White-Collar Criminal Defense & Government Enforcement Law

Kennyhertz Perry offers proven, effective legal counsel to those charged with a white collar crime. Our attorneys have extensive experience in criminal litigation and government investigations. We have successfully represented corporate clients and individual officers and directors at every stage of investigations, prosecutions and enforcement actions initiated by state and federal agencies.

Our white collar criminal defense lawyers are skilled in handling major felonies, government investigations, criminal litigation in federal and state jurisdiction, and both federal and state criminal appeals. We understand the intricacies of businesses and regulations to help our clients mitigate, resolve or lessen the impact of government investigations and enforcement actions. We guide clients through their options, assist in plea negotiations, and explain how federal sentencing guidelines apply in each case.

Our practice has substantial experience in Missouri and Kansas, and are well-versed in the laws of both. We maintain the experience, skill, and required knowledge to help you navigate the legal system and to minimize penalties faced in Missouri, Kansas, or federal court. Our wide ranging experience includes all types of white collar matters and criminal law including wire fraud, securities fraud, false claims, environmental violations, bribery, and lending fraud among numerous other.

Who We Represent

For those seeking a white collar criminal defense attorney in Missouri or Kansas, Kennyhertz Perry represents clients through all stages of government investigations. This includes response to grand jury and administrative subpoenas, request of business records, request of witness and expert testimony, and response to requests for interviews by law enforcement agencies. We employ proven methods to help minimize the penalties faced by our clients – from business owners to board members and minor shareholders.

Our goal is to provide legal advice to navigate you through all aspects of investigations, enforcement actions, and compliance issues so that you can better understand the seriousness of the charges against you.

Braden Perry

A former federal enforcement attorney and veteran in regulatory compliance and white collar defense, Mr. Perry has expertise and consults with clients throughout the United States in areas of internal investigations, enforcement matters, regulatory issues, and corporate transactions, including advising on mergers and acquisitions in highly complex regulatory structures. He is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), and has a deep understanding and first-hand experience with BSA/AML, antitrust, securities, financial institutions, commodities, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and other emerging compliance and enforcement issues. He also serves on the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panels for the United States District of Kansas and Western District of Missouri, representing individuals in federal criminal cases who are unable for financial reasons to retain counsel. Mr. Perry is a frequent speaker on emerging legal topics and featured as a regulator contributor and media source with a variety of financial and legal publications, including Reuters, Forbes, Institutional Investor, Motherboard, Compliance Week, Minyanville, Law360 and ValueWalk, and Nerd Wallet among others.

Prior to forming Kennyhertz Perry, Mr. Perry was a senior vice president and chief compliance officer of a global financial services and FINRA member firm. He was responsible for all aspects of compliance and regulatory responsibilities for multiple registered investment advisors, mutual funds, alternative investments, and a broker-dealer. Mr. Perry focused on identifying and assessing the compliance risks of the firms, creating and implementing policies and procedures that address and allow compliance risks to be managed, and reviewing the policies and procedures to determine their continued adequacy and effectiveness.

Previously, Mr. Perry served as a senior trial attorney for the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), managing a team of trial attorneys, investigators and support staff in the investigation and prosecution of market manipulation, market abuse and fraud in the futures and derivatives markets, advising staff in areas of investigations, leading investigations of high profile matters, and facilitating effective engagement and collaborative work with other U.S. regulatory and prosecutorial bodies, international regulators, and exchange staff. Mr. Perry served as a liaison to the Office of General Counsel in the revision of policies and procedures pursuant to regulatory reform, including Dodd-Frank, and named to an interagency task force on the collection and retention of sensitive data.

Mr. Perry began his career in the Blackwell Sanders Government Compliance, Investigations, and Litigation, White-Collar Criminal Defense, Commercial and Business Litigation, and Digital Discovery and Records Management practice groups. He represented clients in the prosecution and defense of complex business disputes in domestic and international jurisdictions, served as counsel to publicly and privately held companies undergoing both internal and external investigations, assisted clients in recognizing and avoiding the expanding risk of corporate criminal liability, and designing and implementing targeted corporate compliance programs. Mr. Perry was a founding member of the electronic discovery practice group and has an E-Discovery Best Practices Certification. He has first-chaired trials in Missouri Circuit Courts and Kansas Chapter 60 and 61 courts, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in various commercial, criminal, and collection matters.

