This is a chapter appreciation event! A private room has been reserved. Food will be provided by the chapter, and there will be a cash bar. We also will have giveaways for attendees. Southwest Ohio ACFE Chapter members can register for free. Guests and non-members are welcome (fee $15)!
Timing: We will have networking from 5-5:45. The presenters will speak from 5:45-6:45, and then networking will resume until 7:30.
Topic:DOJ & State Attorneys General – Shifting Priorities and the Faded Distinction Between Regulatory and Civil and Criminal Matters and Cases
Speakers: Ralph Kohnen and Jeanne Cors - Taft - Compliance, Investigations, and White Collar Defense practice
Description:
In this presentation, the speakers will share their observations on trends as well as relevant case examples to help attendees understand the current priorities of attorneys general.
CPE: 1 hour
CPE credits are based on a 50-minute hour. CPE is offered through the ACFE as well as the Accountancy Board of Ohio (sponsor number CPE.00467). Attendees must sign in and attend 50 minutes of the meeting to validate attendance.
Learning Objectives: Promotion of improved fraud detection and deterrence and through expansion of knowledge in relation to the session's topic.
Prerequisites: None
Speaker Bios:
Ralph Kohnen is chair of the firm’s Compliance, Investigations, and White Collar Defense practice. He has lived a life filled with crime — prosecuting and defending criminal matters on behalf of the government and clients, that is.
Ralph spent much of his career in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio. After four years of private practice, he worked as a federal prosecutor and spent the next 11 years as a front-line trial attorney in criminal cases. In 2001, he became deputy criminal chief in charge of the criminal side of the United States Attorney’s Cincinnati office.
Ralph joined Taft in 2007 and has devoted his time to advocating on behalf of businesses, executives, public officials, and other individuals involved in prosecutions and investigations. He is adept at navigating all phases of criminal matters, from investigations to trials and appeals, and the related regulatory proceedings. Ralph is skilled at internal investigations and also routinely assists clients with reviews and audits, along with corporate compliance programs.
Due to his experience as a former prosecutor, Ralph has a unique ability to understand how a criminal investigation or prosecution can impact an individual or a business, and he is always looking for ways to advance his clients’ goals. He thrives on being his clients’ legal and strategic advisor before, during, and after an investigation or prosecution.
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Jeanne Cors is a partner in Taft’s Compliance, Investigations, and White Collar Defense practice. Drawing on nearly 25 years of experience, she represents companies and individuals in all stages of white collar criminal defense, including internal and government investigations, compliance and risk assessment counseling, trials and appeals, and parallel proceedings. While she is a trial-proven advocate, Jeanne’s first priority is resolving these high-stakes matters behind the scenes, preventing indictment and damaging publicity.
Jeanne has particular experience in:
- Asset recovery, including the recovery of currency seized by the Department of Homeland Security, Drug Enforcement Administration, and other law enforcement agencies.
- Alleged economic espionage and theft of trade secrets, including the representation of Chinese nationals and U.S. citizens of Chinese origin investigated for violations of the Economic Espionage Act or in connection with federal grant programs.
- Regulatory matters involving controlled substances and List 1 Chemicals.
- Health care fraud, including investigations and prosecutions.
- Visa and other immigration services fraud.
- Government enforcement inquiries and investigations before the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and other federal and state agencies.
As a seasoned first-chair trial lawyer, Jeanne understands the inner workings of government cases. This insight benefits all aspects of her practice, whether litigating on behalf of a multinational corporation, helping a privately owned company navigate a complex government investigation, or developing and implementing a compliance program with executives to proactively avoid such exposure. Jeanne understands the wide-ranging impact of white collar cases on clients’ business operations, employees, and families, and she provides sound counsel on these sensitive matters.
In addition to her white collar practice, Jeanne maintains an active antitrust practice. She routinely counsels corporate clients on all aspects of antitrust law, such as anti-bribery/anti-corruption law, including mergers and acquisitions, competitor collaborations, pricing, and dealer/distributor issues.
