Washington, D.C., Jan. 14, 2016— Continuing the growth and expansion of its Washington, D.C., office, Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Nicole H. Sprinzen has joined the firm as a member of the Criminal Defense & Internal Investigations practice. She comes to Cozen O’Connor from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and will reside in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Sprinzen was previously a prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

“In our continued success to expand our D.C. office, Nicole brings strength to our already robust criminal defense and internal investigations team,” said Barry Boss, co-chair of the Criminal Defense & Internal Investigations practice and managing partner of the Washington, D.C. office. “Her extensive background in internal investigations will be an invaluable asset to our clients.”

At the Department of Justice, Sprinzen led criminal investigations in collaboration with the DOJ’s Antitrust Division and, in private practice, she represented clients in U.S. government investigations. Her investigations experience also includes representing clients doing business abroad in World Bank investigations and audits by the Integrity Vice Presidency. She also advised one client participating in the World Bank’s Voluntary Disclosure Program.

An experienced trial lawyer, Sprinzen has advised a broad range of clients in multiple industries in Washington, D.C. and throughout the country. Her practice encompasses various significant false claims and fraud matters — prosecuting and defending clients in securities and commodities fraud cases, as well as procurement, mortgage, health care, bank fraud matters and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act cases.

“The criminal defense field is complex and often changing,” Sprinzen said. “And it’s an area of law in which Cozen O’Connor thrives. I’m honored to be joining such an accomplished team of trial lawyers.”

Sprinzen also is an active member of the pro bono community—taking a substantial role in capital murder cases at  the trial and U.S. Supreme Court appellate levels. She received her J.D. from The Catholic University of America Columbus Law School, cum laude, and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Lafayette College.

2015 saw significant growth at Cozen O'Connor’s Washington, D.C. office. In December, Sean J. Riley joined the office’s State Attorneys General Practice. In September, David Tiger joined the Commercial Real Estate Group and Robert Fallon joined the Energy, Environmental & Public Utilities Group. In August, the firm moved into new space previously built out by Squire Patton Boggs to accommodate its almost 60 attorneys and government relations professionals, including the nation’s leading State Attorneys General Practice, who joined the firm in May.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has 600 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 24 offices across two continents.