Ken Wainstein

Ken Wainstein chairs the firm’s Global Investigations & White Collar Defense practice, and is a member of the National Security and Congressional Investigations practices. He represents clients with their most significant criminal and civil enforcement proceedings, corporate internal investigations, and congressional inquiries. His experience spans the full spectrum of white collar matters, including those involving export controls, sanctions, foreign direct investment, and other national security enforcement issues. He has led numerous high-profile independent investigations and sensitive internal reviews for corporate clients and boards, and represents clients facing significant legal and regulatory challenges before the range of state and federal enforcement entities. With deep experience on Capitol Hill as a senior government official and private practitioner, Ken also represents clients involved in congressional investigations and hearings.

Ken has served in both Republican and Democratic administrations, holding numerous senior roles in his 23 years with the federal government, including US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Homeland Security Advisor for President George Bush, and, most recently, Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In addition to his White House service and three Senate-confirmed positions, Ken served as Director of the Executive Office for US Attorneys, and as General Counsel, and then Chief of Staff, of the FBI. He also served for over a dozen years as an Assistant United States Attorney prosecuting and supervising criminal cases in the Southern District of New York and the District of Columbia. Prior to his recent government service at DHS, Ken practiced law as a white collar attorney for more than 13 years.