John L. Brownlee

John Brownlee is a litigation attorney and co-chair of Holland & Knight's National White Collar Defense and Investigations Team. Mr. Brownlee has extensive experience in False Claims Act (FCA) litigation, white collar defense, securities enforcement, and internal and Congressional investigations, having represented many companies and individuals in criminal and civil litigation, as well as in administrative matters before various federal and state agencies. He has litigated numerous cases to verdict.

Mr. Brownlee served more than 10 years at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), both as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Brownlee and federal prosecutors from his office convicted an American pharmaceutical company, the manufacturer and distributor of the highly addictive opioid, OxyContin, for misbranding the drug, and his investigation and prosecution was depicted in the Hulu miniseries, "Dopesick."

Prior to joining the Justice Department, Mr. Brownlee served as a law clerk for the Honorable Sam Wilson of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. In addition, Mr. Brownlee served on active duty in the U.S. Army in the infantry and in the Judge Advocate General Corps (U.S. Army Reserves), and is a graduate of the Army's Airborne and Ranger programs. He has held a Top Secret/SCI level security clearance. In 2024, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed Mr. Brownlee to the Board of Visitors of the College of William & Mary. 

Representative Clients

• Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell during the investigation, trial and appeal; after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision vacating the convictions, the DOJ dismissed all charges against the governor
• National Football League (NFL) franchise in connection with a league disciplinary proceeding; matter successfully concluded with the payment of a fine; successful representation of the franchise in companion litigation in federal court to maintain the confidentiality of materials related to the NFL's investigation
• Two members of the Saudi royal family were accused, in a civil action, of human trafficking, involuntary servitude, forced labor and breach of contract by a former domestic employee who worked for them in the United States in 2011-12; after nearly 18 months of litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the plaintiff dismissed her case with prejudice and admitted that there was insufficient evidence to pursue her allegations; the plaintiff also confirmed that our clients paid her nothing in exchange for the dismissal
• A multibillion-dollar U.S. public company before World Bank investigators against allegations that possible sanctionable conduct occurred in connection with World Bank funds
• A former official at the Export-Import Bank of the United States regarding allegations of fraud and making false statements; the case resulted in a civil settlement with no admission of liability
• The former chairman and chief executive officer of a Fortune 10 company before the DOJ and in a civil lawsuit
• A public energy company in a five-week civil jury trial regarding allegations of fraud and breach of contract
• A public company before the DOJ and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding allegations of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
• A multibillion-dollar U.S. government contractor before the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Air Force against allegations of violating the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), resulting in no fines being imposed
• A privately held company regarding allegations related to the FCPA, resulting in no liability or fines being imposed
• A food manufacturer in an emergency U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection involving the recall of multiple products and daily interaction with the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• A government contractor before the Inspector General for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) regarding allegations of violating the Price Reduction Clause in a GSA schedule contract.
• A public company in FCA litigation in federal court in California
• A government contractor in FCA litigation in federal court in Virginia
• A public long-term care pharmacy services company in FCA litigation in federal court in Virginia
• A U.S. government contractor before the DOJ regarding allegations of fraud in federal court in Utah
• A government contractor before the DOJ regarding allegations of fraud in federal court in Florida
• A seafood company before the DOJ's Environmental and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) regarding allegations of violating the Lacey Act and the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
• Two foreign companies before the DOJ regarding allegations of foreign bribery
• A foreign company before the DOJ regarding allegations of theft of trade secrets
• The president of a foreign company before the DOJ regarding allegations of foreign bribery
• A multibillion-dollar U.S. government contractor in an internal investigation regarding the FCA
• A foreign individual before the DOJ and SEC regarding allegations of securities fraud and bank fraud in federal court in New York
• The executive of a major nonprofit during an investigation by a U.S. Office of the Inspector General
• A multibillion-dollar U.S. government contractor before the DOJ regarding allegations of fraud
• A multibillion-dollar U.S. government contractor before the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) regarding suspension proceedings
• A U.S. government contractor and its president before the DOJ regarding allegations of fraud and bribery
• A mortgage services company before the SEC
• A plaintiff in a civil case filed in federal court regarding allegations of securities fraud
• Multiple individuals charged with criminal offenses in Virginia state courts and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia