Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce the continued expansion of its Global Corporate Crime and Investigations Practice with the arrival of Jeffrey W. Cottle as a partner in the firm’s Washington office. Mr. Cottle focuses on white-collar crime and compliance matters, with an emphasis on fraud, corruption, trade sanctions and export controls. He joins the firm after the recent addition of Partner Patrick Gilman. Mr. Cottle and Mr. Gilman were both previously partners at Brown Rudnick and, in addition to joining Eversheds Sutherland’s Global Corporate Crime and Investigations Practice, will co-lead the firm’s National Security Practice.

With nearly three decades of experience, Mr. Cottle guides clients through internal investigations of potential breaches of company policies and law, as well as the defense of investigations by external regulators and enforcement agencies such as the US Department of Justice, the US Securities Exchange Commission, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control, the UK Serious Fraud Office, the UK Office of Finance Sanctions Implementation and other enforcement agencies in Europe and elsewhere. He regularly advises on all aspects of compliance program design, roll-out and implementation, including handling compliance-related issues arising in mergers and acquisitions, as well as in post-merger compliance integration.

“I am thrilled Jeff has joined us to further expand our global corporate crime and investigations and national security capabilities,” said Mark D. Wasserman, Co-CEO of Eversheds Sutherland. “As multinational companies face growing legal challenges involving complex compliance issues and a multi-jurisdictional web of regulations, Jeff’s extensive experience (including his years “in-house”), combined with his cross-border knowledge, will be valuable to our global clients confronting sensitive investigations and regulatory matters.”

A dual national of the US and the UK, Mr. Cottle has held senior positions as in-house compliance counsel at major corporations headquartered in the US, Europe and Australia. He has been the head of the compliance and/or anti-corruption function at companies with operations in high-risk jurisdictions, from Africa to Asia and from Eurasia to Latin America. Mr. Cottle has participated in critical decision-making through all levels of management – from strategic decisions at the board level to operational issues at remote work locations.

“Jeff and Patrick’s arrival deepens our bench strength in helping multinational companies and individuals tackle complicated compliance issues and investigations of all shapes and sizes,” said Sarah E. Paul, Partner and Co-Global Head of Corporate Crime and Investigations. “Their exceptional knowledge of the regulatory landscape and decades of experience in navigating cross-border matters will be a tremendous asset to our clients.”

“We are both very excited to have joined the Eversheds Sutherland team,” said Mr. Cottle. “The firm’s depth and practice diversity will be highly beneficial for clients as regulations and threats continue to be increasingly complex, and they maneuver through the ever-changing policies and government scrutiny that impacts their business’ operations.”

Mr. Cottle is a retired commander in the US Navy. He is a decorated US Naval Intelligence Officer, having served in operations around the globe.