Mark Knights

Mark Knights is a member of the Government Investigations & White Collar Defense practice group and lead of the Global Compliance & Investigations team. He represents individuals and businesses across a variety of industries in connection with matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, the False Claims Act, and other federal and state laws. Prior to joining Nixon Peabody, Mark served as a law clerk for Judge Mary Beck Briscoe of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and Chief Judge Joseph Laplante of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire.

My focus

My practice encompasses a broad range of complex criminal and civil matters. I help businesses mitigate the risk of investigation and prosecution by designing and implementing strategies to prevent—and, if necessary, detect and remedy—corruption risks and other wrongdoing by employees. When government investigations, prosecutions, and enforcement actions do arise, I draw on my experience to guide my individual and institutional clients through all stages of the case up to and including trial. Among other things, I have helped secure written declinations to prosecute for both a major technology company faced with a Korean government investigation into alleged theft of trade secrets and a large manufacturer of highway safety products in a federal investigation into allegations of false claims. I also represent both plaintiffs and defendants in a number of commercial litigation matters. I have extensive experience defending against putative class actions, and previously represented a major national bank in a multi-district federal litigation comprised of over 30 different consolidated class actions. I am currently defending the founder and former CEO of a specialty pharmaceutical company against nearly 250 civil actions in state and federal courts throughout the country.

In addition to this work, I am devoted to providing pro bono representation to individuals and organizations in need. I have helped Court Appointed Special Advocates of New Hampshire protect the interests of abused or neglected children in a number of matters before the New Hampshire Supreme Court. Together with Nixon Peabody’s partners at AARP Foundation, the Disability Rights Center of New Hampshire, and New Hampshire Legal Assistance, I am representing a class of older adults and people with disabilities who are suing the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services to ensure their right to live independently in the community instead of being placed in institutional care.

Looking ahead

corruption. With the renewed focus on anti-corruption measures, expect increased cross-border cooperation between DOJ and its analogues.