The Honorable Louis J. Freeh   [Download VCard]
Chairman

Louis J. Freeh is a Founder and Chairman of FGIS. Mr. Freeh also serves as Senior Managing Partner of the affiliated law firm of Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP.

Freeh was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Rutgers University in 1971. He received his Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Rutgers School of Law in 1974 and his Master of Laws (LLM) in criminal law from New York University School of Law in 1984. Freeh jointed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a Special Agent in 1975, working assignments in the New York field office and later transferring to Headquarters in Washington D.C.

In 1981, he joined the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York as an Assistant United States Attorney. Subsequently, he held positions there as Chief of the Organized Crime Unit, Deputy United States Attorney, and Associate United States Attorney.

During this time, Freeh was the lead prosecutor in the "Pizza Connection" case, the largest and most complex investigation ever undertaken at the time by the United States Government. The case involved an extensive drug-trafficking operation in the United States by Sicilian organized crime members who used pizza parlors as fronts. Following the investigation, Freeh served as the federal government's principal courtroom attorney in the 14-month trial and won the conviction of 16 of 17 co-defendants. In 1990, he was appointed a Special Prosecutor by the Attorney General to oversee the investigation into the mail-bomb murders of Federal Judge Robert Vance of Birmingham, Alabama, and civil rights leader Robert Robinson of Savannah, Georgia. This case became known as the VANPAC case. After extensive investigation, a suspect was apprehended, prosecuted, and convicted.

In July 1991, former President George Bush appointed Freeh as United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York. While serving in this position he was nominated to be the Director of the FBI by President William Clinton on July 20, 1993. He was confirmed by the Senate and was sworn in as Director on September 1, 1993 where Freeh remained through 2001.

Following his many years of public service, Freeh accepted a position with MBNA America Bank, N.A., as Vice Chairman, General Counsel and Ethics Officer. In 2006, he served as the company's principal lawyer in connection with the $35 billion acquisition of the company by Bank of America and in 2007 formed FGIS.

James R. Bucknam   [Download VCard]
Chief Executive Officer

Jim Bucknam is the Chief Executive Officer of FGIS. Previously, Jim was the Executive Vice President for Risk Management and Compliance at Kroll. During his thirteen years with Kroll, Jim held a variety of other management and executive management positions and was also responsible for managing large-scale client assignments, including due diligence engagements, internal investigations and monitorships.

Before joining Kroll, Jim served for more than three years as the Senior Advisor to FBI Director Louis J. Freeh, advising him on numerous matters involving domestic and foreign law enforcement officials and government leaders. During that time, Jim traveled extensively and helped shape the FBI's efforts to enhance its foreign law enforcement presence. In 1994, he received the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award for coordinating multi-agency efforts in support of the Attorney General's Anti-Violent Crime Initiative.

Prior to working for Director Freeh, Jim served for six years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he gained broad experience in federal criminal investigations, trials, and appeals. For more than two of those years, Jim served as a supervisor, responsible for managing the Assistant United States Attorneys assigned to the Narcotics Unit.

Jim received his B.S.F.S. degree from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in 1983, and his Juris Doctor degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law, College of William and Mary, in 1986.

John D. Behnke   [Download VCard]
Managing Director

John Behnke has over 22 years of law enforcement experience, with 20 years at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He began his career as a Special Agent of the United States Secret Service, after graduating with his Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Washington University School of Law.

During his tenure at the FBI, Behnke served in many significant capacities during his distinguished career at the FBI to include his tenure as a member of the FBI Atlanta SWAT team and as an FBI firearms instructor. He was selected to serve as Special Assistant to the then Director of the FBI, Louis J. Freeh, responsible for the planning and coordination of the Director's official travel to 35 foreign countries. Behnke also served as the principal manager and liaison for Director Freeh's visits to FBI domestic Field Offices and the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, VA. Prior to his assignment as Special Assistant to the Director, John was lead agent for the Olympic Park Bombing Investigation. As a result of his successful efforts in this investigation, the U.S. Attorney General honored John with the Attorney General's Distinguished Service Award.

