talent and mentoring junior lawyers of color. Ms. Portlock is an Alumni Mentor to the Columbia Black Law Students Association, serves as a Board Member to the Stanford National Black Alumni Association, and was selected as a member of the 2022 fellowship class for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. Ms. Portlock was recently named to the National Black Lawyers’ Top 100 as a Top 100 African American attorney in New York.
Ms. Portlock serves on the Board of Directors for the Columbia Law Review Association and was previously a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia Law School where she taught legal writing. She is a member of the New York Chapter of the Women’s White Collar Defense Association and serves on the association’s Diversity Committee.
Ms. Portlock is admitted to practice in the State of New York and before the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.