Paul Coggins

Paul E. Coggins is Co-Chair of Locke Lord’s national White Collar Criminal Defense and Internal Investigations practice. Paul was the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas from 1993-2001.

He focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, and has represented numerous Fortune 500 clients in high stakes litigation before federal courts and the SEC. Paul also has conducted internal investigations involving alleged tax, fraud and securities violations. In addition, he develops compliance and ethics programs for corporations and other business entities.

During Paul’s time at the U.S. Attorney’s office, he twice served on the U.S. Attorney General’s Advisory Council and, in 1998, became its Vice Chair. He also is credited with the following accomplishments:

• Prosecuting the first “three strikes and you’re out” case in the United States
• Prosecuting the most complex case ever brought under the federal Economic Espionage Act
• Stamping out one of the nation’s largest immigrant smuggling rings
• Building one of the nation’s first healthcare fraud task forces
• Representing the State of Texas in an investigation involving a redistricting scandal
• Representing the State of Texas in a massive 20-year-old class action lawsuit that he helped bring to settlement
• Hired by Dallas County Commissioners to improve bid and procurement provisions for Dallas County

Representative Experience:

• Provide regulatory counseling on compliance matters involving anti-money laundering and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issues.
• Represented an officer of a public company in DOJ investigation into alleged anti-money laundering (AML) violations.
• Conducted internal investigation for major international financial services firm regarding bond trading activities and potential misconduct by a financial advisor.
• Represented international company in international investigation concerning payments of gifts to public officials in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
• Assisted international capital funding company with internal investigation into allegations of false statements to government in connection with a government grant program.
• Conducted a very sensitive investigation for a public pension plan regarding allegations of trustee misconduct and fiduciary duty violations.
• Represented a United States Senator in connection with allegations that he violated federal criminal ethical laws.
• Represented large school district in connection with investigations into allegations procurement fraud, identity theft, violations of procurement rules, and racial discrimination.

Professional History:

• Partner, Fish & Richardson, P.C. (2001 – 2009)
• U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas (1993 – 2001)
• Texas Special Assistant Attorney General (1991 – 1993)
• Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas (1980 – 1983)

Professional Affiliations :

• Member, American Bar Association
  • Founder, Southwest Section, American Bar Association’s Committee for White Collar Crime
  • Former Chair, Criminal Justice Section, White Collar Crime Committee’s North Texas/Oklahoma Region Subcommittee (2008)
• President-Elect, National Association of Former United States Attorneys (NAFUSA)
• Member, Dallas Bar Association
• Member, Texas Bar Foundation
• Member, Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee in Texas (2009-2011)
• Board Member, National Association of Former United States Attorneys (NAFUSA)

Education :

• J.D., cum laude, Harvard Law School, 1978
• Diploma in Law, Oxford University, 1977
• B.A., First Class Honours, 1975
• B.A., Political Science, summa cum laude with Departmental Distinction, Yale University, 1973

Admissions :

• Texas
• U.S. Supreme Court

Admitted To Practice :

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas