Brigida Benitez

Brigida Benitez solves challenging problems that stem from business disputes, employment relationships, and compliance matters. With a focus on complex litigation, internal investigations, and global anti-corruption issues, she has represented a wide range of clients, including financial institutions, pharmaceutical companies, information technology enterprises, universities, sports franchises, and international development firms. She litigates high-profile cases in federal and state trial and appellate courts throughout the United States, including the US Supreme Court. Ms. Benitez draws on almost 25 years of experience representing clients in high-stakes, complex litigation and arbitration matters, along with a deep understanding of the multijurisdictional investigative process, to help companies and individuals assess and mitigate reputational and litigation risk. 

Ms. Benitez conducts internal investigations and investigations before enforcement agencies relating to a variety of sensitive and business-critical issues, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), financial fraud and corruption, employee misconduct, ethics, codes of conduct violations, accounting irregularities, whistleblower complaints, and sanctions procedures of the World Bank and other international financial institutions. She served as Chief of the Office of Institutional Integrity of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), heading the independent office responsible for investigating potential fraud and corruption in IDB-financed activities, and implementing compliance policies and procedures relating to anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, offshore financial centers, and sanctions laws and regulations administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).  As a member of the senior management team, she reported to the IDB president and the Audit Committee of the Board of Executive Directors.  She worked to develop the General Principles and Guidelines for Sanctions and oversaw the implementation of the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions, entered into by the IDB, the World Bank, and several other leading international financial institutions. Her work encompassed 26 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Ms. Benitez is a past president of the DC Bar, the second largest unified bar in the country, with more than 100,000 members worldwide. She serves as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center, where she teaches a course on international business litigation and federal practice. She has been recognized by Hispanic Business magazine as a “Woman of the Year” and one of the “100 most influential US Hispanics,” and by Latino Leaders magazine as one of the “25 Most Influential Hispanic Lawyers.”

Representative Matters

Litigation

• Served as counsel for high-level former and current officials of the Internal Revenue Service sued in their individual capacity in four federal district court cases by various Tea Party groups alleging constitutional violations in connection with the processing of their applications for tax-exempt status. All four cases were resolved successfully on motions to dismiss.
• Served as counsel for ThinkFoodGroup, an entity co-founded by renowned chef José Andrés, in breach of contract case involving restaurant at Trump International Hotel in the Old Post Office in Washington, DC. Case resolved through settlement.
• Second-chaired argument on behalf of the University of Michigan before the US Supreme Court in two cases challenging the legality of its admissions policies, which resulted in a victory for diversity in higher education. Handled case for six years, from federal district court to US Supreme Court.
• Served as lead counsel for $120 million private equity fund in lawsuit involving claims of fraud, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duties. Successfully argued against application of arbitration agreement before North Carolina Supreme Court. Case resolved through settlement.
• Served as counsel for international information technology company in highly complex and technical breach of contract dispute. Successfully arbitrated before a tribunal of the International Chamber of Commerce in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Served as counsel for leading development finance institution in arbitration involving allegations of government expropriation and claims for payment under insurance contract. Conducted all facets of hearing, including opening statement, closing argument and witness examinations. Obtained successful verdict before American Arbitration Association tribunal.

Investigations

• Served as counsel for international development consulting firm in sanctions proceedings initiated by the World Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency (INT), which investigated and charged the firm with corruption in connection with a World Bank-funded project. Sanctions and Debarment Officer of the World Bank recommended a six-year public debarment. Conducted investigation, advised client, and argued case to World Bank Sanctions Board, which dismissed case and terminated sanctions proceedings. This is a significant and rare victory, as the Sanctions Board has terminated proceedings against respondents in only four other cases since 2012.
• Conducted internal investigation for Mexican subsidiary of one of the largest banking institutions in the world regarding FCPA and related fraud issues.
• Led multiple teams conducting internal investigations of a multinational corporation’s operating companies in South America (e., Argentina, Brazil, and Chile) involving alleged violations of the FCPA.
• Conducted internal investigation for international financial institution relating to employee misconduct and ethics issues.
• Conducted internal investigation for private equity fund involving claims of fraud and embezzlement against prior management.
• Conducted internal evaluation of admissions practices for large university and recommended revisions to existing policies.

