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
News & Publications
Publications
Playing The Odds: Tackling Athlete Gambling Investigations
August 28, 2024
By: Dwight J. Draughon, Jr., William L. Drake, Troy Shephard, Dwight J. Draughon, Jr.
Publications
Playing The Odds: Probing Sports-Betting Allegations
Law360
July 19, 2024
By: Dwight J. Draughon, Jr., William L. Drake, Troy Shephard
Publications
Playing The Odds: Criminal Charges Related to Sports Betting
June 14, 2024
By: Dwight J. Draughon, Jr., William L. Drake, Troy Shephard
Media Mentions
The National Law Journal Features Steptoe's Academies for Associates
November 17, 2022
Publications
DOJ Interview With Trump Attorney Spotlights Privilege Exception
Law360
October 13, 2022
Investigations & Enforcement Blog
Former TPG Capital Executive Sentenced to Three-Month Prison Term in Varsity Blues Case
May 27, 2021
By: William L. Drake
Publications
American Bar Association Center for Human Rights
March 2021
Investigations & Enforcement Blog
Federal Judge Sentences Financier to Six Months in Varsity Blues Scandal
August 3, 2020
By: William L. Drake
Client Alerts
June 3, 2020
Resources
Client Alerts
FCPA/Anti-Corruption Developments: 2018 Year in Review
February 28, 2019
By: Brigida Benitez, William L. Drake, Alexandra Melia, Fernando Q. Merino, Alexandra Baj, Evan T. Abrams, Lin Yang, Bo Yue, Troy Shephard
Client Alerts
FCPA/Anti-Corruption Developments: 2017 Year in Review & 2018 Q1 Preview
April 12, 2018
By: Brigida Benitez, William L. Drake, Alexandra Baj, Evan T. Abrams, Galen Kast, Lin Yang, Bo Yue
Client Alerts
Will DOJ’s FCPA Pilot Program Fly With Companies Considering Self-Disclosure?
April 11, 2016
Noteworthy
- Super Lawyers, Washington, DC, "Rising Star," Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2014-2020)