Additionally, John was the lead agent in the investigation of the 1989 murder of Judge Robert Vance of the 11 th Circuit Court of Appeals. After this case was successfully prosecuted, John was awarded the Department of Justice's Dedicated Service Award by President George H.W. Bush for his outstanding leadership, dedication and self-sacrifice.

Lawrence Byrne   [Download VCard]
Managing Director

Lawrence Byrne is a Managing Director of Freeh Group International Solutions, LLC. He is also a partner in the White Collar Litigation & Investigations Practice Group of Pepper Hamilton LLP.

Mr. Byrne has extensive experience representing clients involved in all types of government and internal investigations, as well as related trial and appellate matters. He has particular experience in antitrust, securities, class action defense, commercial, bankruptcy and First Amendment and media litigation.

Mr. Byrne served as a federal criminal prosecutor from 1988 to 1994. During this time, he served with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

Recent experience includes representation of:

• Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, a global pharmaceutical company involved in the largest criminal antitrust matter ever prosecuted criminally by the U.S. Department of Justice and also handled the related civil class action litigations, all involving the worldwide vitamins industry
• Royal Ahold, the international food provider, in its historic, precedent-setting settlements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice (through the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan), where no monetary fines were imposed
• Deutsche Bank in all of its Enron-related litigations in the United States
• a multinational construction company in internal investigations into alleged billing fraud and related U.S. government investigations
• a global defense company in a U.S. Department of Justice investigation involving possible Foreign Corrupt Practices Act issues and in a related civil derivative lawsuit which won dismissal in the federal district court
• The Royal Bank of Scotland in lawsuits arising out of the Clear Channel Communications transaction
• the joint administrators of Lehman European Group Administration Companies in U.S. Chapter 11 cases of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and related debtors and Securities Investor Protection Act proceeding of Lehman Brothers Inc.
• a global investment bank in their settlements with U.S. federal and state criminal and regulatory authorities related to U.S. sanctions programs that are administered by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control
• a director of a major financial company in an investigation for alleged breaches of U.S. securities laws in the context of the proposed acquisition of two large corporations
• Aibel Group Ltd. in their plea agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve Foreign Corrupt Practices Act charges.

Mr. Byrne has been recognized by many agencies for exceptional performance. He received the Burton Award for legal writing excellence for his "Executives Confront New Extradition Threat" article (International Financial Law Review, September 2005), the Director's Award for Superior Performance from the Attorney General in 1990, the Special Achievement Award from the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Criminal Division in 1993, and was honored with the Robert M. Morgenthau Award by the Police Athletic League of New York in recognition for his distinguished legal career in 2012. In addition, Mr. Byrne is listed in Benchmark Litigation, The Best Lawyers in America (white-collar criminal defense), New York Super Lawyers, The Legal 500 U.S. and is ranked as "Band 2" in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. He was featured in Irish America's The Legal 100 and was named an honoree in The Irish Echo's The Irish Law and Order 50.

Mr. Byrne has a distinguished record of pro bono service, including representing and advancing the rights of crime victims in New York State, serving as village attorney to the Village of Pelham, New York from 2002 to 2003, and serving as a member of former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee.

Mr. Byrne is a member of the board of directors and executive committee for the Police Athletic League of New York City since 2008 and a member of the editorial board of Securities Litigation Report through 2012.

Prior to joining Pepper, Mr. Byrne was a partner in the New York office of Linklaters, where he served as the head of the U.S. litigation practice, co-managing partner of the New York office and co-head of the global U.S. practice.

Education
B.A. 1981, magna cum laude, Hofstra University
J.D. 1984 New York University School of Law

Blake Coppotelli   [Download VCard]
Managing Director

Blake A. Coppotelli is a managing director with Freeh Group International Solutions, resident in the New York office.

Prior to joining the firm, he was a senior managing director with Kroll Associates Inc., advising public and private clients on public corruption, government, regulatory, and/or corporate investigations, financial and investigative due diligence, internal corporate controls and governance, and ethics policies. During his ten years at Kroll, his legal and investigative experience enabled him to be appointed to various independent ethics oversight positions by public and private clients and/or concerns, and to serve as an Independent Private Sector Inspector General on numerous high profile matters. His current practice concentrates in these areas, as well as in white collar criminal defense.

