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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Wildman Harrold | 225 West Wacker Drive | Chicago, IL 60606Levenfeld Pearlstein | 2 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1300 | Chicago, IL 60602 Complications of Attorney-Client Privilege in Government Investigations Beth L. Fancsali – Wildman Harrold Kurt Stitcher – Levenfeld Pearlstein IQPC Internal & Government Investigations Conference January 16, 2008
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference2 PART 1 Protecting the Attorney -Client Privilege During Investigations
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference3 Setting Up the Investigation to Protect Privilege Authorizing Structuring Staffing
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference4 Role of Outside Counsel Engagement by Board or authorized representative – “Regular” counsel vs. new “independent” counsel Identification of client Document scope, purpose and privileged nature of investigation Determine reporting relationships and format Determine sources of information within company Limit access to investigation materials
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference5 Role of Outside Counsel Document selection and analysis Witness interviews “Upjohn” warnings to employees – Company is client; law firm is not employee’s counsel – Employee must keep interview/investigation confidential – Attorney-Client Privilege belongs to the company – Company may decide to waive Attorney-Client Privilege Legal analysis and reports
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference6 Role of In-House Counsel Legal versus business hat Recent “assault” on GCs as targets Possible roles (each with implications/risks re: privilege): – Witness (legal or business advice on subject issues) – Direct or assist outside counsel – Fact investigator or gatherer for outside counsel – Gate-keeper for facts gathered by non-lawyers – Receive reports/opinions from outside counsel – Communications with Board or special committee – Provide legal or business advice based on investigation results
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference7 Identifying the Client COMPANY BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMITTEE SLC (e.g., Derivative Suits) OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS EMPLOYEES
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference8 Determining Client Status TARGET: Substantial evidence of criminal conduct SUBJECT: “Within scope” of grand jury investigation WITNESS: Everyone else
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference9 Determining Representation SEPARATE REPRESENTATION – Individual is “Target” – Individual is “Subject” JOINT REPRESENTATION – Individuals are “Mere Witnesses” – Individuals’ Interests are Aligned
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference10 Assessing Conflicts Temporality of “Aligned Interests” – Disparity in Punishment Fines for Company Prison for Individual – Detrimental Conduct of Individual Fifth Amendment Rights of Individuals Constitutional Constraints: 6th Am.
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference11 Assessing Conflicts Consequences of Conflicts for Company – Censoring of Disclosures to Government Privilege held jointly with individual Individual declines to waive Hampering of Cooperation Efforts – Disqualification of Counsel
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference12 Assessing Collaboration SEPARATE REPRESENTATION, BUT COMMON INTEREST DOCTRINE JOINT DEFENSE AGREEMENTS
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference13 Common Interest Doctrine Requirements – Common interest among targets – Confidentiality Permits disclosure of: – Attorney-client communications – Work product Precludes disclosure to adverse parties
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference14 Joint Defense Agreements Requirements – Protected communications in course of joint defense effort – Designed to further joint effort – Made and kept in confidence Assumes underlying privileges Covers – Attorney-client communications – Work product
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference15 Joint Defense Agreements Key Benefits – Collaboration/United Front – Reduced cost – Protects against turncoats Key Problems – May hinder cooperation (but parties can exempt internal investigation) – Collateral litigation over turncoats
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference16 Cautionary Tales Cooperation in internal investigation may lead to Club Fed – United States v. Reyes, No. 06-0556, verdict returned (N.D. Cal. Aug. 7, 2007) – Defendant cooperated in investigation – Company waived privilege to avoid indictment – Outside counsel testified against defendant – Incriminatory denials help seal the deal – $90 million mistake ($46M in fees)
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference17 Cautionary Tales Investigation materials may be used to indict individuals for obstruction of justice – Several indictments returned against individuals for lying to company investigators – Considered obstruction of justice if known that there is a government investigation
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference18 Cautionary Tales Sharing investigation results within company may waive privilege – Ryan v. Gifford, 2007 WL 4259557 (Del. Ch. Nov. 30, 2007) – Special committee investigating backdating cannot shield final report – Privilege waived by sharing results with the Board, considered third party with adverse interests
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference19 Cautionary Tales Others may seek to use company investigation for their own legal issues. GenRe Executives Criminal Trial, United States v. Ferguson, et al.; No. 06-CR-137 (D. Conn.) – Trial began January 15, 2008 – Defendants seek outside company counsel witness interview notes/memos re: government trial witnesses – Court has not determined privilege issue yet – Court to review in camera after witness testimony to see if proper impeachment material
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference20 Cautionary Tales Former employees as targets/witnesses may raise waiver risk – Marvell former GC said company investigation was biased – Company claimed privilege in SEC investigation for former GC’s involvement
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference21 PART 2 Waiving The Attorney-Client Privilege In Government Investigations
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference22 KPMG/Stein Opinions United States v. Stein, et al.; 435 F.Supp.2d 330 and 440 F. Supp.2d 315 (S.D.N.Y. 2006) – Gov’t interference with advancement of legal fees to employees – Gov’t attempt to condition fee advancement on privilege waiver – Portions of the Thompson Memorandum on charging decisions = unconstitutional Some indictments thrown out
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference23 SEC Policy “Seaboard Factors” for cooperation credit – Company making available review results is a factor – No explicit mention of privilege waiver as a factor – Footnote: waiver as a means to provide information – ABA has asked SEC to remove footnote – SEC Commissioner Atkins says waiver should not be viewed as a cooperation credit factor (Feb. 2007)
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference24 The McNulty Memorandum DOJ position on charging companies and cooperation credit Sets out standards and process – Whether DOJ will seek waiver of privilege – Whether company receives cooperation credit Retreats on prior DOJ positions on waiver (Thompson and Holder memoranda)
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference25 McNulty Memorandum McNulty instituted a formal procedure for seeking privilege waiver – AUSAs cannot do on their own – Must seek approval up the chain U.S. Attorney must approve, sign request Some requests must go farther up to Deputy AG “Legitimate need” for waiver must exist Must seek least intrusive waiver
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference26 McNulty Memorandum Must phase requests by category – Category I information = factual information – Category II = legal advice, mental impressions Concern by business and others that McNulty still does not give enough protection to privilege
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference27 Congressional Response to McNulty Memorandum The Attorney-Client Protection Act of 2007 House passed H.R. 3013 (Nov. 2007) Senate bill (S. 186) in committee Government cannot: – Demand privilege waiver – Condition charging decision on whether privilege is waived, among other things
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference28 Inadvertent Waiver Seek Agreement with Government Look to Case Law in Jurisdiction – Lenient Jurisdictions – Strict Jurisdictions – Modern Jurisdictions
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference29 Inadvertent Waiver Modern Jurisdictions – Reasonable precautions to avoid disclosure – Timely notice to recipient – Extent of the disclosure – Fairness to privilege holder Cautionary Note on Metadata Proposed F.R.E. 502(b) – S. 2450: 12/11/07 – Protects against inadvertent waiver
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference30 Selective Waiver Case Law: “It’s Not Looking Good” In re Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. Billing Practices Litigation, 293 F.3d 289 (6th Cir. 2002) – Government was adverse – Waiver is not a litigation weapon – Privilege does not derive from contract – Government should not hinder truth-seeking
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© 2008 Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. Internal & Government Investigations Conference31 Selective Waiver Is A New Day Breaking? SEC Request for Relief (5/03) Proposed F.R.E. 502(d) – Permits selective waiver, with court order – Binds federal and state courts – Danger(?): Pressure to waive privilege
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