Brigida Benitez

Advising Corporate Boards and Committees

• Counsel to Special Litigation Committee of the board of directors of a public biopharmaceutical company in investigation of financial and government contracts fraud.
• Counsel to Audit Committee of climate investment firm in investigation of short-seller allegations of improper accounting practices.
• Advised board of directors of public financial services company in connection with termination of Chief Executive Officer.
• Counsel to board of directors of healthcare company in internal investigation of allegations of misconduct against Chief Executive Officer.

Internal Investigations

• Conducted investigation for a multinational mining company of alleged FCPA violations and commercial fraud in South America.
• Conducted investigation for a multinational security company regarding alleged bribery by a local partner in the Middle East and South Asia.
• Represented food services company in multiple ethics and workplace conduct investigations.
• Represented global aviation services company in investigation of whistleblower allegations of security and safety issues and compliance with TSA regulations.
• Conducted investigation for a Mexican subsidiary of multinational financial institution regarding FCPA and related fraud issues.
• Conducted investigation for an international financial institution regarding employee misconduct and ethical issues.

Sanctions Proceedings Before World Bank or International Financial Institutions

• Represented an international development firm in a sanctions proceeding initiated by the World Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency, which investigated and charged the firm with corruption in a World Bank-funded project. The Sanctions and Debarment Officer recommended a six-year public debarment. Litigated the charges and successfully argued the case before the World Bank Sanctions Board, which dismissed case and terminated sanctions proceedings.
• Represented a Japanese engineering company in a World Bank investigation and sanctions proceeding involving allegations of fraud in projects in Asia and Latin America. Successfully argued the case before the World Bank Sanctions Board, resulting in a conditional non-debarment that allowed the company to remain eligible for World Bank contracts.
• Represented a Latin American audit firm in an enforcement and debarment proceeding involving allegations of fraud before World Bank Sanctions Board.
• Represented a former CEO of US company in an enforcement and debarment proceeding involving allegations of corruption and fraud before IDB Sanctions Committee.
• Represented a Spanish engineering company in an enforcement and debarment proceeding involving allegations of fraud and obstruction before the World Bank Sanctions Board.
• Represented a Chinese construction company in a sanctions proceeding initiated by the Asian Development Bank and successfully negotiated a Resolution Agreement with the Office of Anti-Corruption and Integrity.

High-Profile Litigation

• Represented ThinkFoodGroup, co-founded by renowned chef José Andrés, in breach of contract litigation involving restaurant space at a hotel in The Old Post Office building in Washington, DC. Case resolved through settlement.
• Represented former FBI Deputy Director in a lawsuit alleging constitutional violations and violations of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Case resolved successfully on motion to dismiss and affirmed on appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.
• Represented senior officials of the Internal Revenue Service in four federal district court cases alleging constitutional violations in the processing of their applications for tax-exempt status. All four cases were resolved successfully on motions to dismiss and affirmed on appeal.

Higher Education

• Counsel to the University of Michigan before the US Supreme Court in two cases challenging the legality of its admissions policies. Represented the University of Michigan as part of a team handling the two cases for six years, from federal district court to US Supreme Court.
• Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. Amicus curiae brief on behalf of Robert C. “Bobby” Scott and 64 other members of Congress.
• Conducted internal review of admissions practices for a large private university and provided recommendations for revisions to existing policies.

Internal Investigations and World Bank/IFI Investigations

• "Navigating the High-Profile investigation," Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers 2023 White Collar Practice Seminar, November 16-17, 2023
• "World Bank Fraud and Corruption Investigations," Keynote Address to New York Chapter of Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, February 24, 2021
• "Multinational Corporate Investigations," ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, September 13, 2019
• "Best Practices on How to Conduct an Internal Investigation," Corporate Counsel Women of Color Career Strategies Conference, Washington, DC, September 25, 2013
• "Doing Business With Multilateral Development Banks," American University Washington College of Law, U.S. and International Anti-Corruption Law Summer Program, Washington, DC, June 2013

