Accomplished litigator and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Clark has joined Baker Donelson's Government Enforcement and Investigations Group.

Mr. Clark, who joins as of counsel in the Firm's Houston office, has a wide variety of experience assisting clients in matters involving complex civil and criminal fraud allegations, contract and business disputes, and white collar defense of environmental, health care fraud, securities and commodities fraud, and tax cases. He has served as lead counsel in more than100 jury trials and handled dozens of appeals. His practice includes defending clients in civil False Claims Act cases as well as handling corporate internal investigations, and advising clients on regulatory compliance and corporate governance matters. Mr. Clark was previously with the firm of Duane Morris.

Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Clark had a distinguished career in government service. He began his career with the Galveston County District Attorney's Office, then joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Texas, where he served as a chief of its Financial Fraud Division and later was promoted to serve as the chief of its Criminal Division.

Mr. Clark is the latest addition to Baker Donelson's growing Government Enforcement and Investigations Group. In the last two years the group has expanded with numerous additions across the Firm's footprint, including Tallahassee, Florida; Baltimore, Maryland; Knoxville and Memphis, Tennessee; and Washington, D.C. With the addition of Mr. Clark, the practice group now includes 13 former U.S. Attorneys and Assistant U.S. Attorneys.

Joe D. Whitley, chair of Baker Donelson's Government Enforcement and Investigations Group, said "Baker Donelson is committed to providing our clients access to a deep bench of skilled government enforcement and investigations attorneys across our markets. With his background in both the public and private sector, Michael is a seasoned professional with substantial experience in litigation, investigations, and compliance. We're very pleased to welcome him as the newest member of our expanding team."

Mr. Clark has been recognized as a leading attorney by The Best Lawyers in America^® and Texas Super Lawyers. He has earned multiple honors from Corporate LiveWire, including twice being named its Global Awards Healthcare Lawyer of the Year (2018 and 2019). He was named to Houstonia Magazine's "Top Lawyers" list (2015 and 2016) and has been recognized in H Texas Magazine's "Top Lawyers in Houston" in the area of white collar defense (2008 – 2010). In 2014, he was the recipient of the Texas Civil Rights Project's Kristi Couvillon Pro Bono Award. He is a past chair of the ABA's Health Law Section and also a past chair of the ABA Business Law Section's White Collar Crime Committee. Mr. Clark has been a longtime adjunct professor for the University of Houston Law Center and the University of Florida's College of Pharmacy. He is editor-in-chief of a treatise on pharmaceutical and medical device law, is widely published, and is a sought-after speaker.

Baker Donelson's Government Enforcement and Investigations Group defends businesses and executives in a wide range of domestic and international investigations and prosecutions. Led by Joe Whitley, former U.S. Attorney in the Middle and Northern Federal Districts of Georgia and former General Counsel of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the group includes more than 30 lawyers, including a former acting associate attorney general, former U.S. Attorneys and Assistant U.S. Attorneys in multiple districts, a former FBI agent, appointed special attorneys general for several states and many former state and federal prosecutors.

Baker Donelson is among the 70 largest law firms in the country, with more than 700 attorneys and public policy advisors representing more than 30 practice areas to serve a wide range of legal needs. Clients receive knowledgeable guidance from experienced, multi-disciplined industry and client service teams, all seamlessly connected across 21 offices in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C.