Prior to joining Kroll, for thirteen years, Mr. Coppotelli was an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, ending the last four years of his tenure as chief of the Labor Racketeering Unit and Construction Industry Strike Force. Mr. Coppotelli also served as a senior investigative counsel advising other investigative assistant district attorneys on investigative strategies, legal issues and trial practice.

While chief, Mr. Coppotelli supervised the investigation into District Council 37, of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union. The investigation secured the convictions of more than twenty-five union officials and nine corporations for grand larceny, scheme to defraud, and bribery. Mr. Coppotelli also supervised the racketeering and anti-trust indictments of eleven members of the Lucchese crime family, including the family’s acting boss, two capos, eleven construction companies, and numerous union officials from Local 608 of the Northern Regional Council of the United States Brotherhood of Carpenters, Local 1 of the Builders and Allied Craftsmen, and Local 20 of the Laborers International Union. Mr. Coppotelli further supervised the investigation of New York State Senator Guy Velella for conspiracy to receive bribes for influencing the awarding of public contracts.

In addition to the above, Mr. Coppotelli directly handled the 1990s investigation into bid-rigging within the New York City interior construction industry, resulting in the commercial bribery convictions of six of the top ten metropolitan area interior general contracting companies, their principals, and over forty architects, designers, project consultants, building managers, and real estate brokers. Mr. Coppotelli also was responsible for the investigation and conviction of the State of New York Dormitory Authority’s chief of court projects, and his first assistant project manager, for laundering and stealing in excess of $500,000 from the authority through the rigging and inflation of numerous contracts on the Bronx Supreme Court, the Queens Supreme Court and Family Court, Staten Island Supreme Court, and the Manhattan Supreme Court buildings. Further, Mr. Coppotelli was the prosecutor who investigated the Fulton Fish Market, and secured the felony conviction of the head of International Fishmonger’s Association.

Matthew Dolan   [Download VCard]
Managing Director

Matt Dolan joined Freeh Group International Solutions, LLC, in March 2012 after retiring from the United States Navy with 24 years experience in leadership and law. After serving as a Naval Special Warfare Officer (SEAL) for five years, Dolan attended law school and served in the Navy JAGC gaining experience in criminal prosecutions, investigations, ethics, physical security, strategic planning, crisis management and compliance.

Investigations: Served as investigator and consultant for Special Investigative Task Force inquiring into the sexual assault allegations at Penn State University. Senior consultant on matters related to organizational ethics, whistleblower protections, NCAA compliance, and higher education law. In addition, Dolan has overseen numerous criminal investigations as a prosecutor to include synthetic drug distribution, cheating scandals, sexual assault cases, and computer crimes. Most recently he conducted a complicated investigation into alleged bribery and corruption scandal in Asia. Dolan also has extensive experience conducting aircraft and vessel safety mishap investigations.

Compliance: Dolan served as Senior Legal Advisor at the United States Naval Academy where he was responsible for implementing corrective action in response to numerous financial reviews and audits. In 15 months he had executed over 50 major corrective actions promulgating guidance, seeking authorities, or changing financial practices. Testified on Capitol Hill before congressional oversight board as to corrective action implemented in light of reviews and audits.

Higher Education: Served as Senior Legal Advisor at the Naval Academy responsible for all legal issues at the University to include conducting legal reviews of university admissions process and NCAA compliance issues. Managed student conduct system and was primary legal advisor to sexual assault prevention and response program. Extensive experience in ensuring university compliance with information security and privacy laws related to Personally Identifiable Information and student records.

Ethics: Served as Ethics Counselor for sixteen years advising on topics to include conflicts of interests, financial disclosure, proper use of resources, and gift acceptance.

Security: Extensive experience reviewing threat assessments and security protective measures to ensure safety of US Navy port visits worldwide. Led two SEAL Platoon in worldwide special operations deployments.

Dolan is a 1988 graduate of the University of Notre Dame. He has a JD from the University of San Diego and an LLM in International and Comparative Law from George Washington University Law School.

