Erin M. Harrigan

Erin has deep experience guiding clients through state, local, and federal government investigations and enforcement actions. As a first-chair litigator, she leads clients through these complex processes, with a particular focus on state and local government litigation. Erin heads teams defending against complex civil litigation involving state and federal regulations and white collar criminal matters. She has been recognized by her peers and by clients for her strategic skills in the courtroom, serving as first chair on multiple, complex criminal and civil trials and handling dozens of motions arguments and evidentiary hearings in both state and federal courts.

Erin also advises clients on regulatory compliance, helping them navigate the rules, regulations, and policy provisions affecting highly regulated industries, such as government contracting, health care, higher education, pharmaceuticals, consumer financing, and multifamily housing. Additionally, Erin directs internal investigations for clients facing allegations of noncompliance and misconduct.

Erin’s approaches to litigation and investigation are informed by years of work as a federal prosecutor. As assistant U.S. attorney in the Western District of Virginia, she prosecuted and investigated public corruption, money laundering, regulatory offenses, human trafficking, and fraud cases. Erin also served as a Virginia assistant attorney general, positioning her to assist clients facing inquiries from state attorneys general.

Attorneys General Litigation

• Defended an international pharmaceutical client against civil enforcement litigation under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (VCPA) brought by the Consumer Protection Unit of the Virginia Attorney General’s Office involving the manufacture of opioid medications as part of a coordinated strategy of multistate attorneys general enforcement; served as lead counsel in Virginia state court litigation in motions hearings and discovery practice during the course of the litigation.
• Successfully defended a public official in a high-profile, politically charged criminal jury trial against novel charges of making false statements to the media and retaliatory employment actions under the Virginia State & Local Conflicts of Interest Act brought by the Virginia Attorney General’s office, resulting in a jury acquittal on one count and dismissal of two remaining counts.
• Successfully defended a high-profile federal licensee in a white-collar criminal jury trial alleging violations of state and federal regulations regarding the transport and exhibition of exotic animals, securing the pretrial dismissal of several counts, striking of several counts midtrial, jury acquittal on several additional counts, and reversal and dismissal of two felony counts on appeal based on arguments made during the trial.
• Defended a federal and state licensee in a highly regulated industry in civil enforcement litigation seeking closure of client’s commercial operations in Virginia, based on allegations of violations of state regulations, resulting in several rulings in the client’s favor, continued operations in the Commonwealth, and the return of property initially seized by the government.

Attorneys General Enforcement

• Represented multiple pharmaceutical industry clients in various joint investigations by the Virginia Office of the Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Justice relating to the manufacture and marketing of controlled substances and involving claims of multimillion-dollar overpayments by state-administered health programs for client products.
• Successfully negotiated the resolution of allegations of more than $5 million in violations of the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act (VFATA) by the Consumer Fraud Team of the Virginia Office of the Attorney General, resulting in no admission of liability and a settlement of $150,000 for a consumer retail goods client.
• Represented multiple clients operating in the behavioral health industry through joint investigations by the Virginia Office of the Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Justice into billing and staffing practices.

False Claims Act

• Represented multiple pharmaceutical clients in various federal criminal and civil investigations and litigation relating to the manufacture of controlled substances and involving multimillion-dollar allegations of violations of the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act (FDCA), the False Claims Act (FCA), and federal Anti-Kickback Statutes (AKS).
• Successfully represented a former executive of a defense contractor against allegations of paying illegal gratuities to civilian employees of the U.S. Department of Defense involving a multimillion-dollar defense contract, resulting in the closing of criminal and civil investigations without any enforcement actions.
• Provided rapid response to conduct an internal investigation involving allegations of violations of the FCA by employees of client defense contractor, providing advice and recommendations for remedial action within 24 hours.
• Advised defense contractor clients on compliance with FCA, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement (DFARS), and other defense industry regulations, and provided rapid response and internal investigation services to clients facing allegations of employee misconduct violating these provisions.

Internal Investigations

• Co-led a team of 35 auditors and 35 attorneys in a multiyear internal investigation for an institutional client into allegations of mismanagement and financial misconduct in a highly regulated industry.
• Led a rapid-response internal investigation for the board of a publicly traded manufacturing company into executive misconduct and discrimination allegations, resulting in the dismissal of top executive leaders for cause.
• Conducted an internal investigation on behalf of a client nonprofit organization into serious allegations of gross sexual assault, sexual harassment, financial mismanagement, and discrimination in the workplace.
• Conducted an internal investigation into the management of a financial account and provided compliance recommendations under Virginia procurement regulations for a client partnered with government agency on projects.

Related Experience in Highly Regulated Industries

• Obtained a favorable resolution for a national commercial real estate development and management firm against federal class action civil litigation involving allegations under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (VCPA) and Virginia Fair Housing Law (VFHL).
• Guided corporate clients in highly regulated industries with disclosure obligations to federal and state regulatory agencies through the process of reporting identified instances of noncompliance, individual employee misconduct, and external fraud schemes.
• Provided appellate representation before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and United States Supreme Court to a transportation executive accused of more than $4 million in federal program fraud and money laundering.
• Advised a finance executive of a sports, media, and entertainment organization through federal, state, and congressional investigations into allegations of financial misconduct by the entity.
• Counseled private investment managers through investigations by Virginia State Corporation Commission regarding private securities offerings and consumer mortgage lending.
• Counseled multiple state public officials through federal investigations into allegations of misappropriation and malfeasance in office.
• Trained all c-suite executives and human resources professionals for a publicly traded corporation with more than 11,000 employees and 350 locations nationwide on best practices for investigations into allegations of misconduct.

• Chambers USA: “Significant Individual” Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations, Band 1 (2025)
• Chambers USA: “Significant Individual” Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations, Band 2 (2021-2024)
• Recipient of the “Influential Women of Law” award by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (2023)
• Best Lawyers in America®: Criminal Defense: White Collar Law (2025)
• Named to the Class of 2024 “Leaders in the Law” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (2024)
• Designated one of the “Legal Elite” in Criminal law by Virginia Business Magazine (2022-2024)
• Designee for the National Association of Attorneys General to the Uniform Law Commission Committee on Human Trafficking (2011-2013)
• OCDETF National Director’s Award for Individual/Group Achievement on Opiate Reduction Efforts and Prosecutions (2019)