Jeff Knox, former head of the U.S. DOJ Fraud Section, is Co-Managing Partner of Simpson Thacher’s Washington, D.C. office and Global Co-Head of the Firm’s Government and Internal Investigations Practice. A fellow of the Litigation Counsel of American and a board member of Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Jeff represents multinational corporations and independent board committees in high-stakes investigations by the DOJ, SEC, OFAC, State AGs and other federal and state enforcement regulators. He has advised some of the world’s leading financial services firms, energy companies, life sciences companies and technology firms in navigating criminal and civil investigations relating to the FCPA, securities and accounting fraud, market manipulation, False Claims Act, trade controls, antitrust, international money laundering, economic sanctions and environmental crimes. Jeff also represents senior executives, in their individual capacity, who are subjects of enforcement investigations. Jeff has served as a government-appointed independent compliance consultant, and represents companies in government and court-mandated monitorships. Prior to joining the Firm, Jeff served as a federal prosecutor for more than a decade, including as the Chief of the DOJ’s Fraud Section in Washington, D.C., and before then, as the Chief of the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Jeff is recognized as a Band 1 FCPA lawyer by Chambers USA and Chambers Global, and as a “Leading Lawyer” by The Legal 500. Jeff has been named a White Collar MVP by Law360, and is consistently recognized by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 and Euromoney’s Benchmark Litigation, where sources note him as “one of the best lawyers in the country,” “brilliant with an incredible depth of knowledge,” and “a master strategist with a unique insight into the way the DOJ works,” who “understands cases from multiple different dimensions,” “brings credibility and integrity to matters,” and has “a good combination of substantive expertise and practical knowledge” that “really adds value to the client.” In 2024, Jeff was named a “Distinguished Advisor” in Financier Worldwide’s list of ten “Power Players” worldwide in Investigations & White-Collar Crime. He is a respected voice on corporate compliance and enforcement policy, and served on advisory boards dedicated to these issues at NYU School of Law and the American Law Institute.
Jeff's representative matters include:
Company Representations
- Global financial institution in investigations by the DOJ, SEC, CFTC and federal banking regulators relating to anti-money laundering and economic sanctions controls
- Multinational technology company in DOJ False Claims Act investigation
- Audit committee of a Chinese automotive energy company in an investigation into possible corruption and bribery issues in China
- Energy trading firm in DOJ and CFTC investigations relating to alleged corruption and market manipulation
- Private equity firm in DOJ criminal and civil investigations of alleged antitrust violations
- Global hedge fund in SEC investigation of trading practices
- Global financial institution in a multi-regulator investigation related to the alleged offering of unregistered securities
- Global oil company in DOJ investigation of alleged environmental crimes
- India-based multinational conglomerate relating to DOJ investigation of potential fraud
- SEC-mandated Independent Consultant to global life sciences company, relating to FCPA internal control failures
- Global financial institution in DOJ, SEC, and CFTC investigations of alleged market manipulation and spoofing in derivatives markets
- Special board committee of a financial services firm in an independent review of allegations relating to compliance with a regulatory Consent Order with the CFPB
- A global securities firm in connection with a CFTC investigation into a cryptocurrency exchange and alleged evasion of CFTC regulatory requirements
- U.S.-listed South American construction company in an SEC FCPA investigation relating to potential corruption issues and internal control failures
- U.S. technology company in resolution with the DOJ relating to alleged accounting and securities fraud violations
- Multinational hedge fund in DOJ investigation of alleged insider trading
- Leading global pharmaceutical manufacturer in FCPA investigation focused on alleged misconduct in multiple jurisdictions
- Board Committee of international cruise line in connection with environmental-related corporate monitorship
Individual Representations
- Senior executive of a financial services firm in obtaining the dismissal of a CFPB lawsuit of alleged deceptive practices
- Former executive of an aerospace and defense company in connection with a DOJ investigation into FCPA and compliance issues
- Senior executive of cryptocurrency firm in DOJ, SEC and NYAG investigations into alleged securities and investment fraud
- Senior member of Board of Directors of a global financial institution in a DOJ criminal investigation relating to alleged collusion among competitors
- Former executives of a Swiss bank in a DOJ investigation related to alleged tax fraud
- Executive of international airline manufacturer in DOJ FCPA investigation
- Chairman and CEO of U.S.-listed educational company in DOJ and SEC corruption investigation
- Acting Secretary General of FIFA in DOJ investigation relating to the global corruption scandal
- General Counsel of global financial institution in DOJ criminal antitrust investigation
- Senior political fundraiser in DOJ criminal FARA investigation
- Senior derivatives trader in DOJ investigation of alleged spoofing and market manipulation
During his tenure in the Justice Department, Jeff was the recipient of the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service (DOJ’s highest award), the Attorney General’s John Marshall Award for Trial of Litigation, the Attorney General’s Award for Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security, the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation’s Federal Prosecutor of the Year Award, and the EOUSA Director’s Award for Superior Performance.
Jeff received his J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law, and his B.S., magna cum laude, from the University of Arizona.