Matthew C. Crowl is a highly accomplished trial attorney and investigator. He has extensive experience in civil litigation, internal investigations, corporate compliance, business disputes, white collar crime matters, and governmental policy and operations — achieved at Schiff Hardin and during more than 15 years of distinguished public service as an assistant U.S. attorney and senior city official.

Mr. Crowl represents private and governmental clients in a variety of complex civil litigation matters, including:

• Banking and finance matters
• Class actions
• Securities
• Contract disputes
• Officer and director fiduciary duties
• Employment
• Government contracting
• Tax

• Market manipulation
• SEC and CFTC enforcement actions
• Healthcare fraud
• The False Claims Act
• The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
• Anti-kickback laws
• Stock option backdating
• Mail and wire fraud
• Antitrust
• Environmental protection
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) laws

Experience

Mr. Crowl has tried 35 federal and state jury trials and has argued more than a dozen times in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Recent notable representations include:

• Winning a $13 million federal jury verdict and a nearly $1 million attorney fee award on behalf of Newell Rubbermaid's BernzOmatic division against a key supplier for wrongfully terminating a supply contract, copying BernzOmatic's trade dress, and publishing false advertisements about BernzOmatic's products.


• Winning a $43 million arbitration award for a federal agency following a two-week evidentiary hearing in a tax-sharing dispute, prevailing on all eleven issues in the case and obtaining an award of arbitrator fees as the prevailing party.


• Winning a $2.3 million federal jury verdict for a federal agency in a complex insurance dispute.  


• Winning dismissal of an indictment on behalf of an executive charged with mail fraud and extortion.


• Winning dismissal of a defamation lawsuit against the American Academy of Pediatrics involving a journal’s First Amendment right to publish scientific research.


• Winning summary judgment on behalf of State Farm Fire and Casualty Company in an alleged class action lawsuit.


• Successfully defending a Fortune 500 company in contract debarment proceedings.


• Successfully conducting an internal investigation for the special litigation committee of a Fortune 500 company.


• Successfully defending an executive of a major Japanese corporation who was a target of a U.S. Department of Justice Anti-Trust investigation; negotiated transactional immunity and the executive was not charged.


• Representing an international company in a U.S. Attorney’s Office and grand jury investigation; investigation concluded and matter closed without prosecution.


• Representing a top executive in a joint U.S. Attorney’s Office and SEC investigation, and vis-à-vis the company’s special litigation committee; investigation concluded with no charges.


• Representing a healthcare provider in a New York Attorney’s General’s Office investigation; investigation concluded with no charges.


• Representing an executive of a healthcare provider in a U.S. Attorney’s Office investigation; investigation concluded with no charges.


• Representing healthcare companies and individuals regarding the federal Anti-Kickback statute.


• Representing a high-level government employee in Congressional testimony.


• Representing a corporate director of an international company before a Congressional board of inquiry.


• Successfully defending numerous clients in federal and state qui tam lawsuits alleging violations of the federal and state false claims acts.


• Winning a not guilty jury verdict for a pro bono client in a self-defense case.

Speeches and Presentations

"Understanding the FCPA and U.K. Bribery Act: Key to Compliance with Corporate Anti-Corruption Policies," Corporate In-House Training Program (June 2012)

"Conducting Successful Internal Investigations," Corporate In-House Training Program (May 2012)

"The Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, and RCRA: Environmental Compliance," Corporate In-House Training (April 2012)

"Guidelines and Strategies for Conducting Effective Corporate Internal Investigations," Corporate In-House Training Program (March 2012)

Previous Experience

Mr. Crowl served as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois from 1992 to 2003, rising to Deputy Chief and also acting as Project Safe Neighborhoods Coordinator. He investigated and prosecuted:

• White collar crime (including mail, wire, bank, bankruptcy, health care and credit card fraud; insider trading; trademark infringement; embezzlement; and income tax violations)


• Public corruption


• RICO violations


• Street gang crime

In 2003, Mr. Crowl served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Safety for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s administration, and he was quickly promoted to First Deputy Chief of Staff. He oversaw policies, programs and operations for the City of Chicago, including in the areas of public safety, economic and urban development, human capital and infrastructure.

Mr. Crowl coordinated initiatives among the city’s more than 40 commissioners and agencies, and he was the mayoral liaison to the city’s Law Department and Inspector General’s Office. Mr. Crowl helped develop and implement a city compliance and reform program that:

• Expanded the city’s Inspector General’s Office


• Passed whistleblower, false claims, false statements and qui tam legislation


• Developed new ethics training and accountability forums


• Helped reform the city’s Department of Human Resources


• Created a citywide compliance office


• Instituted a citywide performance management system

He developed and coordinated strategies with the Chicago Police Department, state and federal agencies, and community groups to successfully lower Chicago’s homicide rate.

In addition to his numerous awards, Mr. Crowl has received letters of commendation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs Service and the U.S. Postal Investigation Service.

Prior to his law career, Mr. Crowl spent a year as an English instructor and consultant to the Kitazawa Corporation in Tokyo, Japan.

Awards and Honors

Best Lawyers in America, Criminal Defense: White Collar

Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business – Leading Lawyer in Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Enforcement

Illinois Super Lawyers – Business Litigation

Illinois Leading Lawyers Network – Leading Lawyer – Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: White Collar, Government/Municipal/Lobbying/Administration

Benchmark Litigation – Star

U.S. Department of Justice Special Achievement Award

Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Outstanding Service Award

Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force
Outstanding Achievement Award

Drug Enforcement Administration Exceptional Service Award

Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Special Achievement Award

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Crime Prevention Award

Joseph E. Stevens, Jr. Public Practice Award - Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation

Elmer B. Staats Public Service Award - Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation