Angela M. Machala
Partner
Managing Partner, Los Angeles & West Coast Chair, Government Investigations, Enforcement, and Compliance
Angela is the managing partner of Winston’s Los Angeles office. She represents business entities and individuals in federal grand jury, SEC, and other government investigations. Angela has successfully defended clients charged with or investigated for theft of trade secrets, securities fraud, health care fraud, environmental crimes, FCPA violations, and defense contractor fraud. She has extensive experience in conducting sensitive internal investigations for organizations. In the civil arena, she has represented businesses accused of negligence in hiring, Lanham Act, and civil RICO claims, as well as breach of fiduciary duty, usurpation of corporate opportunity, and fraud claims.
Key Matters
Some of the experience represented below may have been handled at a previous firm.
- Theft of Trade Secrets. Helped secure a rare post-indictment dismissal of all criminal charges against client in closely watched theft of trade secrets case in the Northern District of California.
- Healthcare. Obtained a dismissal from the California Attorney General’s Office on the eve of trial of all charges against a registered nurse related to allegations of abuse of a dependent adult at a skilled nursing facility. Represented several executives of a major health plan in a state criminal investigation relating to Medi-Cal payments, and obtained across-the-board declinations. Successfully represented executives of a leading bio-tech company in investigations related to False Claims Act and off-label drug promotion.
- Environmental. Co-led the successful defense of a Fortune 300 company being investigated for alleged criminal violations of the Clean Water Act and obtained a non-prosecution agreement. Represented an energy company in an investigation by the EPA into alleged releases of toxins following an industrial accident.
- FIRREA. Obtained a declination in the representation of a high-level bank officer in a federal investigation involving potential violations of the Bank Secrecy Act and FIRREA. Also successfully represented a former senior officer of a subprime mortgage lender in a FIRREA investigation.
- Insider Trading. Obtained a declination from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on behalf of a designated target in an insider trading investigation. Successfully represented a film executive in an SEC insider trading investigation.
- Antitrust. Represented executives in after-market auto parts and high-tech industries investigated for criminal price-fixing, resulting in no charges against her clients.
- FCPA. Represented several high-ranking employees of a high-tech manufacturer in an FCPA investigation led by the SEC.
- Defense Contractor Fraud. Represented an accomplished scientist in a federal criminal investigation related to contracts with the Department of Interior, negotiating a favorable sentence.
- Internal Investigations. Conducted an investigation for a Fortune 50 company related to allegations of criminal export control violations. Conducted multiple internal investigations for a major health care provider, a utility company, and a film studio related to allegations of kickbacks and other corporate impropriety.
- Trials. Represented the owner of a wholesale apparel company in a 6-week criminal trial in the Central District of California involving allegations of customs fraud, tax fraud, and money laundering.