About William C. Pericak

William Pericak is a former federal prosecutor who has spent more than 25 years as a first-chair trial lawyer. He brings that experience to bear in his representation of individuals and companies in government investigations. As a former leader of a health care fraud unit within the Department of Justice (DOJ), a deputy criminal chief in a US Attorney's Office, and the supervisor of criminal prosecutions arising from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, he offers unique insight and credibility to clients facing government scrutiny.

Experience at the top

During Bill's distinguished career as a prosecutor, he supervised Health Care Fraud Strike Force attorneys across the country as an assistant chief in DOJ's Criminal Division, Fraud Section. Before that, he served as an assistant US attorney and deputy criminal chief in the Northern District of New York, where he conducted and oversaw investigations of a range of offenses, including bribery, kickbacks, fraud, money laundering, smuggling and sanctions violations. Following the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, he was appointed director of the DOJ Deepwater Horizon Task Force, overseeing criminal prosecutions related to the fatal environmental disaster.

Bill helps clients confront claims of wrongdoing asserted by the government, third parties or internal sources. He regularly represents health care entities (including physician group practices, hospital systems, coding companies and billing companies), government contractors and commercial enterprises. The matters he has worked on for these clients have touched on claims of bribery, kickbacks, discrimination, environmental crimes, and FCPA and sanctions offenses, and violations of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act.

Over the course of his career, Bill has tried 20 cases to verdict and argued 25 appeals. His decades of experience allow him to rapidly assess the strengths and weaknesses of cases, and to identify the most advantageous next steps. His reputation in the criminal defense bar and among government prosecutors ensures that he is heard and increases the likelihood of favorable resolutions.

Much of Bill's practice is devoted to defending parties against civil lawsuits and criminal prosecutions. He also helps clients conduct internal investigations after being alerted to possible violations, and design compliance programs that minimize the chance of future civil or criminal liability.

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Practice Focus

  • White-collar criminal defense
  • Government investigations
  • Health care fraud
  • Environmental crimes
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), False Claims Act, bribery and kickbacks
  • Internal investigations and compliance programs
  • Sanctions violations

News

Publications

Presentations and Events

  • 32nd Annual Texas Health Law Conference
    Panelist | Overpayments, Self-disclosure and False Claims Act Liability
    October 8, 2019
  • American Health Lawyers Association
    Panelist | Tales from the Trenches: Perspectives from the DOJ, Outside Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer on the role of the Compliance Program in a Government Investigation
    October 9, 2018
  • American Bar Association's Washington Health Law Summit
    Moderator | Government Enforcers: Behind the Curtain | 15th Annual Washington Health Law Summit
    December 4–5, 2017
  • American Bar Association's Washington Health Law Summit
    Panelist | Impact of DOJ’s Corporate Healthcare Fraud Enforcement Strategies on Providers and Defense Counsel
    December 13, 2016
  • American Conference Institute's 8th Advanced China Forum on Anti-Corruption
    Speaker | FCPA Enforcement in China—What Has Happened and What to Expect
    June 16, 2015
  • Reseau academique de droit penal European (European Criminal Law Academic Network)
    Speaker | The Tension Between Corporate and Individual Defendants Under US Law
    December 2, 2014
  • Europaishe Rechtsakademie (ERA) (Academy of European Law)
    Panelist | Financial Crimes: Countering Insider Dealing and Market Manipulation, The Role of DOJ in Maintaining Market Integrity and The Legal Dilemma of High Frequency Trading
    October 23–24, 2014
  • ALI CLE Conference
    Panelist | Criminal Enforcement of Environmental Laws, Lessons Learned: Trial of an Environmental Criminal Case
    June 5, 2014
  • ABA 27th Annual National Institute on White Collar Crime Conference
    Panelist | Environmental Enforcement
    March 8, 2013
  • View All Presentations and Events
Practices
Industries
Education
  • Boston University School of Law, JD
  • The State University of New York at Buffalo, BA, magna cum laude
Bar Admissions
  • District of Columbia
  • Massachusetts
  • New York
Court Admissions
  • US District Court, District of Massachusetts
  • US District Court, Northern District of New York
  • US Court of Appeals, First Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Recognitions
  • Super Lawyers
    Washington, DC, 2019–2020