About Us

Experienced Practitioners. Practical Advice.

We have helped companies around the world address some of their most pressing compliance and investigations concerns. Collectively having practiced at global law firms and corporations, and as prosecutors, we view compliance and investigations challenges from multiple angles to provide our clients with effective and practical solutions.

Angela Crawford corporate compliance investigator

Angela Crawford

Managing Member

T: +1 305 849 4286

E: angela@crawfordacharya.com

1801 NE 123rd Street, Suite 314
North Miami, FL 33181

Overview

Angela Crawford is an experienced legal and compliance professional who has spent 24 years advising global companies in several sectors, including life sciences, healthcare, food and beverage, retail and apparel, software and technology, manufacturing and extractives, non-profit, and consulting.

She regularly conducts investigations for public and private entities based on allegations of compliance and regulatory violations, corruption, bribery, fraud, and employee and third-party misconduct, and advises clients on the development, implementation, and enhancement of ethics and compliance programs, policies, and training. Angela has led well over 100 investigations, compliance reviews, risk assessments, and trainings in over 20 countries around the world.

After serving as a partner for a decade at DLA Piper, one of the world’s largest law firms, Angela co-founded Crawford & Acharya in February 2020.

A former federal prosecutor, Angela is admitted to practice in Florida and Illinois. She is committed to professional and community service and serves as a member of the American Bar Association, the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s Fellows Program, the Government Investigations & Civil Litigation Institute’s (“GICLI”) Diversity Initiative, the National Association of Black Compliance & Risk Management Professionals’ (“NABCRMP”) Board of Directors, Northwestern University's Law School Fund Board (Chair) and Dean's Circle (Co-Chair), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and First United Methodist Church of Miami's Leadership Board. Angela has been selected as a participant in the U.S. SBA’s 2023 THRIVE Program—an executive-level training series designed to accelerate the growth of high-potential small businesses across the U.S. Her interests include international travel, entrepreneurship, dogs, and wellbeing.

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Experience

  • Trusted advisor to General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officers, and their teams
  • Led FCPA and compliance investigations and reviews including in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Dubai, Morocco, Turkey, Japan, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines
  • Led internal investigations for clients in wide-ranging matters, including investigations involving allegations of harassment; sexual assault; discrimination; fraud; executive-level misconduct; procurement fraud; sales force misconduct; and inventory manipulation
  • Conducted comprehensive compliance risk assessments of global companies’ corporate ethics and compliance programs
  • Created and conducted Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and ethics and compliance training for corporate clients
  • Led investigations and advised on programmatic enhancements regarding applicability, consistency, and messaging of employment policies and procedures
  • Led investigations for life sciences company regarding allegations of manufacturing, quality, maintenance, security, and supply issues at multiple production facilities
  • Led investigation for development bank regarding allegations of self-dealing, corruption, and financial mismanagement
  • Led investigation for non-profit regarding allegations of fraud and financial misconduct
  • Seconded with global beauty company to advise on implementation and enhancement of anti-corruption policy and procedures. Subsequently led investigations and conducted staff training for company
  • Represented clients in commercial litigation matters
  • Trained police prosecutors in Barbados on criminal trial practice and procedure
  • Conducted pro bono workshops for magistrates in Guyana on criminal trial skills, evidence, advanced trial management, best practices in bail setting, and domestic violence
  • Pro bono representation of clients to assist with legal issues following Hurricane Irma and of a client in an asylum appeal before the Bureau of Immigration Affairs
  • Practiced as a partner at DLA Piper LLP in Miami and Tampa, and as an associate and partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago
  • Served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago)

Credentials

Clerkship

  • Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Nathaniel R. Jones, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Education

  • Juris Doctor, Northwestern University School of Law (1998); Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Coordinating Articles Editor
  • Bachelor of Science, Finance, Indiana University (1993)

Admissions

  • Illinois (1998)
  • Florida (2007)

