Sep. 12, 2013
Karen P. Hewitt
See more on Karen P. HewittJones Day | San Diego | Practice type: Litigation
Hewitt continues to represent Wal-Mart in an ongoing investigation by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning alleged violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
"The investigation has been public for approximately 16 months," she said. "We are fully in the process of responding to the government investigation."
The FCPA allegations, which started in Mexico, have expanded to include Brazil, China and India.
"I'm based in California, but I'm working with Jones Day lawyers around the world who are reporting back to me," she added. "In addition to leading the defense team, I'm primarily handling the interaction with the Justice Department and the SEC, with travels to Washington, D.C."
Before joining Jones Day in 2010, Hewitt served as the U.S. attorney in San Diego, where she focused on national and border security, cybercrime, intellectual property, white-collar and financial crimes, civil fraud, health care, narcotics and immigration.
She also investigated and prosecuted bankruptcy fraud and violations of securities laws.
Along the way, Hewitt racked up a record number of convictions.
Now serving as partner-in-charge of Jones Day's San Diego office, Hewitt works on the other side of the aisle.
"It's very different," she said. "Now I'm much more focused on representing clients than I was in the prosecutorial function of being a U.S. attorney."
The work is "immediately rewarding," requiring in-depth factual and legal analysis, along with "the overall forming of strategy in defending a company's interests," Hewitt said.
She added, "The process of simultaneously conducting internal investigations and responding to government investigations is complex and time-intensive."
- PAT BRODERICK
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