Georgetown Law

Professor Sullivan leads Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman’s Washington, DC office Litigation practice and is the co-leader of the firm’s Corporate Investigations and White Collar Defense team. He concentrates on trial practice and white-collar criminal defense, corporate internal investigations, as well as tax enforcement matters, complex civil litigation, securities enforcement, export control and other regulatory actions.

Professor Sullivan has substantial experience in the courtroom, the boardroom and in between, representing public and private companies as well as key executives and public officials in global corporate regulatory and internal investigations, parallel proceedings, trial and grand jury matters, congressional and independent counsel inquiries, public corruption matters and white collar criminal defense, with a particular emphasis on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), antitrust and securities matters, international trade and export control, as well as the Foreign Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).  

Professor Sullivan honed his courtroom skills while serving for over ten years as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. During his service, he tried several high-profile cases involving first-degree murder, perjury, fraud, obstruction of justice, money laundering, conspiracy, narcotics and criminal RICO charges. Professor Sullivan was lead prosecutor in the first federal death penalty case to be tried in almost 50 years in the District of Columbia. He has won over 70 federal criminal jury cases and has argued, and prevailed, in over 20 appeals in both New York and the District of Columbia. He has won numerous Department of Justice awards and commendations. 

Professor Sullivan has been uniquely successful on behalf of both companies and individuals in persuading government regulatory authorities to decline to pursue criminal prosecution or other enforcement actions involving a diverse array of matters. Due to the nature of Mr. Sullivan’s practice, a large number of his most successful matters have not resulted in public charges being filed, and therefore remain confidential.  

Professor Sullivan’s opinions are regularly sought by the national media and he is often featured as a legal commentator on national television regarding trial advocacy and strategy, as well as complex, high-profile criminal and terrorism cases, and has appeared on Fox, CBS, CNN, MSNBC and Court TV. He is frequently interviewed by Metropolitan Corporate Counsel Magazine and has also been the subject of articles in Washington Lawyer and other publications, including, The Legal Times and The National Law Journal.  

Professor Sullivan has also been ranked as a top white collar defense attorney by various publications including Chambers USA, White Collar Crime & Government Investigations—DC (2008-2009), Legal 500 US, White-Collar Criminal Defense (2013-2016), Who’s Who Legal, International Business Crime Defence (2014-2016); Who’s Who in American Law (2007-2008), The Washington Post, Top Attorneys in Washington, DC (2015) and Super Lawyers (2007, 2009, 2015).  

Professor Sullivan is admitted to practice in New York, Connecticut and the District of Columbia.