Jacqueline C. Wolff, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in New Jersey, will join Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP in New York, the firm said in a release.

Wolff, formerly of counsel at Covington & Burling LLP, served in the Fraud Division of the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s office from 1984 to 1988. She also served as chief of the Environmental Crimes Unit.

Read the full release after the jump. – LN

Manatt Continues Expansion of East Coast Litigation Practice with Addition of White Collar Defense Attorney

NEW YORK–Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, announced today that Jacqueline C. Wolff has joined the firm as a partner in the Litigation Division, based in the New York office. Wolff comes to the firm from Covington & Burling LLP, where she was of counsel.

Wolff focuses her practice on defending corporations and individuals in a wide array of criminal matters, including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations, healthcare and securities fraud, Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act violations, and tax and corporate immigration crimes. She has also led internal investigations and advised corporations in designing regulatory compliance programs.

“The expansion of our East Coast litigation capabilities is an integral part of the firm’s strategic growth objectives,” said Chad S. Hummel, chair of Manatt’s Litigation Division. “The addition of a white collar litigator of Jacqueline’s caliber underscores the firm’s commitment to bolstering our already exceptional New York litigation practice. She has built an impressive practice representing corporations in high-stakes matters and guiding clients through complex internal investigations. Jacqueline is a tremendous addition to the firm’s national Corporate Investigations and White Collar Defense practice group.”

In addition to her work defending corporations and individuals in criminal matters, Wolff has also assisted companies in designing FCPA compliance programs, and has represented several multinational corporations under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission for alleged FCPA violations.

“Jacqueline has built upon her deep knowledge of the healthcare and securities industries to establish a strong practice representing clients in FCPA-related issues, assisting corporations to develop solid compliance programs and defend against healthcare and securities fraud allegations. Her work in these areas will be a great asset to our clients,” said Steven F. Reich, a New York litigator who co-chairs the firm’s Corporate Investigations and White Collar Defense practice group.”

Reich noted that he has “had the privilege of working closely with Jacqueline in a number of cases, and have firsthand knowledge of her extraordinary skills and knowledge, and the innovative approaches that she brings to litigating complex issues in highly regulated business sectors. We are thrilled that she is joining the firm.”

Prior to entering private practice, Wolff was an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, where she served in the Frauds Division and was the Chief of the Environmental Crimes Unit.

“Manatt’s reputation as a top litigation firm with deep industry knowledge – particularly in healthcare – is a perfect fit for my practice. The firm will provide me with the necessary platform to provide the highest levels of litigation counsel to my clients,” said Wolff. “I am excited to join such a distinguished team of white collar lawyers in New York and firm-wide.”

Wolf earned her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.