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Jay Darden

Partner, Investigation & White Collar Defense

jaydarden@paulhastings.com
Washington, D.C.+1 202 551 1961

John S. (Jay) Darden is a partner in the Investigations and White Collar Defense practice at Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. 

Jay has practiced law for over 25 years, both as a defense attorney and a federal prosecutor. He has been named “MVP for White Collar” by Law360 (2023), and he has repeatedly been recognized in Chambers USA, Chambers Global and Legal500/Latin America, where clients have described him as:

  • “a very sophisticated and strategic lawyer”
  • “great in front of boards”
  • "very results oriented"
  • "fantastic people skills"
  • “great ability to distill a complex situation into something that the client can manage effectively”

REPRESENTATIONS de

In Private Practice
  • Lead and co-lead counsel in defense of multiple publicly-traded companies in high-profile FCPA resolutions of DOJ, SEC, and overseas investigations involving conduct in the Bahamas, Brazil, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, and other countries.

  • Lead and co-lead counsel conducting internal investigations for multiple public and non-public companies into possible FCPA violations in Argentina, Brazil, China, Qatar, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, Venezuela, and other countries.

RECOGNITION de

  • Leading Global Investigations Lawyers

    Lawdragon

  • Litigation Star

    Benchmark Litigation

PUBLICATIONS de

  • "New DOJ FCPA Guidelines Target Cases Linked to U.S. Strategic Interests" Paul Hastings Client Alert, Co-author

    2025

  • "Criminal Division White Collar Enforcement Plan: Turning the Page, Not Writing a New Book", Paul Hastings Client Alert, Co-author

    2025

ASSOCIATIONS de

  • Past member

    Law360 White Collar Editorial Advisory Board

  • Past member

    Alumni Council, Washington & Lee University/Williams School

PAST ENGAGEMENTS de

  • "Boardroom In-House Counsel Roundtable", GIR/Latin Lawyer Anti-Corruption and Investigations - Mexico, Co-panelist
    2025
  • “Financial Crimes”, International Law Institute, Presenter
    2024