D Jean Veta

Jean Veta has received national recognition for her achievements defending financial institutions and their officers and directors in civil and regulatory enforcement matters, government investigations, internal corporate investigations, and congressional investigations. She was named Litigator of the Week in December 2012 by The Am Law Litigation Daily and was a finalist for Lawyer of the Year (Finance) at the 2013 Chambers USA Women in Law awards. Ms. Veta holds Chambers USA’s top rating as a leader in the field of Financial Services Enforcement and Investigations and is recognized in Best Lawyers in America for banking law. Ms. Veta is also listed as one of Washington's Super Lawyers in white collar criminal defense, and is recommended by The Legal 500 US for SEC investigations and financial services regulatory enforcement actions. Her litigation and regulatory practice includes the representation of clients on a broad array of regulatory enforcement matters, including anti-money laundering, lending discrimination, safety and soundness, securities law issues, and other government investigations. Prior to rejoining Covington in 2001, Ms. Veta was Deputy Associate Attorney General at the United States Department of Justice, where she was responsible for a wide range of legal and policy issues. REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS Representing the former CEO of IndyMac Bancorp in matters arising out of the failure of IndyMac Bank, including knocking out all but one claim in SEC’s once wide-ranging securities enforcement case and settling the last remaining claim, without admitting or denying liability, as a negligence-based claim for $80,000 and a commitment to comply with the securities laws; successfully resolving an FDIC lawsuit; and defending against and/or successfully resolving several securities class action lawsuits, mortgage-backed securities cases, and purported ERISA class action lawsuits. Representing the independent consultant, Treliant Risk Advisors LLC, in conducting a required independent review of a financial firm’s mortgage foreclosure practices. Representing a financial institution in a False Claims Act investigation by the U.S. Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Justice. Representing former directors and officers of three affiliated failed banks in successfully resolving claims asserted by the FDIC as receiver for the banks. Representing Wells Fargo in connection with a Federal Reserve Board investigation and consent order with respect to alleged falsification of customer income and customer steering by Wells Fargo Financial sales personnel in the origination of consumer mortgage loans. Representing Freddie Mac in connection with establishment of Federal government conservatorship. Representing financial institutions and their officers and directors in defending against proposed and/or actual civil money penalties, prohibition orders, consent orders, and formal agreements concerning such issues as alleged call report violations, violations of fiduciary duties, consumer compliance issues, brokered deposit issues, loan loss reserves, and other safety and soundness issues. Representing financial institutions in enforcement inquiries regarding lending discrimination issues brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and the federal bank regulators. Representing financial institutions on anti-money laundering inquiries involving the U.S. Departments of Justice and Treasury (FinCEN) and the federal bank regulators. Representing financial institutions in conducting internal investigations on compliance with safety and soundness issues, internal controls, and domestic and foreign anti-money laundering laws. Representing a major bank in conducting an independent investigation requested by the bank’s federal regulator regarding potential criminal violations. Representing a client in inquiries by the Federal Trade Commission and various state attorneys general regarding one of the five largest data security breaches reported in the world in 2007. More Representative Matters PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE Deputy Associate Attorney General, United States Department of Justice (2000-2001) Deputy General Counsel, United States Department of Education (1998-2000) HONORS AND RANKINGS Recognized as “Litigator of the Week” by Am Law Litigation Daily (Dec. 20, 2012) for her successful defense of the former CEO of IndyMac Bank. Recognized by Chambers USA as a finalist for "Finance Lawyer of the Year" at the upcoming 2013 Chambers USA Women in Law awards. Recognized by Chambers USA as a finalist for "Regulatory Lawyer of the Year" at the 2012 Chambers USA Women in Law awards. Recognized by Chambers USA as a leader in the field of Financial Services/Regulatory Enforcement and Investigations (2006-2012). Recognized in Best Lawyers in America for Banking and Finance Law (2008-2013); Financial Services Regulation Law (2012-2013); and Litigation - Banking & Finance (2012-2013). Recognized by the Washingtonian as a "Best Lawyer" in the field of Financial Services (2009, 2011). Recognized by Washington, DC Super Lawyers as one of the top lawyers in white collar criminal defense (2007, 2010-2013). Recognized by The Legal 500 US as a leader in the field of SEC investigations and enforcement actions (2007, 2010) and financial services regulatory enforcement actions (2011). PRO BONO Representing a coalition of civil rights organizations and religious leaders in ballot initiative matters that resulted in Maryland becoming one of the first states to approve same-sex marriage by popular vote. Representing civil rights organizations, an interfaith group of clergy, and four same-sex couples in successfully opposing, as amicus curiae, a Washington DC ballot initiative, which sought to rescind DC’s recently enacted legislation recognizing same-sex marriages. Representing a reproductive healthcare clinic in the U.S. Department of Justice’s prosecution of an anti-abortion activist for physically obstructing and intimidating clinic patients. MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS American Bar Association Section of Litigation, held various positions in the Section’s leadership over a number of years, including Secretary and Managing Director. Tulane Law School, Dean’s Advisory Board (2006-present) Tulane Law Review, Board of Advisory Editors (1992-present) PUBLICATIONS AND SPEECHES Ms. Veta was interviewed by Chambers Women & Diversity (2/5/2013) for being a trailblazer for women litigators. Ms. Veta was quoted in the National Law Journal article "SEC’s Suit vs. IndyMac Foundering," (9/17/2012) in connection with Covington’s success in knocking out all but one claim in the SEC’s once wide-ranging securities fraud lawsuit against the former CEO of IndyMac. Ms. Veta was quoted in the Wall Street Journal article "IndyMac Ex-CEO Settles," (10/2/2012) in connection with Covington’s success in knocking out all but one claim in the SEC’s once wide-ranging securities fraud lawsuit against the former CEO of IndyMac and settling the last remaining claim, without admitting or denying liability, as a negligence-based claim for $80,000 and a commitment to comply with the securities laws. Ms. Veta was quoted in the Los Angeles Times article "Former IndyMac CEO Michael Perry to Pay $1 Million in Settlement," (1/11/2013) in connection with Covington’s success in settling the FDIC’s $600 million negligence lawsuit as receiver for $11 million in insurance funds, a personal contribution of $1 million, and Mr. Perry’s agreement not to participate in the banking industry. "HUD Issues Final Disparate Impact Rule Under the Fair Housing Act," Covington Advisory (2/14/2013), Co-Author "Financial Institutions Face Increasing Exposure Under the False Claims Act," Covington Advisory (1/29/2013), Co-Author "CFPB Adopts Final Privilege Preservation Rule," Covington Advisory (6/29/2012), Co-Author