Publications, Presentations, and Seminars

  • Panelist, The Compliance Professional’s Role in ESG, Compliance Week’s Women in Compliance Summit (June 2023)
  • Panelist, The Ins and Outs of Third-Party Compliance Audits, Compliance Week’s Third Party Risk Management Summit (June 2023)
  • Moderator, Regulatory Enforcement of Digital Assets, GICLI Annual Meeting (November 2022)
  • Panelist, Emerging Developments and Trends in ESG Enforcement, NABCRMP Annual Summit (October 2022)
  • Panelist, Closing the Deal—Managing Compliant Acquisitions, ComplianceLine Masterclass (September 2022)
  • Panelist, Six Years After Och-Ziff, FCPA Best Practices for Financial Services, Association of Corporate Counsel (September 2022)
  • Panelist, Entrepreneurial Winning Women, NABCRMP Women Leaders in Governance, Risk, and Compliance Conference (March 2022, March 2023)
  • Panelist, The Law of Corporate Diversity Programs: Where Is It and Where Is It Going? GICLI Annual Meeting (November 2021)
  • Panelist, ESG Risk: What is it? Why it Matters. How it relates to Future DEI Efforts, NABCRMP Annual Summit (October 2021)
  • Co-Author, Analysis of the DOJ's June 2020 updated guidance on the Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs (June 2, 2020)
  • Author, Leading Compliance Through a Crisis (May 26, 2020)
  • Co-Author, Mitigating Compliance Risk in the Midst of COVID-19 (April 15, 2020)
  • Co-Author, Practical Tips for Ethics and Compliance Professionals During the COVID-19 Outbreak (March 9, 2020)
  • Corporate Compliance Presentation (Santiago, Chile, June 2019)
  • Co-Author, DOJ Revises its Guidance on Corporate Compliance Programs (May 2019)
  • Co-Author, FBI’s New Miami International Corruption Squad Sends Clear Message to S. Fla. Businesses (March 2019)
  • AmCham Hungary Compliance Conference Presentation: The Eye of the Beholder – An Employee’s Perspective on Bribery (Budapest, Hungary, October 2018)
  • IBA Latin American Anti-Corruption Enforcement and Compliance Conference Presentation: Identifying Corruption in Third Parties (São Paulo, Brazil, November 2017)
  • Co-Author, Attorney General Sessions Reemphasizes DOJ Commitment to FCPA Enforcement, Individual Accountability: 4 Takeaways for Business (2017)
  • FCPA: Challenges and Risks of Doing Business in Latin America Presentation (Miami, January 2017)
  • NAWL General Counsel Institute Presentation: Compliance in the New Normal: Tips and Best Practices for a Forward-Thinking Ethics & Compliance Program (New York, November 2016)
  • SCCE 2016 Compliance & Ethics Institute Presentation (Chicago, September 2016)
  • Co-Author, Litigation & Dispute Resolution 2016: USA - Florida, International Comparative Legal Guide (2016)
  • CCWC Annual Career Strategies Conferences, General Counsel Training Boot Camp: Conflict Resolution Skills Needed for Today’s Workplace -Resolving Internal Conflict With Your Board and Business Partners (Atlanta, September 2015); Navigating Around and Avoiding Career Burnout, Fatigue and Plateaus (Los Angeles, October 2011)
  • Anti-Corruption Export Control and Sanctions Compliance Summit Presentation: The Era of the Whistleblower - Tips and Strategies (Virginia, April 2015)
  • Financial Executives International Presentation: Detecting and Preventing Financial Fraud – The FCPA: An Overview, Trends, Risks and Managing Exposure (Baltimore, February 2013)
  • MCCA’s 11th Annual CLE Expo Presentation: Collateral Damage: Parallel Prosecutions Triggered by International Investigations (Chicago, March 2012)
  • Florida Bar International Law Section Webinar Series Presentation: Managing Criminal Exposure Under the FCPA (March 2012)
  • Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities Presentation: Legal Issues in Entrepreneurship & Small Business (Florida State University, June 2011 and April 2012)
Lila Acharya Corporate Compliance Investigator Headshot