Walter B. Donaldson, II   [Download VCard]
Managing Director / CFE

Walter joined Freeh Group International Solutions (FGIS) following his retirement from Bank of America / Merrill Lynch. As a Managing Director for the firm, Walter brings over thirty years of experience in areas of Risk Management, Audit & Compliance, Regulatory Reviews, Corporate Investigations, Data Breach Response & Investigation, Intellectual Property Investigations, Executive Protection, Computer Forensics and Law Enforcement. Throughout the course of his career, Walter has assisted both private and public corporations in complex matters involving criminal investigations and financial sector compliance matters. His results-oriented work style and proven acumen in project management, facilitation and implementation align strongly with FGIS commitment to integrity, superior service and dedication to excellence.

Prior to joining FGIS, Walter served as the Global Special Investigations Executive and Senior Vice President of Bank of America / Merrill Lynch. In this role, he was directly responsible for the oversight of fraud investigations in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Additionally, he oversaw all investment fraud investigations, cyber crimes and on-line banking fraud globally. Walter managed a quality review process for regulatory reporting and conducted root cause analysis on internal audit issues and matters requiring attention by regulators. Walter managed all physical security operations across Canada including employee safety, threat management programs, building & campus risk assessments and uniformed guard services. He served as the corporate liaison for all law enforcement matters for Bank of America / Merrill Lynch and worked with Regulators on a global basis.

Earlier in his career, Walter served as the Director of Corporate Investigations for MBNA America N.A. His responsibilities included overseeing Internal Auditing, Compliance matters, FCPA, Country Risk Assessments, and Global Investigations. Walter reported to regulators from the OCC, FRB and FSA on a routine basis. He implemented a Workplace Violence prevention program and oversight committee, established the Ethics program, Code of Conduct and Hotline. Walter oversaw the Executive Protection of seven principals, their families and visiting dignitaries domestically, in addition to six expatriates located full time in Mexico City. Walter established three computer forensic laboratories in the US and abroad. He served MBNA as their Director for twenty years before the company's acquisition by Bank of America.

Walter is a graduate of the United States Coast Guard, Maritime Law Enforcement Academy. He is a Certified Fraud Examiner and holds multiple other security-related certifications. He has lectured on identity theft prevention and recovery, and computer forensics for the University of Delaware and Wilmington University Graduate programs. Additionally he taught first responders computer forensics at the FBI's National Academy. He has trained with Delaware State Police and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Walter has produced white papers and been published in various periodicals including the Chief of Police magazine. He is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police among others. He has served as a board member for the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators, and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Delaware Crime Stoppers, the State of Delaware Adult Protective Services Advisory Committee and the Autism Delaware Advisory Board.

Timothy P. Flynn   [Download VCard]
Managing Director

Tim Flynn joined Freeh Group International Solutions, LLC (FGIS) in 2009 after retiring from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F131) with 30 years of experience in law enforcement. While earning his Bachelor Degree from West Chester University, he served as a local police officer and with the Pennsylvania State Police. Flynn joined the FBI in 1986 and was assigned to the Miami Field Office where he specialized in Colombian based drug and undercover investigations. He was also assigned to the FBI Miami Special Weapons and Tactics team and provided tactical instruction for local police and federal agencies. In 1994, Flynn was assigned as an operator on the Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) based in Quantico, Virginia. Flynn participated in numerous domestic and international counterterrorism assignments and also led and participated in security details for the Director of the FBI, the Attorney General of the United States and numerous foreign dignitaries. As a member of the HRT, he provided instruction in tactics and other specialized training to local, state, federal and international tactical teams.

Flynn was assigned as the FBI Counterterrorism representative to the Australian Government to assist in the security preparations and planning for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Based on his experience in Major Event planning, he also participated in the planning and preparations for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games, 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, 2006 Torino Winter Olympics and the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.

While assigned as the Senior Supervisory Special Agent in Wilmington, North Carolina, where he initiated and led a joint Terrorism Task Force, Flynn was selected as the FBI's first representative to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Counterterrorism Center in Canberra, assisting the AFP in training senior management in Command Post and Crisis Management operations. In 2007, Flynn was named the FBI's Legal Attache in Copenhagen before being promoted in 2008 to Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Charlotte, NC office responsible for criminal investigations, special events, SWAT operations and administrative functions in the field division. During his career in the FBI, Flynn has received numerous awards and commendations to include on two occasions, the United States Attorney's Office for Outstanding Drug Investigations and in 2009, received the FBI Directors Award for Outstanding Criminal Investigation.

