Matt Hennessy

Practice Areas

Matt’s practice primarily focuses on criminal matters and government investigations.

Career

QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART & SULLIVAN LLP

2016-2018

DEGUERIN DICKSON HENNESSY & WARD

2013-2016

HENNESSY LAW FIRM

2008-2013

Experience

Represented several individuals in the investigation of the incident that occurred aboard the Deepwater Horizon in April 2010. None was charged.

Successful defense of corporate officers in the investigation of the Stanford Financial Group.

Assisted individuals in several, separate investigations of suspected Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations in Nigeria, Angola, and Azerbaijan.

Dismissal of a wide-ranging mortgage fraud indictment.

Defended one of three British citizens in the first prosecution that was filed following Enron’s collapse. Resolution of the case involved coordinating the transfer of the defendants to Britain with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Enforcement Operations (OEO) and the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Successful defense of the target of an investigation into the reporting and auditing of the oil and natural gas reserves of a publicly traded company.

Represented an individual in a theft of trade secrets matter involving the global computer-chip manufacturing industry. No charges were filed.

Defended a natural gas trader in a civil enforcement action brought by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) under the Commodities Exchange Act (CEA).

The defense of a senior executive in the investigation of the Dynegy—Project Alpha matter resulting in no charges being filed.

Jury acquittal on bank fraud. A related false statement charge was reversed on appeal.

Successfully defended a group of hotel owners in a civil asset forfeiture proceeding. The government sought to divest the owners of their interest in the hotel based on its patrons’ conduct and an alleged lack of security. The case was ultimately cited before Congress as an example of government overreach.

Education

Awards