Freshfields Bolsters White Collar Litigation Practice in Washington with Former Federal Prosecutor Danny Grooms

Global law firm Freshfields announced that it has bolstered its white collar and investigations practice to support U.S. companies facing substantial white collar and regulatory exposure. Washington DC-based Danny Grooms – a veteran federal prosecutor with significant bench and first-chair trial experience – has joined Freshfields as partner.

U.S. Managing Partner Damien Zoubek said, “Danny’s strategic insight, national security experience and first-chair trial skills gained as a former federal prosecutor are extremely complementary to our deep litigation bench. The inside perspective he brings from his prior leadership roles at the DOJ, together with his impressive market profile and network, make Danny a dynamic addition to our wider U.S. and global partnership.”

Major technology companies turn to Danny when confronting high stakes government facing matters and other federal and state regulatory and enforcement actions. Danny will also work alongside former Oregon Attorney General and senior counsel Ellen Rosenblum as part of the firm’s State Attorneys General (State AG) team, which launched last year.

Beth George, head of the firm’s U.S. litigation, arbitration and global investigations practice, added: “Danny is an exceptionally well-regarded lawyer in both government and private practice circles. With his practice sitting at the intersection of data, national security and regulation, he has extensive experience leading large mandates from tech companies facing both state and federal inquiries – a key area of priority as government officials at both levels continue to target the tech industry. He is a formidable addition to our investigations offering and our State AG practice.”

Danny most recently led the 45-attorney Washington DC business litigation group at an international law firm. Before private practice, Danny held several prominent leadership roles at the Department of Justice including Chief of the Criminal Division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and Associate Deputy Attorney General.

Danny added: “I’m thrilled to join Freshfields and integrate my practice into the firm’s collaborative global platform. The team’s strengths across complex U.S. and international disputes, investigations and government-facing litigation align with my experience and the needs of my clients.”

Freshfields’ market-leading U.S. white collar and investigations team is uniquely positioned to advise on any investigation clients may face. Its global network of lawyers has decades of unparalleled experience representing parties in highly sensitive and complex investigations around the world.

Danny’s arrival follows a series of strategic partner additions in Washington DC that have significantly strengthened the firm’s U.S. white collar litigation and investigations practice, including former federal prosecutor and senior Treasury Department official Alessio Evangelista, former State Department Advisor Nema Milaninia and former Securities and Exchange Commission Associate Director Melissa Hodgman.