For FGIS, Flynn developed and implemented the security plans and strategies for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria and the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt, which consisted of security plans for at least 8 different cities and assessments of numerous stadiums and hotels in each of those countries. Flynn has also conducted security assignments and reviews for numerous Fortune 500 companies, both internationally and domestically.

Flynn has also led the investigative teams in compliance projects involving prominent international corporations, the Penn State University investigation as well as investigations involving allegations of corruption in the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA.

Jennifer Hammond   [Download VCard]
Managing Director

Jennifer Hammond is a Managing Director with Freeh Group International Solutions, LLC (FGIS). Jennifer joined FGIS with over 14 years of experience providing forensic accounting services across a broad range of private industries, not-for-profit organizations, and federal government entities. She specializes in conducting reactive confidential investigations and proactive risk management assessments.

Prior to her work with FGIS, Jennifer was a Partner in the Forensic & Valuation Services department of the firm CliftonLarsonAllen LLP in Washington, D.C. During her time with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, she was responsible for leading investigations in connection with business, accounting and fraud-related issues at private companies, organizations and public agencies.

Before joining CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, Jennifer served as a Forensic Director in Advisory Services at KPMG, LLP in Washington, D.C. and London, England. While at KPMG Jennifer gained extensive international experience conducting investigations and enhancing compliance programs related to general fraud, bribery and corruption, money laundering and other regulatory requirements for organizations. From 2006 to 2009, Jennifer led the KPMG UK Anti-Bribery and Corruption team.

Jennifer received her B.A. degree from the University of Baltimore in 1993. She later went on to receive her Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law and her Master of Business Administration degree from University of Baltimore School of Business in 1998. She is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, as well as the American Bar Association, International Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of Washington, D.C., and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Elliott Leary   [Download VCard]
Managing Director

Elliott Leary is a Managing Director with Freeh Group International Solutions, LLC. Elliott has over 30 years of experience conducting high profile investigations as a Special Agent with the FBI and as the KPMG Partner in Charge of the Washington, DC Forensic Practice. He performs fraud and misconduct investigations and risk assessments for leading national and multi-national corporations, many in the Fortune 100, as well as for public and not-for-profit entities. Elliott has assisted clients in the prevention and deterrence of fraud through the evaluation, development and implementation of anti-fraud programs and controls. Elliott has served as the chairman of the AICPA’s Fraud Advisory Group, on the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Subcommittee and the AICPA Anti-Fraud Coordinating Committee. He has lectured to private organizations and law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. and internationally and been honored with numerous awards and citations from the Department of Justice, FBI and other law enforcement agencies. Eliott has his Master’s degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

John G. Rahie   [Download VCard]
Managing Director

John G. Rahie joined Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP ("FSS") on October 1, 2009. Prior to joining FSS, Rahie was the Executive Director of Global Investigations for General Motors Corporation based in Detroit, Michigan. He was a member of the General Motors Legal Staff, specializing in compliance and ethics matters. In his 30 years with General Motors Legal Staff, he held a number of positions including General Counsel of GM Europe based in Zurich. He has extensive experience in compliance and corporate governance issues and served as a member of GM's Senior Management Compliance Committee. He also served as the GM Global Process Leader for Special Investigations and Anti-Corruption Activities, conducting sensitive "white-collar" investigations for GM throughout the world and directing its FCPA and anti-corruption compliance programs.

Rahie holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (BEE) degree from Kettering University, a Juris Doctor (JD) from Michigan State University School of Law and a Master of Laws (LLM) from Wayne State University. He is a member of the Michigan State Bar and the American Bar Association.

Steve Tidwell   [Download VCard]
Managing Director

Mr. Tidwell entered on duty with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in June 1983. Prior to entering the FBI, he served as a police officer with the Richardson, Texas, Police Department for eight years, attaining the rank of Sergeant. As an investigative agent, he served in the Dallas, Mobile and Baltimore Field Offices, investigating narcotics, violent crime and gang matters. He served as a team member on the Mobile and Baltimore Field Office’s SWAT teams. In Baltimore, he was an Assistant Team Leader and also served as the SWAT Coordinator.

