Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is pleased to announce that a six-attorney team has joined the firm’s Governmental Practice. The team includes partners Gene Besen, Elisha Kobre and Scarlett Singleton Nokes, special counsel Stephen Moulton and associates Rebecca James and Courtlyn Ward. The group brings a strong white collar defense focus, including to healthcare industry matters, enhancing the firm’s ability to address complex legal challenges across the region and beyond. The group joins from Bradley Arant Boult Cummings in Dallas.
“As we continue to grow in Dallas, Gene, Elisha, Scarlett, Rebecca, Stephen and Courtlyn further expand the breadth of our services to our clients in Dallas-Fort Worth and nationally,” said Luca Salvi, chair of Sheppard Mullin. “Their expertise strengthens our nationally recognized white collar practice, enabling us to deliver innovative and effective solutions to clients facing high-stakes investigations and complex civil litigation. We are excited to have them on board and look forward to leveraging their expertise and investigative skills with our clients.”
Besen most recently served as Bradley’s Dallas office managing partner and advises corporations and individuals in navigating investigations, civil enforcement actions and criminal proceedings brought by the Department of Justice, U.S. Congress and state attorneys general around the country. He represents clients in the healthcare industry, among others, who require proactive strategies to mitigate and avoid scrutiny related to allegations impropriety. Besen has extensive experience representing executives, entrepreneurs and high-net worth individuals in criminal prosecutions around the country. Often retained in the midst of a crisis and at the outset of public investigations, he regularly advises clients on crisis communications and public relations strategies that must accompany high-profile public investigations and/or indictments. Besen received his B.A. from Brandeis University and his J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.
Kobre is a former federal prosecutor who represents corporations, executives and financial institutions in criminal investigations, regulatory proceedings and complex civil litigation. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York for over a decade, Kobre tried numerous federal jury trials and briefed and argued numerous appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals. His experience extends to a range of white collar crimes, including securities fraud, insider trading, accounting fraud, corporate embezzlement and healthcare fraud. He regularly represents clients in the criminal and complex civil matters in the federal courts, as well as before the SEC, CFTC, FINRA and the FTC. Kobre received his B.A., summa cum laude, from Queens College, City University of New York, his J.D. from Yale Law School and his Ph.D. in mathematics from New York University.
Nokes most recently served as practice group leader of Bradley’s Government Enforcement team. She has extensive experience in a wide range of civil and criminal matters, including healthcare fraud and white collar crime. She also has experience in Title IX and sexual misconduct investigations. As a former federal prosecutor, she handled more than 200 cases, including fraud, money laundering, tax offenses, and RICO conspiracies, and represented the government in more than 20 trials. Nokes’ expertise spans internal investigations, regulatory compliance and government enforcement actions. Her specialized knowledge in all aspects of healthcare fraud and her background as a criminal healthcare fraud coordinator allow her to skillfully represent clients in the healthcare sector and beyond. Nokes received her B.A., summa cum laude, from Birmingham-Southern College and her J.D. from Harvard Law School.
“We’ve had the privilege of knowing Gene, Elisha and Scarlett throughout the years,” said Jonathan Aronie, co-leader of the firm’s Governmental Practice. “This group of highly regarded white collar attorneys, with deep healthcare experience, is an invaluable addition to our practice. Combined with Elisha, Scarlett and Stephen’s experience as former federal prosecutors, they bring immediate value to our clients, particularly in navigating complex government investigations.”
Commenting on joining the firm, Besen, Kobre and Nokes said, “We are thrilled to join Sheppard Mullin’s nationally recognized white collar and healthcare groups. The firm’s commitment to innovation, collaboration and delivering exceptional results aligns with our approach to serving clients. We look forward to working with the talented lawyers in Dallas and around the firm to help clients navigate their most complex legal challenges.”
Moulton is a former federal prosecutor who guides clients, which include financial institutions, government contractors, healthcare systems, physicians, executives and financial advisors through complex and high-stakes investigations. He has represented clients facing federal and civil enforcement proceedings and has conducted internal investigations aimed at identifying and mitigating issues. He received his B.A. from Biola University and his J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law.
James works with clients on a range of government and internal investigations, regulatory inquiries, white collar criminal defense matters, compliance issues, civil litigation and enforcement actions. She received her B.A., summa cum laude and B.B.A., summa cum laude, from Southern Methodist University, and her J.D., cum laude, from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.
Ward assists clients with various types of investigations, including False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, bank fraud and securities fraud. She also has litigated complex civil cases in both state and federal courts. She received her B.A., magna cum laude, from Baylor University and her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.
About Sheppard Mullin’s Governmental Practice
Sheppard Mullin's Governmental Practice, with more than 100 lawyers in the U.S., Europe and Asia, provides the full range of legal services to clients that interface with the government, whether in the contractual, regulatory or enforcement context. For decades, we have helped organizations navigate complex government regulations and contract terms, guided them through audits, investigations and enforcement actions, and defended them in the event of litigation. Our services cover antitrust, government contracts, global trade, healthcare and life sciences regulatory, and white collar defense.
About Sheppard Mullin’s Healthcare Team
Sheppard Mullin’s 230-attorney national Healthcare industry team has been named a Health Care Practice Group of the Year by Law360 four times in seven years. Working in all sectors of healthcare with industry-leading and growing companies, disruptive start-up clients and healthcare-focused investors, Sheppard Mullin is a go-to firm for innovative transactions and joint ventures, regulatory solutions, population health management, global risk and value-based contracting, technology transactions and privacy matters. The team offers significant experience in cybersecurity, tax, non-profit, employment and labor, real estate, artificial intelligence, antitrust, litigation and finance.