Leadership

• "Navigating the Path to Leadership," Fireside Chat, IDFA Women's Summit, Washington, DC, March 24, 2026
• "Leadership and Ethics: Ethical Dilemmas in Internal Audits," Presentation, The Table Conference, New Orleans, September 14, 2023
• "Latinas and the Path to Partnership," Hispanic National Bar Association Region V, March 14, 2023
• Keynote speaker, ABA International Law Section Fall Conference, Madrid, Spain, September 2022
• "Women and Diversity: Trends, Issues and Challenges in the Legal Profession," DC Bar Corporation, Finance and Securities Law Community Forum, Washington, DC, February 4, 2021
• "Fellows at the Top: A Conversation with Current and Former Presidents of Diversity Organizations," 7th Annual LCLD Fellows Alumni Leadership Symposium, Los Angeles, CA, June 22, 2018
• "Deconstructing the Myth of 'Machismo': Latin America's Leadership in Gender Equality," ABA Section of International Law Fall Meeting, Miami, FL, October 27, 2017
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund Alumni Hall of Fame, Acceptance Speech, New York, NY, October, 2011 (available on YouTube)

Legal Developments

• "Corporate Crisis Management: Why It Matters and Legal’s Growing Role," HNBA/VIA Annual Convention, Washington, DC, September 4, 2025
• "Policy and Legal Developments in Cross-Border Business Between the U.S. and Mexico," Lex Mundi / Steptoe / Basham Program, Monterrey, Mexico, May 7, 2025
• "Corporate Enforcement Priorities for Your Neighbor to the North: The Implications of Recent Developments in U.S. Anti-Corruption, Sanctions, and National Security Policy for Companies in Mexico," Steptoe and Sanchez-DeVanny (Monterrey) Program, May 16, 2024
• "U.S. Government Enforcement Priorities and Policy Developments," International Chamber of Commerce México, Mexico City, February 28, 2024
• "Compensation Clawbacks in Practice: Legal and Compliance Experts Discuss the Real-Life Aftermath and New Lessons Learned," ACI's 17th Forum on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Houston, January 24, 2024
• "Risky Business: Avoiding Ethical Pitfalls in Lateral Hiring," ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting, September 2022
• "The New Face of Enforcement in Latin America," ACI’s 38^thInternational Conference on FCPA, Washington, DC, December 1, 2021
• "Best Practices for Managing Anti-Bribery and Corruption Considerations in M&A," Lex Mundi Webinar, September 14, 2021
• "Anticorruption Compliance in LATAM: Perspectives and Best Practices," Houston Bar Association International Law Section, February 11, 2021
• "Special Interview with the FBI," ACI's Forum on the FCPA Houston, Houston, TX, January 30, 2020
• "What to Do If Your Third Parties Are Under Suspicion: How Multinationals are Tackling More Regional Enforcement, Scandals and Legislation," ACI's 35th International Conference on FCPA, Oxon Hill, MD, November 28, 2018
• "Global Cyber Security and Data Privacy - A Look at GDPR, Managing an International Privacy Program and Cross-Border Data Transfers," ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting, Austin, TX, September 14, 2018
• "International Regulation and its Impact in Chile – Corruption, Anti-Money Laundering and Fraud," Santiago, Chile, April 2018
• "Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing, Anti-Financial Crime U.S. and Global Developments Update 2018," ABA Business Law Section Spring Meeting, Orlando, FL, April 2018
• "‘Brexiting’ the UK Bribery Act and Trumping Up the FCPA: A Review of Current Administrations' Effects on Anti-Corruption Laws," ABA Business Law Section Meeting, Chicago, IL, September 14, 2017
• "Anti-Money Laundering Developments for Money Managers," ABA Business Law Section Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 2017
• "When Third Party Risks Warrant Walking Away - Red-Flag Scenarios and Interactive Discussions on Agents, Distributors and Intermediaries," Andean Summit on Anti-Corruption Compliance and Enforcement, Bogotá, Colombia, November 16, 2016
• "The Different Faces of Corruption," ACI's West Coast FCPA Enforcement & Compliance Conference, San Francisco, CA, October 18, 2016
• "Has the International Olympic Committee Risen Above Corruption?," Maryland Journal of International Law Corruption in International Sports Symposium, Baltimore, MD, October 2016
• "International Money Laundering Developments," International Bar Association Transnational Crime Conference, Panama City, Panama, May 12, 2016
• "Spotlight on Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico," ACI's 5th Global Forum on Anti-Corruption Compliance in High Risk Markets, Washington, DC, July 16, 2014
• "Global Corruption and Bribery Risk," Global Strategic and Enterprise Risk Management Conference, New York, NY, June 5, 2014
• "Foreign Corrupt Practices: The Comparative Treatment in Brazil and the United States," Latin America Conference Hosted by U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, Miami, FL, May 1, 2014
• "Bribery and Corruption: Compliance and Enforcement Issues in Emerging Markets," International Bar Association Transnational Crime Conference, Istanbul, Turkey, April 3, 2014
• "Corruption Risk," The Conference Board, Managing Global Risk and Reputation to Your Company’s Advantage, Seminar, New York, NY, December 11, 2013
• "From a Culture of Corruption to a Culture of Compliance: Ensuring That Employees Are Engaged and Vested in Your Local Compliance Programs," Fourth Global Forum on Anti-Corruption, Washington, DC, July 2013

