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Philip T. Inglima

Partner | He/Him/His
Partner | He/Him/His
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Areas of Focus

Overview

Phil Inglima chairs Crowell & Moring's Management Board, serves on the firm's Executive Committee, and is a partner in its White Collar and Regulatory Enforcement Group, having formerly acted as co-chair of the group. Clients turn to Phil for the exceptional skill, insight, and judgment he has honed over more than three decades at the center of major national and international controversies relating to business and politics.  He has guided clients through litigation and trials in federal and civil courts and a variety of agency and administrative enforcement proceedings, achieving results that often were critical to preserving the viability and prosperity of companies, and the liberty of individuals.  He has conducted sensitive investigations, garnering the trust and respect of both corporate boards and federal enforcement officials.  When the stakes are high, Phil has provided the seasoned, calm, and strategic counsel essential to navigating existential crises and threats. He has applied his skills in service of both the powerful and those without means, maintaining an active pro bono practice, in keeping with the profession’s and Crowell’s best traditions.

Phil has tried a range of criminal and civil matters in both federal and state courts, and argued appeals and post-judgment petitions.  He likewise has extensive experience handling congressional investigations and professional responsibility proceedings. Since 2007, Phil has been recognized by clients and peers as a leading lawyer in the area of White Collar Crime & Government Investigations in Chambers USA, which has praised his “commanding presence” and “gravitas” as an advocate and counselor.  Numerous other international and regional publications have recognized his distinction, including Super Lawyers, Global Investigations Review, and The Best Lawyers In America. 

Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, Phil served for two years as a Senior Associate Independent Counsel in the investigation of then-Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt. On that probe, Phil led a team examining allegations of perjury, bribery, influence peddling, and campaign finance fraud involving a cabinet officer, White House officials, and national political organizations. This role drew upon his extensive experience representing business people and numerous elected and appointed government officials in public corruption and fraud prosecutions during his partnership with Plato Cacheris.

A 1984 graduate of Georgetown University's College of Arts & Sciences and a 1988 graduate of Georgetown Law Center, Phil remains actively engaged in the Georgetown community. From 2006 to 2008, he served as President of Georgetown's Alumni Association and a member of the University's Board of Directors, and he has received the highest honors conveyed by the University and its law school for his service to alma mater and his achievements in the legal profession. He also has served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law Center, teaching a course in Federal White Collar Crime.

Career & Education

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    • Special Investigations: Office of the Independent Counsel
      Senior Associate Independent Counsel, Office of Independent Counsel Carol Elder Bruce, 1998–1999

      Appointment as Delegee Independent Consultant, approved by the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission, to investigate suspect transactions in connection with the Consent entered in settlement of Securities and Exchange Commission v. American International Group, Inc. (AIG), No. 1:04CV2070 (D.D.C.).
    • Special Investigations: Office of the Independent Counsel
      Senior Associate Independent Counsel, Office of Independent Counsel Carol Elder Bruce, 1998–1999

      Appointment as Delegee Independent Consultant, approved by the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission, to investigate suspect transactions in connection with the Consent entered in settlement of Securities and Exchange Commission v. American International Group, Inc. (AIG), No. 1:04CV2070 (D.D.C.).

  • Adjunct Professor, Federal White Collar Crime, Georgetown University Law Center, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011

    Adjunct Professor, Federal White Collar Crime, Georgetown University Law Center, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011

    • Georgetown University, A.B., with honors, English, 1984
    • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1988
    • Georgetown University, A.B., with honors, English, 1984
    • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1988

    • District of Columbia
    • New York
    • Supreme Court of the United States
    • District of Columbia
    • New York
    • Supreme Court of the United States

    • Law Clerk to the Honorable June L. Green, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
    • Law Clerk to the Honorable June L. Green, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

    • D.C. Bar; former chair of the Criminal Law & Individual Rights section steering committee, the Council on Sections, and the Nominations Committee
    • The Barristers, Member 1998–Present
    • The Lawyers Club of Washington, Member,  2004–Present
    • Georgetown University Alumni Association, Board of Governors, 1997–2014; President, 2006–2008
    • Georgetown University, Board of Directors, 2006–2008
    • The Gault Center (formerly National Juvenile Defender Center), Board of Directors, 2000–2022; Chair, 2014–2021
    • D.C. Bar; former chair of the Criminal Law & Individual Rights section steering committee, the Council on Sections, and the Nominations Committee
    • The Barristers, Member 1998–Present
    • The Lawyers Club of Washington, Member,  2004–Present
    • Georgetown University Alumni Association, Board of Governors, 1997–2014; President, 2006–2008
    • Georgetown University, Board of Directors, 2006–2008
    • The Gault Center (formerly National Juvenile Defender Center), Board of Directors, 2000–2022; Chair, 2014–2021

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Representative Matters

  • Represent senior managers at two different global automobile manufacturer in separate DOJ criminal investigations of alleged manipulation of automobile emissions control systems to avoid compliance with U.S. environmental protection laws.    

