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Firm News 20 results

Firm News | 11 min read | 06.05.25

Crowell Attains Leading Rankings in Chambers USA 2025

Washington – June 5, 2025: Crowell & Moring earned 80 rankings for 71 lawyers, as well as 43 national and statewide practice area rankings, in the Chambers USA 2025 guide. The rankings are driven by independent interviews of clients and lawyers at peer firms.

Firm News | 3 min read | 12.05.24

Crowell & Moring Notches Tenth Straight Year on “GIR 100”

Global Investigations Review has named Crowell & Moring’s Investigations and White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement groups to this year’s GIR 100, an annual guide to the world’s leading cross-border investigations practices.

Firm News | 3 min read | 08.08.24

Crowell & Moring Partners Preston L. Pugh and Keith J. Harrison Named to Savoy’s List of “Most Influential Lawyers”

Savoy named Crowell & Moring partners Preston L. Pugh and Keith J. Harrison to its 2024 list of “Most Influential Lawyers.” According to the publication, this award honors powerhouse lawyers “whose legal prowess and commitment to excellence inspire the highest levels of corporate and legal leadership.”

Client Alerts 173 results

Client Alert | 5 min read | 12.12.25

Eleventh Circuit Hears Argument on False Claims Act Qui Tam Constitutionality

On the morning of December 12, 2025, the Eleventh Circuit heard argument in United States ex rel. Zafirov v. Florida Medical Associates, LLC, et al., No. 24-13581 (11th Cir. 2025). This case concerns the constitutionality of the False Claims Act (FCA) qui tam provisions and a groundbreaking September 2024 opinion in which the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida held that the FCA’s qui tam provisions were unconstitutional under Article II. See United States ex rel. Zafirov v. Fla. Med. Assocs., LLC, 751 F. Supp. 3d 1293 (M.D. Fla. 2024). That decision, penned by District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, was the first success story for a legal theory that has been gaining steam ever since Justices Thomas, Barrett, and Kavanaugh indicated they would be willing to consider arguments about the constitutionality of the qui tam provisions in U.S. ex rel. Polansky v. Exec. Health Res., 599 U.S. 419 (2023). In her opinion, Judge Mizelle held (1) qui tam relators are officers of the U.S. who must be appointed under the Appointments Clause; and (2) historical practice treating qui tam and similar relators as less than “officers” for constitutional purposes was not enough to save the qui tam provisions from the fundamental Article II infirmity the court identified. That ruling was appealed and, after full briefing, including by the government and a bevy of amici, the litigants stepped up to the plate this morning for oral argument.

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Client Alert | 3 min read | 11.21.25

A Sign of What’s to Come? Court Dismisses FCA Retaliation Complaint Based on Alleged Discriminatory Use of Federal Funding

On November 7, 2025, in Thornton v. National Academy of Sciences, No. 25-cv-2155, 2025 WL 3123732 (D.D.C. Nov. 7, 2025), the District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed a False Claims Act (FCA) retaliation complaint on the basis that the plaintiff’s allegations that he was fired after blowing the whistle on purported illegally discriminatory use of federal funding was not sufficient to support his FCA claim. This case appears to be one of the first filed, and subsequently dismissed, following Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s announcement of the creation of the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative on May 19, 2025, which “strongly encourages” private individuals to file lawsuits under the FCA relating to purportedly discriminatory and illegal use of federal funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in violation of Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity (Jan. 21, 2025). In this case, the court dismissed the FCA retaliation claim and rejected the argument that an organization could violate the FCA merely by “engaging in discriminatory conduct while conducting a federally funded study.” The analysis in Thornton could be a sign of how forthcoming arguments of retaliation based on reporting allegedly fraudulent DEI activity will be analyzed in the future.

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Client Alert | 6 min read | 11.19.25

Buying Peace: The Importance of Releasing FCA Liability When Resolving Criminal Allegations of Fraud Against the Government

The facts before the Third Circuit in the recently decided case of Patel v. United States illustrate how parties can put themselves in a bind if they make factual admissions when resolving a criminal case involving fraud on the government while not simultaneously resolving the government’s civil claims under the False Claims Act (FCA) for the same underlying conduct.

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Press Coverage 39 results

Press Coverage | 11.18.25

Feds Look To 'False Certification' FCA Strategy

Law360

Press Coverage | 12.03.24

FCA Whistleblower Provisions Could Face Peril Under Trump

Law360

Press Coverage | 11.25.24

They Investigated Pandemic Fraud, Then Earned Thousands

The New York Times

Jason Crawford, a partner in the firm’s DC office, is quoted by the New York Times in an article describing the growing litigation trend of serial relators filing False Claims Act suits against companies that received loans through the Paycheck Protection Program.

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Publications 41 results

Publication | 08.07.24

The False Claims Act: Compliance issues in US government procurement and healthcare

Global Investigations Review

Publication | 08.11.23

No End In Sight For Pandemic Relief Fraud Enforcement

Law360

Publication | 03.01.23

Feature Comment: The Top FCA Developments Of 2022

Events 10 results

Event | 01.23.24 - 01.24.24, 7:45 AM EST - 6:00 PM EST

11th Annual Advanced Forum on False Claims and Qui Tam Enforcement

Join us for 2 days of lively discussion on FCA enforcement including the ramifications of two Supreme Court decisions and the evolution of pandemic, cybersecurity, and telehealth fraud.

Event | 11.02.23, 9:15 AM EDT

2023 Year End Forum DCAA/DCMA Industry Day

Join Caroline Brown, Stephen Byers, and Jason Crawford alongside Paul Bailey, Partner at Capital Edge, as they discuss the Focus of DOJ Investigations and FCA Enforcement for government contractors at the 2023 Year End Forum DCAA/DCMA Industry Day.

Event | 05.09.23 - 05.10.23, 7:15 AM EDT - 12:15 PM EDT

39th Annual Ounce of Prevention Seminar—Government Contracting Amidst a Global Shake-Up

In this challenging world, government contractors are facing many opportunities and new risks. Join us for our Annual Ounce of Prevention Seminar (OOPS) where our experienced practitioners will be providing insight in a variety of areas, including accounting, cost & pricing, bid protests, claims, cross-border considerations, cybersecurity, False Claims Act enforcement, government IP, mergers & acquisitions, small business issues, and more.

Webinars 4 results

Webinar | 04.19.23, 1:00 PM EDT - 2:00 PM EDT

Caught in the Crosshairs: Former Prosecutors Discuss Navigating False Claims Act Investigations and Litigation

Please join Crowell & Moring for a discussion with former DOJ attorneys on enforcement trends and best practices for companies that find themselves in the crosshairs of the government or whistleblowers in FCA investigations and litigation.

Webinar | 01.12.23, 8:00 AM EST - 9:30 AM EST

What Will the New Year Bring for Government Contractors?

As 2023 rolls in, what changes can government contractors expect? What will be the focus of the US Government? How should contractors prepare?

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Webinar | 06.11.19, 8:00 AM EDT - 9:00 AM EDT

Understanding the False Claims Act Risks Facing U.S. Importers

In recent years, there has been a steady rise in the number of lawsuits brought under the False Claims Act (FCA) alleging that importers have concealed obligations to pay duties to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The increase in the number of qui tam suits filed by whistleblowers, combined with the current administration’s protectionist policies, suggests that U.S. importers could face increased FCA risks for years to come.

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