A former federal prosecutor with a focus on national security and public corruption, Lauren Goddard is part of Akerman’s Litigation and White Collar Crime and Government Investigations practice. Lauren has extensive experience conducting complex investigations and litigating matters in U.S. district courts throughout the country and has tried more than 30 jury trials to verdict.

Before joining Akerman, Lauren served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and, later, as a Trial Attorney with the National Security Division of the DOJ where she handled federal grand jury, trial, and appellate matters. Before that, Lauren served as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Cook County in Chicago, Illinois, where she litigated both criminal and civil matters in State and appellate court. During her tenure as a prosecutor, Lauren handled hundreds of investigations, prosecutions, and appeals of complex criminal cases involving fraud, corruption, money laundering, drug trafficking, violent crime, obstruction of justice, and both foreign and domestic terrorism. While at the National Security Division, Lauren also served as a subject matter expert on terrorism and other national security prosecutions and trained and advised federal prosecutors throughout the country on complex grand jury and trial matters. Through her work with the DOJ, Lauren developed strong, collaborative relationships with stakeholders across the government, law enforcement, and the intelligence community.

Lauren’s practice at Akerman includes conducting internal investigations and representing companies and individuals in regulatory, civil, and criminal proceedings initiated by government agencies for alleged wrongdoing; proactively counseling clients on enforcement and other litigation matters, including allegations of fraud; bribery, including alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA); financial and regulatory fraud (e.g., False Claims Act); false statements; conspiracy; violations of international trade and economic sanctions; and violations of internal corporate policy.