William L. Drake

Partner

Email
vcard

Areas of Work

White-Collar Defense, Independent & Internal Investigations, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Campaign Finance & Political Law

Overview

Will Drake focuses his practice on white-collar criminal defense, internal investigations, and workforce counseling. Having worked as a political campaign strategist before beginning his legal career, he is well versed in Federal Election Campaign Act compliance. Will has represented Members of Congress and high-ranking government employees in public corruption criminal matters and investigations, and has ample court experience, including many high-profile trials. He manages large-scale corporate investigations involving allegations of accounting fraud, securities violations, workplace harassment/retaliation, and employee misconduct, including sexual misconduct. Will has experience with product safety recalls and has advised companies in related, high-stakes litigation. Will has represented private sector clients accused of violating federal antitrust, bribery, export controls, fraud, and foreign corruption laws. Will also advises companies in need of employment counseling on executive-level departures.

Will has conducted several high-stakes workplace investigations in the nuclear energy industry and has significant experience counseling the industry on allegations of retaliation and chilled work environments.

Will also participates in Steptoe's pro bono program and has represented clients in employment and housing discrimination claims as well as in appellate matters before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

District of Columbia
Virginia
US District Court, District of Columbia
US District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
US Court of Appeals, District of Columbia
US Court of Appeals, First Circuit
US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2009
B.A., Indiana University, 2000, Political Science
Investigator Training, National Employee Concerns Professionals Certificate, National Association of Employee Concerns Professionals
Certificate of Training, Retaliation in the Workplace: Methods to Detect, Investigate and Prevent Harassment, Intimidation, Retaliation and Discrimination, National Association of Employee Concerns Professionals

Areas of Work

Representative Matters

Conducted internal investigation of alleged sexual assault by a high-ranking executive of another high-ranking executive of a large government agency.
Conducted multi-prong internal investigations into alleged inappropriate conduct and sexual harassment by human resource managers at corporate retreat.
Conducted department-wide internal investigation into complex and far-ranging employee whistleblower claims of alleged retaliation and intimidation arising from the reporting of safety concerns within a nuclear power plant.
Defended at trial a former Connecticut governor accused of campaign finance violations.
Led major independent investigation of nationwide truck stop company accused of defrauding trucking company customers.
Defended at trial a Puerto Rican private security company owner on charges of federal programs bribery.
Representing former CEO of large data company accused of securities and accounting fraud.
Represented former general counsel of large software company accused of export control violations.
Argued successfully before DC Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of former DC Public Schools chancellor accused of wrongful termination of alleged whistleblower.

Speaking Engagements

"Global Investigations Updates: Sanctions, Corruption & Whistleblowing – Oh My!" Lex Mundi Virtual Program, May 9, 2023
"Update on Trends in Cross-Border Investigations," Lex Mundi 2022 Cross-Border Investigations Group Meeting, Brussels, September 2022
"Dealing With the Non-US Client as a Witness, Subject, or Target," Lex Mundi's Business Crimes and Compliance Group Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, October 18, 2018