Mr. Tidwell served in six FBI Field Offices and five FBIHQ Divisions. He has been assigned to, or supervised every FBI investigative program, including Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, Cyber, and Criminal.

Mr. Tidwell served as Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Salt Lake City Division from 1999 to 2001, and as Inspector, Inspection Division, from 2001 to 2002. He was the team leader for the FBIHQ Flight 77 global investigative team following the 9/11 attacks.

In March 2002, Mr. Tidwell was appointed Special Agent in Charge of the Louisville Field Office. He served as an On-Scene Commander for the FBI during the sniper investigation in the Washington, D. C., area, including the crime scene at the arrest site.

In May 2003, he was assigned as Deputy Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division, FBIHQ.

In November 2003, he was appointed as Special Agent in Charge, Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG), responsible for the FBI’s special mission, aviation, crisis management/response, and tactical programs and assets. He served as the FBI’s On-Scene Commander for personnel deployed to support the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics. He is a 2005 National Defense University Pinnacle Course (rising three-star flag officers) Fellow. He was the FBI’s first National Asset Commander for tactical and crisis incidents and was responsible for the FBI’s overall national response to Hurricane Katrina.

In August 2005, Mr. Tidwell was designated Assistant Director in Charge of the Los Angeles Field Office, the FBI’s third largest field office with 1300 employees. He is a recipient of the 2005 Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive. He served as Chairman of the Director’s Special Agent in Charge Advisory Committee.

In December 2007, he was appointed as Executive Assistant Director for the Bureau’s Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch, comprised of the Criminal Investigative Division, Cyber Division, CIRG, International Operations Division, and Office of Law Enforcement Coordination. He was responsible for over 14,000 of the FBI’s personnel and the programs they supported.

Following his retirement in 2009, he worked as a consultant in leadership and law enforcement issues. In January 2010, he became the Executive Director of the FBI National Academy Associates, Inc., (FBINAA), a non-profit member organization for command law enforcement executives who graduated from the FBI’s National Academy. He has been an adjunct faculty member of the Johns Hopkins University Division of Public Safety Leadership, a guest lecturer at the Naval Post Graduate School and Leadership instructor at the FBI’s Executive Development Institute. He is a graduate of the FBI’s National Executive Institute. He is a member of IACP, the FBINAA, and serves as Chairman of the Concerns of Police Survivors Advisory Council.

Thomas O. Melvin   [Download VCard]
Director

Thomas O. Melvin joined Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP in April 2010 as an associate in the New York office. He received a B.A. from Georgetown University in 2002 and an M.Sc. from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2003. He received his law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 2010, where he was a senior editor for the Journal of Legislation and was given the A. Harold Weber Award for outstanding achievement in the art of oral advocacy. Tom has worked at the New York City Council, the New York City Department of Education and the Washington, DC office of an international law firm. He was also a founding member of the Harlem Success Charter Schools and the Success Charter Network.

Jose R. Hernandez, Ph.D.   [Download VCard]
Senior Advisor

José R. Hernandez is the CEO of FGI Europe AG, a Zurich-based, independent international risk management company. He is a former Pricewaterhouse-Coopers partner, bringing expertise in forensic accounting, corporate governance and SEC compliance matters. Since 2001, he has been living in Europe and has focused on assisting Audit Committees, CFOs and Chief Compliance Officers to address issues relating to accounting fraud and corruption (including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) in response to a United States or European regulatory inquiry. These matters include internal investigations; remediation of financial statements and related disclosure; and, assisting companies in presenting their remedial actions to the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice.

Dr. Hernandez holds degrees as a Bachelor of Mathematics and Masters of Accounting from the University of Waterloo (Canada), as well as designations as a Canadian Chartered Accountant, United States Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst. Most recently, he completed his PhD in Economics and Business Administration at the VU University Amsterdam (Netherlands). His dissertation is titled "Principles, Processes, and Practices of Fraud Prevention." He is a faculty at VU University.