Noteworthy

• Diversity Champion Award, National Pre-Law Diversity Initiatives, Inc., 2017
• Latinvex, Top 100 Female Lawyers, 2016-2017
• 25 Most Influential Hispanic Lawyers, Latino Leaders Magazine
• Washington, DC Super Lawyers
• The Legal 500 US, Litigation: International Trade
• The Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law: Management
• Star of the Bar Award, Women’s Bar Association of DC
• Brillante Award, Hispanic Scholarship Fund Alumni Hall of Fame
• 100 Most Influential US Hispanics, Hispanic Business Magazine
• Latina Leader Award, Hispanic Bar Association of DC
• Excellence in the Legal Profession Award, Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund
• “Woman of the Year,” Hispanic Business Magazine
• 2006 “Top 40 Lawyers Under 40,” Washingtonian Magazine
• 75^th Anniversary Alumni Award, Boston College Law School
• “Latina Lawyer of the Year,” Hispanic National Bar Association
• Best Bar Project, DC Bar

Select News & Events

• Deconstructing the Myth of ‘Machismo’: Latin America’s Leadership in Gender Equality, ABA Section of International Law Fall Meeting, October 27, 2017
• ‘Brexiting’ the UK Bribery Act and Trumping Up the FCPA: A Review of Current Administrations’ Effects on Anti-Corruption Laws, ABA Business Law Section Meeting, September 14, 2017
• Steptoe Receives 88 Individual Mentions in Best Lawyers 2018
• ABA’s Business Law Today Features Brigida Benitez in Member Spotlight
• Latinvex Names Brigida Benitez, Lucinda Low to Top 100 Female Lawyers List
• Washington, DC Super Lawyers Recognizes 65 Steptoe Attorneys
• The Am Law Litigation Daily Profiles Brigida Benitez on Trump Deposition
• “When Third Party Risks Warrant Walking Away – Red-Flag Scenarios and Interactive Discussions on Agents, Distributors and Intermediaries,” Andean Summit on Anti-Corruption Compliance and Enforcement, November 16, 2016
• The Different Faces of Corruption, ACI’s West Coast FCPA Enforcement & Compliance Conference, October 18, 2016
• Steptoe Receives 80 Individual Mentions in Best Lawyers 2017
• International Money Laundering Developments, International Bar Association Transnational Crime Conference, May 12, 2016
• Spotlight on Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico, ACI’s 5th Global Forum on Anti-Corruption Compliance in High Risk Markets, July 16, 2014

Selected Publications

• 2017 FCPA Mid-Year Review

  June 29, 2017

• AIIB New Prohibited Practices Policy

  May 12, 2017

• 2016 FCPA Year in Review

  February 16, 2017

• World Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency Releases Annual Integrity Update

  November 1, 2016

• 2015 FCPA Year in Review

  March 8, 2016

• Debarred – Navigating the World Bank’s Sanctions Process

  January 28, 2016, Lexis®PSL Commercial

• 2014 FCPA Year in Review

  February 13, 2015

• Another Context – The Sanctions Regime of the World Bank and Other IFIs

  September 2014, WorldECR

More Publications »

Professional Affiliations

• Past President, DC Bar
• Member, American Law Institute
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Chair, International Business Law Committee, Business Law Section, American Bar Association
• Commissioner, American Bar Association Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession
• Past President, Hispanic Bar Association of DC
• Former National Vice-President for External Relations, Hispanic National Bar Association
• Former Member, US District Court for the District of Columbia Grievance Committee
• Board Member, Council for Court Excellence