Lila Acharya

Managing Member

T: +1 617 699 2216

E: lila@crawfordacharya.com

75 State Street, Suite 100
Boston, MA 02109

Overview

Lila Acharya is an experienced compliance and investigations attorney with a unique skillset developed from her work in private practice, the public sector, and in-house compliance roles in the life sciences and manufacturing sectors. After practicing as a litigator at Ropes & Gray in Boston and as a state prosecutor in Massachusetts, she moved to the United Kingdom in 2014. Lila has had a truly international practice for more than five years, working with multinational corporations on compliance challenges across the globe.

As a senior associate at Ropes & Gray LLP in London, she led cross-border investigations for several multinational clients. Her practice has also included conducting pre- and post-acquisition anti-corruption due diligence for private equity clients, conducting anti-corruption risk assessments, and providing compliance advisory services encompassing the FCPA and the UK Bribery Act.

In her roles as an in-house compliance attorney, she has investigated significant matters across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, developed a breadth of policies and procedures, conducted live training of hundreds of employees and third parties, and led the implementation of a third-party due diligence platform. Prior to co-founding the Firm, she was Senior Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC) Compliance Operations Counsel at Rolls-Royce plc, assisting with remediation after the company’s Deferred Prosecution Agreements with the US Department of Justice and UK Serious Fraud Office.

Lila is admitted to the Massachusetts bar and is a qualified solicitor in England and Wales. She is an avid runner (frequently joined by her two dogs), and has completed 10 marathons and one ultra-marathon.

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Experience

  • Conducted more than 60 investigations originating in 27 countries
  • Well-versed in navigating international data privacy and data transfer regulations in the collection and processing of data
  • Created document review protocols and managed numerous foreign language document reviews involving multiple custodians
  • Designed or revised internal investigations protocols for several companies, including developing best practices guidance
  • Conducted anti-bribery and corruption (ABC) due diligence on third parties in the US, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia
  • Conducted pre- and post-acquisition ABC due diligence for private equity portfolio companies
  • Carried out Global Compliance Risk Assessments for multinational corporations across industries
  • Assisted client with sanctions program improvements in connection with OFAC concerns
  • Drafted and/or updated compliance policies and procedures
  • Developed and delivered live compliance training to third-party distributors in Europe, Middle East, and Africa
  • Developed and delivered numerous compliance training sessions and face-to-face workshops for internal employees across industries
  • Overhauled a multinational corporation’s third-party due diligence procedures and led the design and implementation of an automated third-party due diligence platform
  • Seconded to a multinational maritime company to assist with overall compliance program, including creating compliance training modules for internal and external use, improving the risk assessment process, conducting due diligence of high-risk third-party business partners, and conducting investigations
  • Practiced as an associate and senior associate at Ropes & Gray LLP in Boston, Massachusetts, and London, England
  • As a state prosecutor Massachusetts, conducted more than 20 jury trials, and argued successfully before the Massachusetts Court of Appeals
  • Appointed in 2022 to the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers Pro Bono Panel to represent members of the bar in bar discipline complaints and reinstatement proceedings

Credentials

Education

  • Juris Doctor (cum laude), New York University (2006); Moot Court Board
  • Bachelor of Arts, Political Science (with high honors), University of Michigan (2003)

Admissions

  • Massachusetts (2006)
  • England & Wales (2017)

