Erin Harrigan
USA Guide 2023
Band 2 : Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
Band 2
About
Provided by Erin Harrigan
Practice Areas
Criminal & Government Investigations, Internal Investigations, Appellate, Healthcare, Whistleblower Claims & Qui Tam
Career
Erin Harrigan is a Partner in Gentry Locke’s Criminal & Government Investigations practice group. Erin guides clients through federal and state government investigations and enforcement actions and has directed internal investigations for businesses confronting allegations of misconduct. Chambers USA recognized Erin in 2021 as a leading attorney for White Collar Investigations in Virginia, one of the legal industry’s most prestigious rankings and a distinction that is awarded based on a commitment to the qualities most valued by a client. Erin previously served as Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Virginia, based in Charlottesville, where she prosecuted and investigated public corruption, money laundering, regulatory offenses, human trafficking and fraud cases of local origin and involving multi-national corporations. Erin was recognized for her work as Lead Prosecuting Attorney for the Organized Crime & Drug Enforcement Task Force with the OCDETF National Director’s Award. As a former Virginia Assistant Attorney General, Erin is particularly well-suited to assist clients facing inquiries from state Attorneys General.
Professional Memberships
American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section
Women’s White Collar Criminal Defense Association
Federal Bar Association, Richmond
Virginia Bar Association, Criminal Section
Experience
Served as Assistant United States Attorney and Lead Task Force Attorney for the Organized Crime & Drug Enforcement Task Force at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia, 2014-2020
Served as Assistant Attorney General in Special Prosecutions & Organized Crime, and Criminal Litigation for the Virginia Office of the Attorney General, 2008-2014
Directed numerous government investigations in federal and state grand jury proceedings
Conducted federal and state criminal prosecutions involving organized crime, complex international criminal activity, drug trafficking, money laundering, fraud, public corruption, and human trafficking
Tried federal and state jury and bench trials in Virginia
Briefed and argued dozens of criminal appeals before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Virginia, and the Court of Appeals of Virginia
Provided advice and drafting assistance for the first uniform criminal law on human trafficking, promulgated by the Uniform Law Commission and passed in more than 20 states in the United States
Supplied advice, counsel and drafting assistance on Virginia state criminal laws as part of the legislative team for the Virginia Office of the Attorney General
Appointed as the first Anti-Trafficking Coordinator in the Virginia Office of the Attorney General from 2012-2014
Developed a coordinated, statewide, and multidisciplinary response to trafficking, co-leading law enforcement task forces across Virginia
Trained nearly 2,500 professionals in law enforcement, health care, victim services, and the private sector on recognizing and responding to human trafficking crimes
Education
William & Mary School of Law,
JD
The College of New Jersey
BA
Awards
Significant Individual
Chambers
2021
Legal Elite in Criminal Law
Virginia Business Magazine
2022