Tara McGrath is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Investigations + White Collar Defense practice group.

Tara focuses her practice on guiding clients through complex investigations, enforcement actions, and critical risk moments, informed by her extensive experience in federal litigation and senior government leadership. She advises companies and individuals on white collar, financial, and national security-related matters, with particular strength in navigating parallel proceedings, responding to government scrutiny, and addressing evolving cyber and regulatory challenges.

Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Tara served as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, where she oversaw the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) enforcement efforts across a broad range of criminal and civil matters. Her tenure included leadership of significant cases involving corruption, cybercrime, environmental enforcement, organized crime, and fraud, as well as participation in DOJ-wide initiatives focused on national security and emerging threats. In her roles, Tara has personally led numerous federal investigations and argued multiple times before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Before her time at DOJ, she spent more than a decade as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and trial attorney in San Diego and Washington, D.C., handling investigations and trials across a wide spectrum of federal offenses.

Tara has been recognized for her leadership and public service with multiple awards from DOJ and the U.S. Department of Defense for excellence in enforcement, litigation, and national security matters. Tara’s demonstrated lifelong commitment to public service also includes active duty in the U.S. Marines and leadership roles across community organizations, business associations, and educational institutions.

Tara earned her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and received her B.A., cum laude, in political science from Boston College.