Publications, Presentations, and Seminars

  • Panelist, Best Practices for Third Party Compliance Audits, Compliance Week Third-Party Risk Management Summit (Virtual, November 2023)
  • Panelist, Investigations: Separating the Simple from the Complex, Ethico Webinar (Virtual, July 2023)
  • Moderator, Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Compliance Week Women in Compliance Summit (June 2023)
  • Panelist, TPRM Regulatory Update, Compliance Week Third Party Risk Management Summit (June 2023)
  • Panelist, Sanctions as the “New FCPA”: Regulatory Expectations, Lessons Learned from Russia, and Preparing for the Next Crisis SCCE 2022 Compliance & Ethics Institute (October 2022)
  • Panelist, Ethics in Investigations, Government Investigations & Civil Litigation Institute’s 7th Annual Meeting (November 2021)
  • Panelist, Challenges in Conducting Cross-Border Investigations, International White Collar Symposium: The Globalization of Enforcement, New York City Bar/International Bar Association (November 2021)
  • Panelist, Challenges of Implementing a Third-Party Due Diligence Program, SCCE 2020 Compliance & Ethics Institute Presentation (Virtual, September 2020)
  • Co-Author, Analysis of the DOJ's June 2020 updated guidance on the Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs (June 2, 2020)
  • Author, Back to Basics: Lessons Learned from the Eni S.p.A. Settlement, Thomson Reuters (May 7, 2020)
  • Co-Author, Mitigating Compliance Risk in the Midst of COVID-19, HR Daily Advisor (April 15, 2020)
  • Co-Author, Practical Tips for Ethics and Compliance Professionals During the COVID-19 Outbreak (March 9, 2020)

Sarah Walsh

Member

T: +1 617 548 2442

E: sarah@crawfordacharya.com

75 State Street, Suite 100
Boston, MA 02109

Overview

Sarah Walsh is a trial attorney with over 15 years of experience representing individuals and organizations in government enforcement, compliance, internal investigations, complex business litigation, and employment matters. As counsel at Jackson Lewis and partner at Robins Kaplan, she served various industries including healthcare, financial services, technology, and colleges and universities. She has represented clients in civil and criminal trials and matters, including enforcement actions and investigations undertaken by the U.S. Department of Justice, Securities Exchange Commission, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, local District Attorney’s Offices, and various other government agencies.

Sarah is also committed to her pro bono practice and has done work on behalf of indigent criminal defendants, clients facing immigration matters, and on behalf of various non-profit institutions. She is a board member for the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts, a member of the Steering Committee of the White Collar Section for the Boston Bar Association, and a member of the Boston chapter of the Women in White Collar Defense Association.

Sarah is admitted to the Massachusetts bar and enjoys spending her time outside of work with her family, at the beach, and supporting all forms of performing arts.

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Experience

  • Represented clients in government enforcement actions and investigations in the healthcare, technology, financial services, construction, and higher education industries
  • Led internal investigations for clients in various matters, including investigations involving allegations of harassment, sexual assault, discrimination, Title IX violations, and fraud
  • Represented companies and individuals in qui tam actions concerning alleged violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law
  • Conducted internal investigations and created climate surveys related to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion for technology and pharmaceutical clients
  • Created and conducted ethics and compliance training on employee theft and fraud prevention for corporate clients
  • Conducted Title IX training for major universities
  • Represented and advised clients on whistleblower claims and government self-disclosure programs
  • Provided advice and counsel on cryptocurrency concerns before state and federal regulators, including FINRA, SEC and DOJ
  • Represented a pharmaceutical company in a federal civil trial alleging False Claims Act violations, Title VII sex discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation, and parallel state claims
  • Represented an individual in a federal criminal jury trial alleging racketeering, wire fraud, and introduction of adulterated drugs into interstate commerce
  • Secured the acquittal of an individual in a federal criminal jury trial alleging theft of trade secrets and violations of the Economic Espionage Act
  • Secured the acquittal of an individual in a state criminal jury trial alleging assault and battery

Credentials

Education

  • Juris Doctor, Suffolk University Law School (2005)
  • Bachelor of Science, Organizational Communications, Ithaca College (1999)

Admissions

  • Massachusetts (2005)
  • United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (2005)
  • United States District Court for the District of Connecticut (2016)

Publications, Presentations, and Seminars

  • Speaker, Healthcare Industry Webinar Series, Jackson Lewis (2019-2023)
  • Co-Speaker, Conducting Internal Investigation Webinar Series, Jackson Lewis (2016)
  • Co-Author, The New Anti-Corruption Ethics Compliance Handbook for Businesses: Friend or Foe for Company Compliance Departments, Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics Magazine (June 2014)

Overview

Carol Pang is an experienced compliance and investigations attorney with an international and diverse perspective. Primarily raised and educated in Taiwan, she is fully bilingual in Mandarin Chinese and English, with law degrees and/or legal qualifications from Taiwan, Hong Kong and the United States.