Legal Directories

• Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation (2025)
• Global Investigations Review, "Women in Investigations: One Hundred Investigation Specialists from Around the World" (2018)
• Super Lawyers, Washington, DC, Litigation (2010, 2013-2021)
• Legal 500 Latin America: International Firms, Compliance and Investigations (2024-2025)
• Legal 500 US, Dispute Resolution: General commercial disputes (2018)
• Legal 500 US, Litigation: International Trade (2013)
• Latinvex, Top 100 Female Lawyers (2016-2017)
• Latino Leaders Magazine, Top Latino Lawyers (2017, 2021-2022)
• Latino Leaders Magazine, 25 Most Influential Hispanic Lawyers (2015)
• Hispanic Business Magazine, 100 Most Influential U.S. Hispanics (2016)
• Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law: Management (2013-2022)
• Washingtonian magazine, "Top 40 Lawyers Under 40" (2006)

Awards and Recognitions

• LatinoJustice PRLDEF, Latina Trailblazer Award (2025)
• National Pre-Law Diversity Initiatives, Inc, Diversity Champion Award (2017)
• Women's Bar Association of DC, Star of the Bar Award (2012)
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund Alumni Hall of Fame, Brillante Award (2011)
• Hispanic National Bar Association, "Latina Lawyer of the Year" (2006)
• Boston College Law School, 75th Anniversary Alumni Award (2006)
• Hispanic Bar Association of DC, Latina Leader Award (2008)
• Hispanic Business Magazine, “Woman of the Year” (2005)
• Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Excellence in the Legal Profession Award (2005)
• DC Bar Best Bar Project (2005)

• Inter-American Development Bank, Chief, Office of Institutional Integrity (2010-2012)
• Georgetown University Law Center, Adjunct Professor (2011-2022)

• Past President, The District of Columbia Bar
• American Law Institute
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Board Member; Chair, Audit Committee, Tahirih Justice Center
• International Women's Forum of DC
• Women's White Collar Defense Association
• Commissioner, Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession, American Bar Association
• Council Member, Business Law Section, American Bar Association
• Chair, International Business Law Committee, Business Law Section, American Bar Association
• President, Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia
• General Counsel, Hispanic National Bar Association
• National Vice President for External Relations, Hispanic National Bar Association
• Grievance Committee, US District Court for the District of Columbia
• Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services, DC Circuit Judicial Conference
• Hearing Committee, DC Board on Professional Responsibility