Phillips Lytle Launches Dedicated Internal Investigations Practice

The practice is co-led by Partner James R. O'Connor and Special Counsel Scott L. Sroka, the latter of whom previously served as a First Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Department of Justice. By integrating O'Connor’s experience in labor and employment with Sroka’s background in government enforcement, the firm intends to offer a multidisciplinary approach to high-stakes legal challenges. The team is designed to address a wide array of crises, including cybersecurity breaches, False Claims Act litigation, health care regulatory issues, and intellectual property theft.

Managing Partner Douglas W. Dimitroff noted that the formalization of the team represents a strategic investment in response to the growing demand for rapid, precise guidance in volatile environments. Beyond the two leaders, the practice includes a roster of 13 attorneys—among them Partners Sharon Prize Azurin, Anna Mercado Clark, Ryan A. Lema, Amanda L. Lowe, Kevin J. Mulvehill, Linda T. Prestegaard, John G. Schmidt Jr., and Lisa L. Smith—who will manage investigations ranging from congressional subpoenas to internal corporate misconduct. The firm, which maintains offices across New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Canada, will utilize this unit to provide clients with coordinated counsel that balances immediate legal defense with long-term reputational risk management.