San Diego-based law firm Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP (HFM) has announced the formation of a White-Collar Crime & Regulatory Enforcement Defense Practice Group. This initiative responds to increased regulatory scrutiny in the financial and healthcare sectors, as well as rising enforcement risks for licensed professionals and institutions.
The new practice group is led by attorneys John J. Rice and Jason T. Kandah. Rice, a former federal prosecutor, brings extensive experience in white-collar criminal defense and regulatory enforcement matters, including cases involving the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), anti-money laundering investigations, public corruption, and healthcare billing inquiries. Prior to joining HFM, Rice served over fifteen years with the U.S. Department of Justice, including roles as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in both the Southern District of California and the Southern District of New York.
Kandah offers over a decade of experience in finance and banking, having previously served as a vice president at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank. His background provides him with industry insight that informs his legal practice, particularly in representing individuals and companies in white-collar criminal defense and regulatory enforcement matters. Kandah was also a licensed Registered Investment Adviser and Broker, enhancing his ability to advise and defend financial services professionals and institutions in high-stakes enforcement environments.
HFM’s Managing Partner, Jim Peterson, emphasized the strategic importance of the new practice group, stating, “Through our White-Collar Crime & Regulatory Enforcement Defense Group, we are able to provide strategic and effective representation to licensed professionals and institutions in the financial sector and beyond.” He highlighted the unique qualifications of Rice and Kandah, noting that their backgrounds make them “uniquely suited to lead this practice group and to provide exceptional representation for our clients.” ([higgslaw.com](https://higgslaw.com/higgs-fletcher-mack-launches-white-collar-crime-regulatory-enforcement-defense-practice/?utm_source=openai))
The establishment of this practice group aligns with a broader trend among law firms to bolster their white-collar defense capabilities in response to evolving regulatory landscapes. For instance, earlier this year, Mayer Brown expanded its Global Investigations & White Collar Defense practice by adding Hiral Mehta, a former chief of the business & securities fraud section at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. ([mayerbrown.com](https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/news/2025/02/mayer-brown-expands-global-investigations-and-white-collar-defense-practice-with-hiral-mehta-in-new-york?utm_source=openai))
Similarly, Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP enhanced its white-collar defense and investigations practice by bringing on Kiersten Fletcher, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York and a senior member of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. ([cahill.com](https://www.cahill.com/news/firm-news/2024-07-01-kiersten-fletcher-joins-cahill-new-york-office-as-white-collar-defense-and-investigations-partner?utm_source=openai))
HFM’s new practice group will focus on advising and assisting licensed financial services professionals, registered investment advisors, securities brokers, mortgage loan officers and brokers, lenders, medical providers, executives, fiduciaries, and institutions facing government investigations, regulatory examinations, enforcement actions, and licensing challenges. ([higgslaw.com](https://higgslaw.com/higgs-fletcher-mack-launches-white-collar-crime-regulatory-enforcement-defense-practice/?utm_source=openai))
With this strategic expansion, HFM aims to provide comprehensive legal support to clients navigating the complexities of regulatory compliance and enforcement in today’s heightened regulatory environment.