Practice Area
When the federal government investigates a business or an individual, the stakes are immediate and high — reputation, livelihood, and liberty are all on the line. Michelle Fernald brings twenty-eight years of federal experience, including service as a Chief and Deputy Chief in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to representing clients facing federal white collar allegations across Texas and nationally.
Many federal white collar matters begin quietly — a subpoena, a target letter, a knock at the door, a colleague suddenly unavailable. The earliest decisions are often the most consequential. Working with the firm early, before charges are filed, frequently changes the trajectory of a case: documents are preserved correctly, narratives are framed accurately, and the government’s view of the conduct can be shaped before positions harden.
The firm represents businesses and individuals in federal investigations and prosecutions involving:
When the government is investigating but has not yet charged, the goal is often to keep it that way. The firm engages directly with prosecutors and agents, makes proffers when strategically appropriate, identifies and corrects factual misunderstandings, and presents declination submissions when the evidence supports them.
Representing witnesses, subjects, and targets before federal grand juries — including preparation, immunity negotiation, Fifth Amendment counseling, and post-appearance follow-up.
Counsel to boards, audit committees, and general counsel conducting privileged internal investigations of suspected wrongdoing — with an eye toward both remediation and the firm’s posture if matters become external.
When a case must be tried, it is tried by an attorney who has spent her career in federal court. When verdicts must be challenged, post-trial motions and federal appeals are handled with the same discipline.
The firm is most useful early. Some signals to call:
Twenty-eight years at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including supervisory roles, means the firm understands how federal investigations are built, what prosecutors are looking for, and where cases bend.
Election as a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (2025) recognizes a long record of significant federal trials and the judgment that record reflects.
Clients work directly with Michelle. Strategy is set, communicated, and executed by the attorney whose name is on the door.
Frequently Asked
White collar criminal defense refers to representation in federal (and sometimes state) prosecutions involving non-violent, financially motivated conduct — fraud, corruption, money laundering, securities violations, healthcare fraud, and similar offenses. These cases are typically document-intensive, involve multiple agencies, and often span years.
Often, yes. The line between ‘witness,’ ‘subject,’ and ‘target’ in a federal investigation can move quickly, and statements made without counsel can foreclose options later. A short consultation before responding to any federal contact is almost always worth the time.
Earlier is almost always better. The first 30 days after a subpoena, target letter, or agent contact often shape the next 30 months. Decisions about preservation, internal interviews, and external communications made at that stage can’t easily be undone.
Yes. The firm regularly takes on federal matters throughout Texas and, with appropriate pro hac vice arrangements, nationally. Service areas include Austin, Travis County, Williamson County, Hays County, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, El Paso, Fort Worth, and Waco.
Confidential consultations with Michelle Fernald. Serving Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, El Paso, and federal courts nationally.
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