Nadira Clarke | Washington, D.C. | Hogan Lovells

Nadira Clarke

Partner Litigation, Arbitration, and Employment

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Nadira Clarke
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  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Credentials
  • Insights and events

Nadira Clarke is known for her tenacious defense of corporations and executives facing large-scale, multi-faceted governmental investigations. A first-chair trial lawyer who is engaged in high-stakes matters, she focuses her practice on technically complex regulatory enforcement matters. She draws upon her knowledge of the government decision-making process and provides calm, decisive counsel in a crisis.

Nadira previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, and a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Well-versed in the area of corporate compliance and business ethics, she worked with two separate corporate monitor teams appointed by the court to oversee compliance of companies in the wake of criminal prosecution. She previously served as counsel to the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of Professional Responsibility, where she led internal professional ethics investigations involving federal prosecutors and high-ranking DOJ officials.

Early in her career, Nadira served in the highly selective U.S. Attorney General's Honor Program for the DOJ, and worked as a trial attorney with the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), including the Environmental Crimes Section and the Natural Resource Section. She was also selected to serve as a Special Assistant to the Assistant Attorney General for the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the DOJ.

Nadira is a frequent industry speaker, and has been recognized by Chambers USA for “excellent experience in government investigations arising from environmental and workplace safety incidents.” Her pro bono work includes mentoring and litigating sex discrimination and political asylum cases.

Representative experience

Representation of a global energy services company under criminal investigation for fraud related to inspection services provided to oil and gas production platforms.*

Representation of a global provider of labor and production services criminally charged in connection with a multi-fatality incident on an oil and gas production platform.*

Representation of an oil company in an ongoing criminal investigation into a pipeline release.*

Representation of a Fortune 100 company in connection with federal and state investigations related to a multi-fatality incident at a chemical manufacturing plant.*

Representation of a company targeted in a combined state/federal criminal investigation of alleged improper reporting of emissions in violation of the Clean Air Act.*

Representation of an employee of a shipping company under criminal investigation in connection with tampering with a pollution prevention device and illegal discharge of pollutants into U.S. waters.*

Representation of an energy company in connection with civil enforcement action involving alleged violations of state air emission regulations.*

Representation of an independent provider of services to the global power generation industry before FERC in connection with an investigation involving allegations of market manipulation and fraud.*

Representation of a metal plating company in a multi-facility federal investigation of violations of the Clean Water Act.*

Lead internal investigation into whistleblower allegations of fraud by a municipal water services provider.*

Defense of a large public utility in a three-week product liability trial.*

Representation of a petroleum manufacturer in connection with a series of federal and state product liability cases involving alleged groundwater contamination by a gasoline additive.*

Led confidential internal investigations at the DOJ involving allegations of professional misconduct by U.S. Assistant Attorneys Generals, U.S. Attorneys, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and DOJ lawyers.*

Counsel to a manufacturing company and was granted a DOJ declination in a multi-facility federal grand jury investigation involving alleged illegal acts related to hazardous waste and waste disposal.*

Lead of compliance team and advisor to Court Appointed Monitor for world’s largest cruise line after environmental conviction; focus on investigations, corporate governance, and 3rd party diligence.

Assessment, design, and implementation of tailored corporate compliance programs (in accordance with US DOJ and federal sentencing commission best practices) for multiple clients.

*Matter handled prior to joining Hogan Lovells.

Credentials

Education
  • J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 1992
  • B.A., Tufts University, 1988
Bar admissions and qualifications
  • District of Columbia
  • Pennsylvania
Court admissions
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland

Recognition

Environment (District of Columbia), Band 4

Chambers USA

2019-2024