Brian Saulnier is a partner in the firm's global investigations, enforcement, and white collar practice group, resident in K&L Gates' Pittsburgh and London offices.
Brian’s practice focuses on internal corporate investigations touching on a variety of substantive areas, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the False Claims Act, and the UK Bribery Act of 2010. In connection with his investigations work, Brian advises boards, audit committees, special committees, and management on investigation into and defense of matters involving alleged criminal and civil fraud, including with respect to voluntary disclosure. Brian has conducted internal investigations in the United States, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. He represents clients in these matters before the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as before various authorities outside of the United States.
Brian counsels clients regarding anti-bribery and anti-corruption compliance and best practices, including on how to develop and implement an effective anti-bribery and anti-corruption compliance program, as well as with respect to how to address compliance problems when they arise.
Among his most notable successes, Brian led a team that conducted an internal investigation and secured a rare SEC non-prosecution agreement and DOJ declination to prosecute Nortek, Inc.
Brian is recognized in Chambers USA for Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations in Pennsylvania. He has also been named in Who's Who Legal: Investigations every year since 2017, as a leading practitioner in cross-border internal investigations and related advice and counseling.
- Recognised by The Legal 500 United Kingdom edition as a Recommended Lawyer for Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals) and Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates) in London, 2024
- Recognized in Chambers USA for Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations in Pennsylvania, 2020
- Named in Global Investigations Review (GIR) and Who's Who Legal for Investigations in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, and recognized in “Thought Leaders 2020,” as a leading practitioner in cross-border internal investigations and related advice and counseling.
- International Bar Association
- Anti-Corruption Committee
- Business Crime Committee
- American Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- “Privilege in International Investigations,” Commercial Fraud Lawyers Association, London, England, September 13, 2018.
- “Organisational Risk and Crisis Management; How prepared are you?,” ACC Europe, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, March 15, 2018.
- “Organisational Risk and Crisis Management; How prepared are you?,” ACC Europe, Milan, Italy, February 1, 2018.
- “Organisational Risk and Crisis Management; How prepared are you?,” ACC Europe, Zurich, Switzerland, November 9, 2017.
- “Organisational Risk and Crisis Management; How prepared are you?,” ACC Europe, Geneva, Switzerland, November 8, 2017.
- “Sapin II - Organisational Risk and Crisis Management,” K&L Gates LLP Webinar, June 15, 2017.
- “Organisational Risk and Crisis Management; How prepared are you?,” ACC Europe, Madrid, Spain, April 5, 2017.
- “Organisational Risk and Crisis Management; How prepared are you?,” ACC Europe, Lugano, Switzerland, March 22, 2017.
- "Corporate Responses to Investigative Requests by the Federal Government", ACC Lunch & Learn Series, November 1, 2016.
- "Best Practices for Mergers & Acquisitions FCPA Due Diligence and the FCPA Pilot Program", Association of Corporate Counsel, May 19, 2016.
- C5 Global Anti-Corruption Regulatory & Enforcement Update for UAE, London, February 24, 2016.
- Case Studies on "Recent High Profile Investigations: How They Will Affect Business Dealings in the Middle East", ACI 6th Middle East Summit on Anti-Corruption, Dubai, UAE, February 25-26, 2015.
- "Middle East Update", ACI Global Anti-Corruption Regulatory and Enforcement Update, Washington, DC, November 20, 2014.
- "Increased Legislative Activity in the UAE and Saudi Arabia: How to be Proactive amid Evolving Regulatory Changes", ACI Global Anti-Corruption Regulatory and Enforcement Update, Washington, DC, July 14, 2014.
- "MENA Case Review: What High Profile Enforcement Investigations in the Region Reveal About What Your Anti-Corruption Compliance Program Needs to Accomplish", ACI 5th Middle East Summit on Anti-Corruption, Dubai, UAE, February 26-27, 2014.
- "Screening and Vetting Agents, Consultants and Other Intermediaries: What Your Due Diligence Needs to Accomplish to Minimize Your Risks", ACI 4th Middle East Summit on Anti-Corruption, Dubai, UAE, February 25-26, 2013.
- "Facilitating Payments, “Baksheesh,” and Small Bribes: How to Distinguish and Manage Them", ACI 1st Middle East Summit on Anti-Corruption, Dubai, UAE, October 2009.
- Co-Author, "Something’s Gotta Give: Navigating Auditor Inquiries in Investigations," Anti-Corruption Report (2-part series), 21 December 2022 and 4 January 2023; reprinted in Cybersecurity Law Report, Private Equity Law Report, Hedge Fund Law Report
- "DOJ Announces Major Changes to Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policies," Westlaw Today powered by Reuters, 8 November 2021
- "Madison Construction Co. v. Harleysville Mutual Insurance Co.: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court Takes Its First Look at the Absolute Pollution Exclusion," Journal of Insurance Coverage, Winter 2000