Michael J. Wynne

Michael J. Wynne focuses his practice on U.S. federal criminal investigations and trials, specializing in international money laundering, seizure and forfeiture of real property and other assets of foreign nationals in the U.S., and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations. He also has had highly-successful experience with multi-lateral discovery (MLAT, letters rogatory, what is now the CLOUD Act); extradition, import and export restriction, sanctions, RICO, OFAC, ITAR, and international narcotics trafficking proceedings. He has represented corporations, individuals, and governments in sensitive matters in the U.S., Latin America, and the Middle East, including fraud and embezzlement and regularly engages in what have turned out to be favorable negotiations and presentations of the result of internal investigations to the U.S. Attorney, the FBI, Homeland Security, DEA, IRS, FAA, and other federal agencies and has obtained dismissals, the return of property, and other favorable results in multiple confidential matters.

Experience

• Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, in the Houston, Brownsville, and McAllen Divisions for a total of twelve years, earning multiple awards and distinctions in significant matters, including matters partnering with foreign governments.
• Appointed to work on behalf of the government of France in the Concorde investigation.
• Former partners with the international law firm of McDermott, Will & Emery.
• Lead counsel for the former finance minister of the Mexican state of Coahuila in multiple state and federal criminal and civil international money laundering and asset forfeiture investigations and cases.
• Represented a major chemical company, a major life insurance company, and a bio-technology company in federal proceedings, enabling all of them to avoid criminal charges.
• Represented a former officer of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General in a federal public corruption prosecution.
• Representing several large healthcare systems in federal investigations.
• Successfully represented a party in connection with a computer hacking investigation involving Major League Baseball, leading to no charges.
• Successfully represented an international businessman charged with election fraud in a pending federal criminal case is San Diego, California.
• Successfully represented and international businessmen in multiple federal commercial matters, including settlement of a federal case involving La Cavalia, part of Cirque Du Soleil.
• Successfully representing individuals involved in alleged home health care fraud and corporate practice of medicine disputes.

PROSPECTIVE ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, AND NGO’S IN LATIN AMERICA

• Many matters Michael matters are confidential. He can provide further details relating to his experience as material to any arising issue on an individual basis. Michael and his team have the flexibility to travel overnight to meet with potential clients and their representatives, as well as those who might attest for them, who may not be able to appear, answer charges or defend themselves or their property interests in the United States.
• Far too often, foreign nationals have difficulty navigating U.S. federal criminal statutes, including in particular those relating to pre-indictment, temporary seizure of real estate, aircraft, and accounts at financial institutions. This is where we excel and have had extraordinary results, serving as interlocutor between our clients and various agencies of the United States government.
• There are significant differences in legal processes, terminology, customs, and traditions, between the United States and civil law countries, which means most of Latin America. We regularly get apostilled documents and records from courts and governmental entities all across the United States, including Delaware, for clients in foreign countries who need them for foreign commercial proceedings native for instance to Mexico.
• We have successfully opposed extradition to the United States multiple times.
• We have successfully handled a matter involving sanctions against Iran.
• International discovery. The United States and foreign countries handle civil and criminal written discovery, subpoenas, and depositions through diplomatic channels based on Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties where applicable and otherwise through letters rogatory. We have had substantial experience successfully navigating this terrain with remarkable results.
• Many members of the Firm’s team are fluent in Spanish and have worked in Latin America.
• The Firm works with a network of law firms in Mexico and enjoys a working partnership with Foster Global, one of the most highly-resected immigration firms in the U.S.