A former Army officer, Kip co-leads the firm’s Securities & Commodities Regulatory & Enforcement practice, helping corporate and individual clients navigate government investigations and enforcement actions.
Kip counsels clients through investigations and enforcement actions brought by agencies including the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), as well as inquiries from other federal and state regulators.
When the need arises for an investigation, Kip takes the lead, guiding boards, audit committees, and management through sensitive internal reviews and providing strategic advice at each stage of complex regulatory and criminal investigations, including those conducted in conjunction with DOJ, SEC, CFTC, and other regulators. He also represents company executives and other employees during such investigations. Following an investigation, Kip advises clients on next steps, including self-disclosure processes and the benefits of cooperating with the government regulator. His federal practice also includes representing clients in connection with assets subject to civil and criminal forfeiture, as well as DOJ enforcement actions under the False Claims Act involving Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan fraud allegations. He also assists companies across industries in responding to inquiries from state attorneys general concerning antitrust, Medicaid fraud and abuse, and consumer protection issues.
Although clients may view allegations of misconduct and high-risk government investigations as worrisome, Kip is known for putting them at ease and serving as a steady advocate throughout even the most sensitive government scrutiny. Drawing on experience navigating closely watched regulatory and criminal inquiries, he identifies practical risk management measures early, helping clients make informed decisions as a matter develops. Even when investigations resolve favorably, Kip looks for opportunities to strengthen policies and mitigate future risk, and clients value his clear, responsive communication throughout.
Kip’s practice also focuses on commodities and derivatives regulation. He has assisted companies in the prediction market space with building enforcement and compliance programs and has advised new entrants on CFTC and National Futures Association (NFA) registration matters. Kip also conducts audits and develops compliance plans for introducing brokers (IBs), commodity trading advisors (CTAs), and commodity pool operators (CPOs).
As a member of the eDiscovery Solutions group, Kip works at the intersection of eDiscovery and government investigations, helping clients design and execute eDiscovery solutions tailored to regulatory inquiries. Kip has extensive experience responding to federal grand jury subpoenas, civil investigative demands, and other compulsory requests for documents. From corresponding with clients to determine the relevant custodians, to leading the teams responsible for collecting and reviewing the relevant data, Kip is adept at responding to these compulsory processes.
Kip’s practice is also dedicated to corporate anti-human trafficking compliance. Across industries, Kip helps companies ensure that no trafficking has occurred in their operations by conducting investigations into allegations of such, as well as developing comprehensive compliance programs and providing the training necessary to spot and assist victims.
In addition to his corporate work, Kip dedicates significant time to the firm’s Human Trafficking Legal Clinic, representing victim witnesses in both federal and state investigations. Many victims of human trafficking face criminal charges of their own due to the actions they were forced to take, and Kip defends them in these situations, as well as in related child custody disputes. He finds it truly rewarding to help these individuals achieve legal vindication, confirming they weren’t at fault for the unspeakable crimes committed against them.