Samy Khalil

White-Collar Defense · Government & Corporate Investigations · Post-Conviction Relief

Samy Khalil's approach to the law was forged in one of the most demanding environment imaginable — the Federal Public Defender's Office, where he spent seven years defending individuals charged with virtually every offense in the Federal Criminal Code. There, with limited resources and against the full power of the federal government, Samy developed the investigative instincts and courtroom reflexes that now define his practice.

Samy helps those who need it — not because they are necessarily "guilty," but because the government has suddenly become a part of their lives. Whether an individual receives an unexpected target letter or a company is served with a federal grand jury subpoena, Samy's approach is the same: provide top-flight, individualized, and creative legal services to solve the client's problem. As highlighted by Chambers & Partners, Samy is "extraordinarily good at dealing with prosecutors" and “gets a ton of respect from the bench.” He is described as a “highly experienced, patient and strategic thinker with a very calm demeanor.”

As part of his white-collar practice, Samy handles government, corporate, and regulatory investigations; federal trials and appeals; and criminal law matters. He represents individuals and businesses in investigations conducted by the DOJ, SEC, EPA, IRS, FERC, CFTC, and the Texas Attorney General. His practice areas include the FCPA, criminal tax matters, environmental violations, commodities trading, antitrust, health care fraud, bankruptcy and mortgage fraud, and immigration-hiring. His clients work in the energy industry, health care, financial services, and construction and engineering sectors.

He is recognized in Chambers & Partners at Band 2 for White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, and has been named a Texas Super Lawyer in White-Collar Criminal Defense every year since 2017.

American Bar Association

IFCO Immigration-Hiring Case

On eve of trial, DOJ dismissed all felony charges against the company's Vice President for Human Resources. Client resolved case with a no-jail misdemeanor.

Downtown Houston Hotel · Fraud & Money Laundering

Persuaded the government there was insufficient evidence of wrongdoing. Government filed a motion to dismiss the indictment before trial; court granted the motion.

Motion to Dismiss Granted · Statute of Limitations Violation

Won dismissal, over DOJ opposition, of federal money laundering charges involving transactions with Mexico on statute-of-limitations grounds.

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Dismissal · Speedy Trial Violation

Won dismissal, affirmed on appeal, that DOJ violated Speedy Trial Act by not bringing international businessman extradited from Portugal to trial in federal district court in time.

Federal Trial Acquittal

Federal acquittal at trial of passenger charged by DOJ with assaulting a flight attendant. Defense grounded in medication ingested by client before boarding flight.

San Juan Basin · $36 Million Natural Gas Fraud

Federal court in Dallas sentenced client to 10 months in prison — where the guidelines called for nearly 20 years.

JP Morgan Chase Bank Officer · Bank and Wire Fraud

Federal court in Houston sentenced client to probation where the guidelines called for 4 to 5 years.

Energy Company General Counsel/Chief Financial Officer · Parallel SEC & DOJ Investigations

Client also named in federal shareholder-derivative and class-action suits. Federal court in New York imposed a 12-month sentence where guidelines called for 8 to 10 years.

SEC Civil Action · Oil-Drilling Executive

Successful defense of executive charged with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in Nigeria.

Government & Corporate Investigations

FCPA Business Executive · Engineering & Industrial Services Company

Successful defense of businessman in a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation by DOJ concerning transactions on behalf of technology and engineering company in the Middle East.

False Claim Act Investigations · Health Care Industry

Representation of medical doctors and healthcare executives in False Claims Act cases with parallel criminal litigation.

DOJ Investigation · Criminal Antitrust Investigation

Representation of employee in criminal antitrust investigation by DOJ into Houston-based accessories company.

DOJ Food Safety Investigations

Represented key employees in DOJ & FDA criminal investigations involving companies alleged to have introduced adulterated food products into interstate commerce.

Corporate Internal Investigations · National Companies

Internal investigations of discrimination claims on behalf of national home-improvement company and on behalf of Houston-based industrial company.

Compassionate Release & Post-Conviction Relief

Charlton Esekhigbe · Presidential Pardon

Secured Presidential Pardon reducing a mandatory 20-year sentence to “time served.”

Compassionate Release · Federal Court

Won compassionate release for multiple federal inmates.

One was Taj Kareem Smith, who 16 years earlier had been sentenced to life imprisonment for drug trafficking. Based on change in mandatory minimum laws under the First Step Act of 2018, the federal court agreed, over DOJ opposition, to reduce Mr. Smith’s sentence to “time served.”

Achieved reduction in sentence, over DOJ opposition, to "time served" for physician who had served 3 years of a 12-year sentence based on advanced age and Covid-19 susceptibility.

Rob Will · Texas Death Penalty Habeas Case

Litigating federal and state habeas appeal for nearly fifteen years. Uncovered hidden evidence; the U.S. Court of Appeals authorized the filing of a seldom-achieved "second or successive" federal habeas petition raising claims of prosecutorial misconduct. See In re Will, 970 F.3d 536 (5th Cir. 2020).

After Law School

Fair Trial Initiative — Death Penalty Litigation

Following graduation, Samy focused on death penalty litigation in North Carolina, developing a lifelong commitment to ensuring that those facing the most severe legal consequences receive a genuinely fair trial.

2003 – 2010

Assistant Federal Public Defender — S.D. Texas

Seven years defending individuals against the full scope of the Federal Criminal Code in the Southern District of Texas. This formative experience — advocating against the power of the federal government — is the foundation of Samy's approach to every client matter.

2010 – 2017

Present

Gerger & Clarke · Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP

Entered private practice, first at Gerger & Clarke and subsequently at the prestigious international litigation firm Quinn Emanuel, where he continued to build his white-collar and government investigations practice.

2017 – 2021

Hughes Arrell Kinchen LLP · Gerger Khalil Hennessy & McFarlane LLP

Served as a partner, deepening his reputation as one of Houston's preeminent white-collar defense lawyers and building a landmark track record in federal sentencing advocacy and post-conviction relief.

2021 - 2026

Khalil Law PLLC · Khalil & Lake

Founded white-collar litigation boutique focusing on federal criminal law, appeals, and complex investigations in a variety of business sectors.

Khalil Kinchen LLP — Co-Founder & Partner

Co-founded Khalil Kinchen LLP alongside John Kinchen, bringing together two of Houston's most respected trial lawyers to create a focused boutique practice in white-collar defense, government investigations, and complex litigation.