Grayson D. Stratton

Gray Stratton

Partner
Managing Partner, Houston Office
About

Gray Stratton is a white-collar enforcement litigator.

Gray advises companies and professionals on regulatory compliance, conducts internal investigations on behalf of companies, and defends clients in investigations and enforcement actions by government offices and agencies. Gray has successfully defended his clients in government investigations and regulatory enforcement actions, including whistleblower actions, relating to conduct in the US and all over the world. Gray is experienced in guiding clients through multi-front litigation, including civil, regulatory, and criminal proceedings. Among his clients are public and private companies and officers and directors in the energy, life sciences, technology, financial services, industrial, and logistics sectors.

Gray’s regulatory compliance practice includes advising clients on risks and controls relating to domestic and foreign bribery/anti-kickback statutes, securities laws, anti-money laundering laws, and sanctions, among other things.

Before entering private practice, Gray served as Senior Counsel in the Division of Enforcement at the US Securities and Exchange Commission, where he led investigations and enforcement proceedings concerning foreign bribery, financial fraud, investment advisors, insider trading and market manipulation. While with the Commission, he was involved in several high-profile civil and criminal actions that arose from the SEC's investigations of Tyco International Ltd., Refco Inc. and Cendant Corporation. For his work in the Tyco case, Gray was awarded the Enforcement Division Director's Award for outstanding contribution to the enforcement of the federal securities laws.

Bar admissionsDistrict of ColumbiaTexas

EXPERIENCE

Government Investigations

Gray has represented:

  • A Global life sciences company in connection with joint DOJ and SEC bribery investigations relating to business activities in Latam
  • An investment advisory group in connection with an SEC investigation of potential Advisors Act violations, and in connection with a DOJ investigation of potential economic sanctions violations
  • A Houston-based energy company in connection with DOJ, NSF, and Department of Navy charges of False Claims Act violations, obtaining out of court resolution and no debarment
  • A global public technology company in connection with a DOJ/SEC investigation of alleged bribery violations obtaining a DOJ declination letter
  • A global accounting firm in connection with an SEC investigation of potential misstatements and accounting fraud resulting in declination
  • A global life sciences company in connection with DOJ/SEC investigations of alleged FCPA violations in multiple countries resulting in no enforcement action
  • A New York Stock Exchange listed defense company in an internal investigation and self-disclosure to the Department of Justice of potential FCPA violations resulting in declination
  • A hedge fund and its investment adviser in an SEC insider trading investigation. Resolved with no enforcement action initiated
  • A public HR administrative services company executive in an SEC financial fraud investigation. Resolved with no enforcement action initiated
  • A securities broker-dealer in appeal of a securities industry bar to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals
  • An investment adviser in an SEC and DOJ Ponzi scheme investigation. US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Public technology companies and a public company officer in SEC investigations of options backdating an individual investor in an insider trading investigation
Regulatory Compliance

Gray has advised:

  • A health clinic in connection with potential anti-kickback violations
  • A Fortune 50 energy company in connection with a compliance risk assessment and the design and implementation of its compliance and anti-bribery programs
  • A global semiconductor products manufacturer in preparation and implementation of anti-bribery policy, procedures and training program
  • A global insurance company in preparation and implementation of anti-money laundering policies, procedures and programs 
Litigation

Gray has represented:

  • A major pharmaceutical company in qui tam litigation, winning summary judgment. US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • A New York Stock Exchange listed packaged ice manufacturer in securities and shareholder derivative litigation, obtaining dismissal of the derivative action. US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and Dallas County District Court
  • A real estate investment firm as first-chair trial counsel in trial involving alleged breach of contract and alleged failure to satisfy multi-million dollar guaranty obligations, winning take-nothing judgment in favor of client. Harris County District Court. Successfully defended on appeal as lead appellate counsel. First Court of Appeals of Texas
  • A Chinese company listed on the New York Stock Exchange in putative class action securities litigation and shareholder derivative litigation based on alleged securities fraud in connection with a reverse merger and secondary public offering of securities in the US. US District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • A global accounting firm in putative class action securities litigation and other litigation in connection with alleged Ponzi scheme. US District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • A global insurance company in a lawsuit filed by a large commercial bank involving an alleged half-billion dollar loss associated with investments made pursuant to a bank-owned life insurance (BOLI) policy. US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
  • A corporate executive in contract litigation and international collection efforts by a foreign sovereign involving a personal guaranty on a multimillion-dollar bank loan, obtaining summary judgment on behalf of client. US District Court for the District of Columbia and US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • A public company in a direct shareholder suit involving acquisition of the company by a private equity firm. Maryland Circuit Court
    Education
    • J.D., The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law 2003
      with honors
    • B.S., Business Administration, University of Colorado 1999
      with honors

    Awards

    The Legal 500 United States

    • Recommended, Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Individuals (2023-2024)
    • Recommended, Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Corporates (2020-2022, 2024)
    Additional Awards
    • Gray is a member of the Global Investigations practice group that was awarded a GIR 30 award as a top 30 global investigations practice group
    • Gray is a winner of the Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing 

    Pro Bono

    Gray is involved in pro bono work. Recently he served as lead trial counsel in a five-day bench trial involving competing custody and adoption claims in DC Superior Court.

    Bylines

    • Jury acquits foreign national in apparent rebuke of DOJ's attempt to police overseas corruption, 4 December 2019
    • Jury finds former executive Lawrence Hoskins guilty in key case testing agency under the FCPA, 8 November 2019
    • Shareholder efforts to bootstrap FCPA violations into private securities cases meet with mixed success – key takeaways, 10 July 2019
    • DOJ revises its guidance on corporate compliance programs, 2 May 2019

    Media Mentions

    Connect

    Phone

    +1 713 425 8409
    (Work, Houston)
    +1 202 799 4000
    (Work, Washington, DC)