Former U.S. Attorney Joins Barnes & Thornburg

WASHINGTON D.C. – A prominent group of white collar and corporate attorneys have joined Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s Washington, D.C., office in the firm’s Litigation Department.

Former United States Attorney Roscoe C. Howard, Jr., joins as a partner along with two of counsel attorneys, Leasa W. Anderson and Meena Sinfelt, and a litigation assistant, Jennifer Wylie. Previously at Andrews Kurth LLP, the team specializes in complex criminal and civil litigation, corporate compliance, and government investigations.

Howard served as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia from 2001-2004, by appointment of President George W. Bush. As Washington, D.C.’s chief federal prosecutor, he was responsible for the handling of all serious local crimes, as well as all federal offenses in the nation’s capital. Howard previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in that office where he handled criminal cases involving narcotics trafficking, homicides, fraud and public corruption, as well as dozens of trials and investigations before the District of Columbia Superior Court, and numerous grand jury investigations. Howard followed that experience with stints as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, as well as twice serving in the former Office of Independent Counsel. 

“This high-caliber group is at the forefront of innovative legal work in the white collar space, defending individuals and companies before U.S. regulators and helping them avoid criminal exposure through corporate compliance and ethics issues,” said Larry Mackey, chair of Barnes & Thornburg’s White Collar and Investigations Practice Group. “Each attorney brings valuable trial experience and skill sets that will enhance our ability to represent clients in complex business disputes and a multitude of other litigation matters.”

“The additions are an important step in the strategic expansion of the Washington, D.C. office,” said Karen McGee, managing partner of that office. “The experience that Roscoe and his team bring complements many of the existing practices in the office, such as litigation, global trade compliance, and government contacts.  Their decision to continue to build their practice here is a testament to the high-quality legal work we provide on a national level.”

About the Team

Roscoe C. Howard, Jr., partner, focuses his practice primarily on white collar criminal matters, complex litigation, and corporate compliance and ethics issues. Having tried more than 100 cases as a federal prosecutor, he has experience in handling investigative matters initiated by the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, and local law enforcement agencies. Howard has also handled matters in federal district and appeals courts and the District of Columbia Superior Court. Howard is a graduate of Culver Military Academy in Northern Indiana, Brown University and The University of Virginia School of Law. 

Howard is a member of the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions. He is also serving on the Roger Williams University School of Law Board of Directors and previously served as the President of the U.S.-Canada Fulbright Foundation Board of Directors. After graduating from Culver Military Academy in Northern Indiana and then Brown University with a bachelor’s degree, Howard earned his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Leasa W. Anderson, of counsel, focuses her practice on white collar criminal matters, complex litigation, antitrust matters, and investigations by the Department of Justice, Department of State, Securities and Exchange Commission, and offices of Inspector General for various federal agencies. Anderson has extensive experience representing clients in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) matters, qui tam actions, U.S. Congressional inquiries, and contract disputes. Her practice also includes compliance program development and government contract litigation, including bid protests. 

Anderson has been recognized as a 2014 Rising Star by Super Lawyers, named to the Lawyers of Color 2014 Hot List and was a Leadership Council on Legal Diversity 2014 Fellow. She earned her law degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary and her bachelor’s degree from the College of William & Mary.

Anderson previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable Henry E. Hudson of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia. She also served as a summer clerk to the Honorable Gerald Bruce Lee of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia. 

Meena Sinfelt, of counsel, represents clients in government investigations by the Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of Treasury and Congressional Inquiries; qui tam actions, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) matters, and tort and contract disputes. She also counsels clients on FCPA and antitrust compliance matters. 

Sinfelt received her bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University and her law degree from the University of Dayton Law School. She has been recognized as a 2014 Rising Star by Super Lawyers. Sinfelt is a member of the American Bar Association, Ohio Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar Association and the Legal Advisory Committee to the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition.

Jennifer Wylie, litigation assistant, has assisted with federal criminal trials, internal investigations and the representation of immigrants in Immigration Court. Her experience ranges from researching case law and analyzing pleadings to drafting motions and notices. Wylie has managed document production, performed document review and created privilege logs; completed on-site reviews of clients’ records/documents independently; drafted summary memos for clients; and attended federal advisory committee meetings . 

Wylie earned her bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and her law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Wylie is fluent in French.

With more than 600 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from 12 offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Los Angeles, Michigan, Minneapolis, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter at @BTLawNews.