Dowd Bennett LLP

Dowd Bennett focuses on high-stakes litigation and trials, internal and governmental investigations, and appellate representation. We assist our clients in all jurisdictions and all phases of their cases, including trial and appeal.

We also represent individual and corporate clients in white collar criminal/regulatory matters and internal investigations. In all cases, our philosophy is to learn the nature of the dispute as quickly as possible, formulate with our clients a strategy for the matter, and then aggressively pursue that strategy. We pride ourselves in not only helping our clients through the litigation or investigation process but also in presenting our clients' evidence at trial.

Our members include a former Missouri Governor, a former United States Senator from Missouri, two former United States Attorneys, two former United States Supreme Court clerks, four former clerks to United States Courts of Appeals, six former clerks to United States District Court judges, two former State Supreme Court clerks, three former Assistant United States Attorneys, and a former Missouri State prosecutor. Our lawyers have big-case experience at the highest levels in any jurisdiction and are prepared to take these cases through trial and appeal. We value our firm's close-knit, diverse, and hard-working culture.

Trying cases is in our DNA. Trial practice is an important part of what we do. The firm represents some of the most recognized names in business in their important cases across the country. In recent years, our lawyers have successfully tried to verdict three cases involving more than $25 million in dispute. We litigate all forms of business disputes, and our recent trial experience includes False Claims Act allegations, employment discrimination, claims of professional negligence and fraud against contractors and auditors, partnership disputes, corporate tax disputes, contract disputes, patent and trademark disputes, and all business torts.

Our attorneys' experience as former federal and state prosecutors helps us defend our clients in confidential criminal and regulatory proceedings as well as internal corporate investigations. Areas of particular focus include congressional investigations, FCPA enforcement, securities fraud, misuse and abuse of authority, and fraud involving government programs and resources. While most of our engagements in this area are confidential, Dowd Bennett recently produced highly publicized investigation reports for the University of Missouri and the Missouri History Museum. Dowd Bennett also defends individuals under criminal investigation, including government officials and other senior corporate and government executives and agents. We have obtained significant trial victories against the government on behalf of our clients, though most often we are successful in avoiding formal criminal proceedings altogether or having charges dismissed before trial.