She has conducted compliance investigations and provided compliance advisory services to companies across a broad range of sectors. She has extensive experience in ethics and compliance (“E&C”) in general, with particular experience in anti-corruption compliance.

As a senior associate at Ropes & Gray LLP in Hong Kong, she focused on internal investigations and due diligence related to anti-corruption in China. Earlier in her career, she was a corporate lawyer with experience in securities and private funds transactions at Davis Polk in New York City.

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Experience

  • Conducted comprehensive compliance risk assessments for global companies
  • Conducted compliance investigations relating to anti-corruption, fraud, human resources, diversity and inclusion and other compliance matters
  • Supported the re-design of a compliance risk management program for a global consulting firm
  • Drafted updates for the full suite of compliance policies and procedures for a multi-national company in the automotive industry
  • Reviewed and revised compliance policies and procedures across various E&C topics
  • Reviewed the internal investigations process and protocols for a multinational retailer
  • Conducted investigations relating to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and other anti-corruption laws for multinational companies across different sectors, including the life sciences industry in China
  • Conducted anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and sanctions due diligence for leading private equity firms regarding proposed investments in Asia, including China and India.
  • Presented readout decks, memoranda, and remediation plans to senior management.
  • Conducted anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and sanctions due diligence on behalf of leading private equity firms regarding proposed investments in Asia, including China and India.
  • Drafted, negotiated, and reviewed compliance representations and warranties in share purchase agreements and shareholder agreements.
  • Reviewed and assisted with risk-management policies and programs related to third-party management, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption for portfolio companies of leading private equity firms.
  • Drafted and delivered company-specific presentations on anti-corruption compliance for employees and conducted third-party trainings.
  • Conducted an internal investigation on accounting fraud allegations concerning fictitious sales and improper revenue recognition with respect to a U.S.-listed Chinese company.
  • Represented major investment banks in connection with equity, interest rate and currency-linked registered structured notes offerings.
  • Drafted, negotiated, and reviewed private fund transaction documents, including private placement memorandums, subscription agreements, limited partnership agreements and side letters.

Credentials

Education

  • Juris Doctor, Yale Law School (2010); Journal of Regulation, Editor
  • Master of Laws, National Taiwan University (2007)
  • Bachelor of Laws, National Taiwan University (2004)

Admissions

  • New York (2011)
  • Taiwan (2004) (Inactive)
  • Hong Kong (2018) (Inactive)

Overview

Samantha Sosa joined Crawford & Acharya as an associate in 2023. During law school, she obtained a concentration in Risk Management and Compliance and participated in the Compliance Policy Clinic and Wrongful Convictions Practicum. She has supported internal investigations and compliance program assessments and advised on ethics and compliance matters.

Samantha is admitted to the Massachusetts bar and fluent in Spanish.

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Experience

  • Supported internal investigations involving allegations of bribery, discrimination, retaliation, and harassment
  • Supported comprehensive compliance program assessments for multinational companies
  • Advised on programmatic enhancements to internal investigations and third-party screening processes
  • Drafted and updated compliance policies and procedures for multinational companies
  • Developed a framework for assessing conflict of interest disclosures by employees for a multinational audio electronics company
  • Researched global developments in anti-bribery and anti-corruption, trade compliance, and antitrust
  • Conducted supplier due diligence and drafted supplier review guidelines for a multinational defense company
  • Supported government investigations of False Claims Act violations by regional healthcare providers and a multinational pharmaceutical company

Credentials

Education

  • Juris Doctor, Boston University School of Law (2022)
  • Bachelor of Arts, University of Florida, English Literature (2019)

Admissions

  • Massachusetts (2006)