An active member of the community, Mr. Perry is a City of Mission Hills Councilmember, and has previously served as Chair of the City of Mission Hills Board of Zoning Appeals and Crime Prevention and Safety Committee. Additionally, he is a Director of the Tomahawk Road Homes Association and has served as a board member of the Hands & Hearts for Children Children’s Mercy Hospital Auxiliary (2015 co-Chair), the Children’s Mercy Hospital Family Advisory Board (President-elect), Child Protective Center Golf Fore Kids, and the American Royal Grapes & Steaks Competition (2014 co-Chair).

What exactly is a white collar crime?

White collar crimes are typically nonviolent crimes committed for financial gain. Examples include cyber crimes, embezzlement, forgery, bank fraud, mortgage fraud, mail fraud, health care fraud, identity theft, money laundering and numerous others. Individuals and entities often commit these fraudulent actions to obtain, or avoid loss of, money, property, and services. Motives can also stem from and effort to secure a personal benefit or business advantage, or to escape criminal liability.

Government agencies that investigate white-collar crimes include, among others, the following:

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Department of Justice (DOJ)
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD)
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
United States Attorney’s office
State’s Attorney General’s office

What impact can a white collar criminal charge or accusation have?

Individuals and businesses across many industries face increased scrutiny and criminal enforcement addressing business practices amid a constantly evolving set of rules, regulations and restrictions. Being investigated or charged with a white collar crime can have catastrophic impact on individuals and businesses. Conviction of a crime such as tax evasion, internet fraud, securities fraud, computer crimes, or antitrust charges put your reputation, career, and future on the line.

Even with relatively minor charges, issues for those involved in white collar crimes can be extensive, including:

banishment from your industry
loss of your license to practice
lost capital investment in your business
prevention of future investor’s contributions to your business
forfeiture of your business and personal assets
seizure of assets and money derived from or used in a crime
jail time

Even with avoidance of jail time, a criminal record could potentially prevent future employment opportunities, damaging future business relationships as employers are often unwilling to hire someone with a criminal conviction upon performing a background check.

What to do when you are charged with a white collar crime

When charged or notified you are under investigation due to fraudulent criminal actions such as insider trading, market manipulation, misstatements to investors, or false claims on financial statements you will likely have concerns regarding potential liabilities. Under these circumstances, it is imperative that you retain experienced legal representation capable of refuting or reducing charges. Your legal team should have extensive knowledge of business regulations and practices as well as legal proceedings often involving investigations by multiple government agencies.

If you are subject to an arrest for a crime, these are things you should know:

Always request your criminal defense attorney be present before speaking to the authorities.
Never state aloud or sign any sort of confession as this material can and will be used against you by the prosecution.
Make sure to contact a white collar criminal attorney immediately up your arrest.

It is imperative you know your rights and have an attorney who can be present to provide consultation from the beginning and through interrogation and questioning. Frequently, authorities gather only the material required to file charges against you, while ignoring evidence and facts potentially beneficial to your defense. Even if you feel your case is indefensible, an evaluation is crucial because investigators, police, and witnesses often make mistakes that can be used to benefit your circumstance.

Are you seeking a top white collar crimes lawyer in Kansas City, Missouri?

White collar crime attorneys focus on clients facing charges generally involving federal prosecution. These cases often entail detailed, complicated fact patterns and sophisticated regulatory framework involving myriad complexities.

The government’s case often rests on the intent of the accused, and it is this intent that must be thoroughly analyzed. Review of items including lengthy financial statements, electronic documents, intricate accounting procedures, and expert testimony in highly specialized fields is required.

If you are seeking legal representation from a Kansas City white collar criminal lawyer please contact us at 816.527.9447