Erik L. Kitchen

Partner

• ekitchen@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Washington Office

1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20036
TEL: 202.429.8132
FAX: 202.429.3902

Erik Kitchen is a partner in the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he is a member of the Litigation and Business Solutions Departments. He has a broad range of experience defending clients in government investigations and proceedings, and conducting internal investigations on behalf of clients.  He also counsels clients with respect to compliance issues, with a focus on compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

White-Collar Criminal Defense
Mr. Kitchen has extensive experience representing senior corporate management, senior public officials, and other individuals and entities in government investigations and proceedings in a variety of contexts, including SEC and NASD enforcement proceedings and DOJ and US Attorney’s Office investigations and prosecutions.  In recent years, Mr. Kitchen has represented clients in proceedings involving alleged corporate accounting and securities fraud, alleged violations of SEC and NASD rules governing the investment banking and mutual fund industries, and alleged bribery of government officials.

Internal Investigations
Mr. Kitchen has conducted internal investigations for corporations on a wide range of issues, including alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, alleged corporate fraud, compliance with contract obligations, and other alleged improper conduct by corporate officers.

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Mr. Kitchen assists clients in developing and implementing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance programs, and counsels clients on the applicability of the FCPA to proposed corporate transactions and business relationships.  Mr. Kitchen also conducts internal corporate investigations regarding FCPA issues, and represents clients in government investigations of alleged FCPA violations.  Mr. Kitchen has counseled clients on FCPA issues arising in a variety of industries and with respect to operations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

Noteworthy

• Government Service: Office of Legal Policy, US Department of Justice, 1983-84  

Select News & Events

• Steptoe FCPA Alert Published by Competition Law360
• White-Collar Team Wins Acquittal for AOL Client
• Lucinda Low Co-Chairs, Moderates, Speaks; Erik Kitchen Moderates Panel at PLI FCPA: Coping with Heightened Enforcement Risks, February 21, 2007
• Erik Kitchen Speaks on Panel on FCPA Internal Investigations, September 19, 2006

Publications

• International Law Advisory - New Department of Justice FCPA Opinion Procedure Release Establishes a Limited Safe Harbor Against Successor Liability Based on Significant Undertakings by An Acquirer Regarding Its Post-Closing Conduct
  July 1, 2008
• International Law Advisory - Willbros Group Agrees to Pay $32.3 Million To Resolve DoJ and SEC FCPA Enforcement Actions
  May 21, 2008
• International Law Advisory - Recent Oil-for-Food Program Cases Show the Government's Willingness to Pursue "Improper" Payments Outside the FCPA's Antibribery Provisions, Call Attention to Foreign Enforcement
  March 17, 2008
• International Law Advisory - Sight-Seeing Tiger, Hidden Dragon - Lucent Fined for Financing Sight-Seeing Trips for Chinese Officials
  February 1, 2008
• International Law Advisory - Fifth Circuit Clarifies the Intent Requirements for a Criminal FCPA Conviction
  November 9, 2007
• International Law Advisory - The Kozeny Saga Continues
  October 27, 2007
• International Law Advisory - Baker Hughes Agrees to Pay Record $44.1 Million To Resolve DoJ and SEC FCPA Enforcement Actions
  May 3, 2007
• International Law Advisory - Enforcement Agencies Invoke the FCPA in Iraq and a Major Securities Fraud Settlement in the Tyco Case; Voluntary Disclosures Continue
  June 30, 2006

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