Demme Doufekias is a trial attorney whose practice focuses on matters involving complex government and internal investigations. As a member of the firm’s Investigations + White-Collar Defense practice, individuals and corporations seek Demme’s counsel through all phases of investigations and litigation, from proactive compliance counseling and due diligence through the simultaneous defense of criminal investigations, administrative proceedings, and civil litigation. She successfully defends clients in civil and criminal matters in federal and state trials.

Demme’s global investigations practice encompasses a number of substantive areas, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anticorruption regimes, anti-money laundering, and criminal antitrust and securities violations. She has represented clients in cross-border investigations, including FCPA investigations and the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) investigations of price-fixing in the auto parts and generic drug industries. She also counsels clients in creating global anti-corruption compliance programs and in due diligence matters related to healthcare and anti-corruption laws.

Demme regularly represents pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies and has extensive experience with healthcare investigations and regulatory matters. She defends companies and executives in federal investigations conducted by DOJ, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Food and Drug Administration. Her experience includes counseling and defending clients in matters related to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; other federal health care laws; and transparency laws such as the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act. When required, Demme has successfully defended her healthcare clients at trial, including, obtaining a complete defense victory on behalf of a former pharmaceutical sales executive charged with violations of the federal Anti-Kickback statute in a two-week jury trial in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (U.S. v. Bruens, et al).

Demme was most recently named to Global Investigations Review’s “Women in Investigations” 2018 survey, which recognizes the top 100 leading female investigations specialists from around the world.

In addition to her investigations and healthcare practices, Demme maintains a robust civil litigation practice. Her experience includes conducting investigations and litigating on behalf of creditors’ committees and other constituents in federal bankruptcy matters and representing clients in state and federal civil trials.

Prior to law school, Demme worked in the White House Counsel’s Office during the Clinton administration, where she worked on various investigations by the Office of Independent Counsel, including Whitewater, campaign finance, presidential impeachment, and the activities of various Cabinet members. She is admitted to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Representative Experience

Criminal Investigations and Matters

• Represents Fortune 500 multinational pharmaceutical company in DOJ and SEC investigations of potential FCPA violations.
• Represented numerous executives of Japanese auto parts manufacturers in connection with DOJ investigation of price-fixing in the auto parts industry.
• Represented Fortune 500 technology company on various FCPA matters in multiple emerging markets.
• Represented software creator in connection with grand jury investigation of WikiLeaks.
• Represented global power company in connection with FERC investigation of gas-trading practices.
• Represented the former chairman and chief executive officer of Kansas public utility in DOJ and IRS investigations, related shareholder litigation and arbitration proceedings, resulting in two criminal trials, with the first ending in a hung jury and the second in a conviction later reversed on appeal and subsequently dismissed.

Health Care Fraud And False Claims Act Matters

• Represents executive of generic drug manufacturer in connection with DOJ price-fixing investigation.
• Represented former compliance director and marketing director of global pharmaceutical company in criminal investigation of marketing and promotion of arthritis pain medication.
• Represented former president of a global medical device company indicted as “responsible corporate officer” in criminal investigation concerning off-label promotion of prosthetic bone cement.
• Represented former senior executive of a Fortune 500 health care and pharmaceutical company during investigation of company’s good manufacturing practices (GMP) and related product recall.
• Represented executive of large regional retina practice in qui tam litigation concerning Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement violations.

Bankruptcy And Other Litigation Matters

• Conducted investigations on behalf of the official committee of unsecured creditors in various bankruptcy matters in the coal industry, including Murray Energy, Westmoreland Coal Company, Patriot Coal Corporation, Peabody Energy, Inc., and Armstrong Energy, Inc.
• Conducted investigation on behalf of the official committee of unsecured creditors for international telecom company Avaya Inc. and its affiliated debtors.
• Conducted investigation, on behalf of Chapter 11 Trustee, into collapse of global financial broker MF Global and brought suit against former officers and directors for breaches of various duties.
• Represented government contractor specializing in technologies for national security and aerospace programs in trade secrets litigation, including at trial in state court litigation and winning a partial defense verdict.
• Obtained defense judgment for a national law firm in a $226 million state legal malpractice suit.