Overview
A former federal prosecutor and highly effective courtroom advocate, Karima Maloney represents clients in commercial litigation, internal investigations, and white-collar criminal investigations and prosecutions. With extensive state and federal trial experience, Karima excels in presenting complex facts to a jury and is sought after by clients facing high-stakes litigation.
Karima represents clients in various sectors, including financial services, energy, health care, and technology, among others. Prior to her transition to private practice, Karima served in the highly selective US Attorney General's Honors program for the Department of Justice (DOJ) and rose in the ranks to Deputy Chief of the Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section. During her 12 years with the DOJ, she handled high-profile official misconduct, human trafficking, and hate crime prosecutions across the United States.
She routinely conducted grand jury investigations, handled jury trials to verdict, and managed complex investigations involving the FBI; Department of Homeland Security; Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives; and Offices of Inspector General of multiple US federal agencies.
- Texas
- US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- US District Court, Southern District of Texas
- US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- Hon. Vanessa D. Gilmore, US District Court, Southern District of Texas, 2001-2003
- J.D., Columbia University School of Law, 2001, Columbia Law Review (Senior Editor), Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
- B.S.B.A., Washington University in St. Louis, 1997
Areas of Work
Representative Matters
Commercial Litigation
- Won complete dismissal of qui tam lawsuit filed against a financial institution accused of conspiracy involving False Claims Act (FCA), Stark Law, and Anti-Kick Back Statute violations based on alleged incentives for referrals to a hospital.
- Represented corporate officer of oil field services company in eight-week jury trial involving breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, conspiracy, and misappropriation of trade secrets case.
- Secured favorable settlement for private equity company sued for the alleged torts of a portfolio company.
- Represented health insurance company in jury trial involving allegations of underpayments to health care providers. Secured favorable judgment for client.
- Represented liquified natural gas corporation in multimillion dollar breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit, resulting in favorable settlement for client on the eve of trial.
- Counsel for multibillion dollar breast implant settlement facility in variety of legal matters in federal district and appellate courts related to distributions to classes of claimants.
- Represented fertilizer company in fraud and trade secrets misappropriation lawsuit against competitor and chemical manufacturer.
- Represented pharmaceutical corporation in Texas opioid multidistrict ligation, defending against claims brought by approximately 50 counties against manufacturers and distributors of opioid medications.
- Successfully defended energy company executive in civil suit alleging sexual misconduct. Secured favorable disposition for client.
White-Collar Criminal Defense and Government Investigations
- Represented public figure prosecuted by the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana for wire fraud. Obtained significantly lower sentence.
- Successfully persuaded the DOJ's Civil Division not to intervene in a qui tam FCA action where the DOJ had previously demanded multimillion-dollar settlement from client.
- Represented bank security officer in Financial Crimes Enforcement Network investigation into compliance with Bank Secrecy Act.
- Represented chief operations officer of health care consulting business in DOJ investigations of health care fraud and anti-kickback violations.
- Represented former corporate officer of engineering and construction company in Securities and Exchange Commission depositions related to alleged financial reporting irregularities and other alleged violations of federal securities laws.
- Pool counsel for employees of chemical plant under investigation by Environment Protections Agency's Criminal Investigations Division, Chemical Safety Board, and the US Attorney’s Office for chemical release incident.
- Represented physician in health care fraud criminal prosecution brought by the DOJ.
News & Publications
Press Releases
Steptoe Lawyers Selected for Leadership Council on Legal Diversity 2024 Programs
January 22, 2024
Noteworthy
- Super Lawyers, Texas, Texas Top Women (2023)
- Super Lawyers, Texas, Super Lawyer (2019-2022)
- Attorney General's John Marshall Award for Outstanding Trial of Litigation (2005)
- Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Top Prosecutor Award (2012)
Professional Affiliations
- Women's White Collar Defense Association
- Federal Bar Association
- National Bar Association