About Gil M. Soffer

Gil Soffer, Katten chair, is at the forefront of shaping the firm's vision, strategic direction and growth. Working closely with CEO Noah Heller, he is instrumental in implementing the firm's strategic priorities, including its ongoing commitment to ensuring that all Katten clients receive top-notch legal services fueled by efficiency and innovation. Gil also maintains a robust white collar criminal practice. As a former federal prosecutor and senior Department of Justice (DOJ) official, he has a profound understanding of government enforcement strategies and tactics, which enables him to guide clients safely through the complexities of government investigations and enforcement actions.

The power of prevention

Gil believes that the best strategy is prevention. He focuses on identifying risks and addressing them before the government does. He helps clients draw up compliance plans and codes of corporate conduct that are sensible and as business friendly as possible within the bounds of the law. And where a government investigation has already begun, Gil devises ways to guide his clients — including corporations, their board members, their executives and employees — out of harm's way.

His rare mix of experience gives Gil valuable insights into the government's enforcement strategies regarding corporate fraud. When he worked at DOJ, he managed the President's Corporate Fraud Task Force and was a key drafter of DOJ policies governing the charging of corporations and corporate monitorships. In private practice, Gil has served as independent corporate compliance monitor for a major international pharmaceutical company — a role few attorneys have performed — in one of the most substantial FCPA resolutions to date. Gil has also served as counsel to public company boards or their special committees, investigating shareholder allegations of misconduct and reporting his findings to the board.

Gil defends executives and other individuals no less than corporations. Among other victories, he has repeatedly convinced the DOJ to decline prosecution, and the SEC to decline charges, against executives, directors, and employees of private and public companies who were threatened with civil and criminal enforcement action.

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Practice Focus

  • Civil and criminal white-collar investigations and defense
  • Corporate compliance
  • Corporate monitorships
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) compliance and investigations
  • Securities fraud
  • Health care fraud

Representative Experience

  • Independent FCPA and opioid compliance monitor for one of the world's largest manufacturers of generic pharmaceuticals.
  • Represented special committee of the board of a generic pharmaceutical company conducting an investigation into allegations made by certain shareholders. Charges included that certain officers and directors breached their fiduciary duties to the company by failing to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting and engaging in insider trading.
  • Served as lead counsel in multiple internal inquiries for an international manufacturing company. The investigations, which took place throughout Europe, involved potential kickback arrangements, Customs fraud and antitrust violations.
  • Defend for-profit education company in investigations by the FTC and Department of Education.
  • Represented in-house attorney in grand jury investigation of American manufacturer for FCPA violations in India.
  • Represented hospitals and hospital networks in self disclosures to USAOs in Baltimore and Chicago concerning Medicare and Medicaid fraud.
  • Represent Chairman of Board of agricultural logistics company in commodities fraud investigation by DOJ and SEC.
  • Special Counsel for Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.
  • Represented senior employees of a major airline in a DOJ False Claims Act investigation involving the airline industry.

News

Publications

Presentations and Events

Practices
Industries
Education
  • Harvard Law School, JD, cum laude
  • Brown University, AB, magna cum laude
Bar Admissions
  • Illinois
  • California
Community Involvements
  • American Bar Association
  • Committee on Federal Criminal Jury Instructions of the Seventh Circuit
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2018–2025
  • Chambers USA
    Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, 2012–2024
  • Crain's Chicago Business
    Notable Leaders in Accounting, Consulting and Law, 2024
    Who's Who in Chicago Business, 2017, 2023–2024
  • Super Lawyers
    Top 100: Illinois Super Lawyers, 2024
    Illinois, 2005, 2008, 2012–2014, 2016–2023
  • The Legal 500 United States
    Recommended Attorney, 2016–2022, 2024
Award Methodologies