  • Represented Key Safety Systems, Inc. (KSS), now known as Joyson Safety Systems, Inc., for regulatory purposes in KSS’s role as the sponsor in a structured bankruptcy through which KSS purchased substantially all of the assets of the former Takata Corp. Our team provided pre-acquisition counselling and due diligence on the deal, and regulatory approval negotiations with respect to DOJ and the U.S. National Highway Traffic & Safety Administration. As publicly reported, Takata Corp. remained on probation and subject to a $1 Billion penalty and an Independent Compliance Monitor post-bankruptcy, and we negotiated limits and understandings for the extent to which those terms would apply respectively to the legacy Takata entity and the post-bankruptcy combined entity.  We guided Joyson through the conclusion of the Takata-era investigations and legacy penalties.

  • Defense of major aerospace company in federal conflict of interest probe and suspension & debarment review; investigations concluded without any adverse action.

  • Defense of major defense contractor in criminal probe of cost accounting issues; investigation concluded without any adverse action.

  • Defense of political consultant in extradition and prosecution for federal false statements and alleged corruption relating to lobbying and foreign travel with congressional delegation; case resolved with no additional post-plea detention.

  • Defense of Murray Energy Corp. and its Utah subsidiaries in multiple congressional and inspector general investigations and a federal grand jury investigation concerning the fatal accident at Crandall Canyon Mine, which concluded with a misdemeanor plea and fine for the lowest corporate subdivision and no enforcement action against any company personnel.

  • Defense of MTS Systems, Inc., in connection with civil and criminal enforcement actions relating to government contracting disclosures and alleged False Claims Act violations, which concluded with a civil settlement and lifting of a federal contracting suspension.

  • Defense of EO Group Ltd. and its principals in connection with FCPA and fraud allegations in the U.S. and Ghana, which concluded with declination of charges and cleared the way for successful conclusion of EO Group's participation in Ghana's largest oil & gas exploration and development.

  • Conducted internal investigations for several Fortune 500 companies concerning a broad array of potential criminal and regulatory violations.

  • Defense of global logistics company in federal criminal investigation of price-fixing; investigation concluded without action against the company.

  • Defense of major manufacturer in criminal investigation under federal False Claims Act for alleged defective product sales; investigation settled on de minimis basis without consequence to federal contracting status.

  • Defense of senior executives in automotive parts, freight forwarding, and shipping industries in criminal antitrust investigations of alleged Sherman Act violations.

  • Representation of multiple executives of BP plc in connection with investigations and litigation relating to the Deepwater Horizon disaster; clients avoided any enforcement proceedings or sanctions.

  • Defense of a national transportation company in connection with criminal investigations and civil litigation resulting from multiple fatal and non-fatal accidents.

  • Defense of former Director of West Power Trading at Reliant Energy in criminal and CFTC proceedings relating to alleged manipulation of the California electricity market; after three years of post-indictment, pretrial litigation, secured a deferred prosecution agreement and dismissal of the charges without any penalty.

  • Defense of former Executive Vice President for Investor Relations at Enron in criminal, SEC and civil proceedings; negotiated dispositions with the DOJ and SEC that substantially limited client's exposure, and guided client through central cooperation role in the related prosecutions of Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling.

  • Defense of former senior trader at Williams Energy Marketing & Trading on criminal conspiracy and commodities manipulation charge; client avoided incarceration.

  • Defense of former Greenberg Traurig lobbyist in criminal and congressional investigations relating to his role as a member of "Team Abramoff;" client avoided any criminal or civil charges.

  • Defense of multiple Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae executives in connection with earnings manipulation investigations by Special Board Committee, SEC and DOJ; all clients avoided dismissal, enforcement proceedings or penalties.

  • Defense of former partners at Big Four accounting firm and national law firm in connection with criminal tax shelter fraud investigations; clients avoided any criminal charges.

  • Defense of former senior executive at Kellogg, Brown & Root in connection with DOJ and SEC investigations of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations in Nigeria; client avoided any criminal or civil charges.

  • Defense of multiple individuals in SEC formal investigations and enforcement proceedings relating to suspected insider trading and earnings manipulation; all clients have avoided dismissal, permanent bars, or criminal referrals.

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Recognition

  • Chambers USA: Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations – District of Columbia, 2007–Present
  • The Best Lawyers in America: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Securities Regulation, 2007–Present, Criminal Defense: White-Collar “Lawyer of the Year” in Washington, D.C., 2022
  • Washingtonian: Top Lawyers Hall of Fame, 2022
  • Super Lawyers: D.C.’s Top 100 Lawyers, 2007, 2021, White Collar, 2007–Present

Philip's Insights

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Insights

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