Lawrence J. Laurenzi
Senior Attorney
Senior Attorney
Tel: 901-524-5156
Fax: 901.524.5024
As a former United States Attorney, Mr. Laurenzi assists companies and individuals who are under investigation by government entities or who have been sued or charged by prosecutors or other regulators. He brings extensive litigation experience in criminal, civil, and regulatory matters in both federal and state courts.
Mr. Laurenzi focuses his criminal practice on white collar investigations and indicted cases in federal court. His engagements include the defense of a corporate executive of a publicly traded company who was under investigation by DOJ in the Southern District of New York and the SEC which resulted in no charges being brought. He represented a Tennessee state senator charged with stealing more than $600,000 in federal funds; after a three-week jury trial, she was acquitted on most charges and found responsible for less than $4,000. He has represented numerous healthcare practices and individuals, as well as hospital systems, in connection with state and federal investigations concerning allegations of healthcare fraud, COVID-19 Relief Fund fraud, compounding pharmacy matters, drug diversion, false claims, and anti-kickbacks.
Mr. Laurenzi also has a diverse civil practice. He represents individuals and corporations in myriad commercial litigation disputes, including tort matters, business disputes, and breach of contract litigation, as well as regulatory matters and qui tam actions. Recent civil cases include the representation of a corporate executive who was sued in federal court on a million-dollar surety guaranty; the court dismissed the complaint. He represented members of an LLC in a multi-million-dollar breach of contract claim and has represented individuals and corporate entities in both seeking recovery as well as defending tortious claims.
Before joining BPJ, Mr. Laurenzi was with the Department of Justice for 36 years. During that time, he served as United States Attorney from 2008 to 2010 and was Acting United States Attorney on three other occasions. He was the First Assistant United States Attorney for 16 years and the Chief of the Criminal Divisions for 10 years. In his multiple positions within DOJ, Mr. Laurenzi offered keen insight in defending against governmental investigations and prosecutions. He worked closely with many federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, IRS, HHS, FDIC, and HUD.
Mr. Laurenzi has served as lead counsel on numerous complex trials and grand jury investigations, including cases involving healthcare fraud, bank fraud, mail and wire fraud, tax offenses, securities fraud, controlled substance offenses by medical professionals, and civil false claims. He was recognized for his litigation work with one of the highest honors DOJ can bestow: the National Director’s Award.
Mr. Laurenzi is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and was selected as a “Best Lawyer” in the category of Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense – White Collar.
ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS:
Lead counsel in a month-long trial against deputy jailers at the Shelby County jail who were convicted of unjustifiably beating inmates housed at the facility in an effort to retaliate against the inmates for an assault on a fellow deputy jailer. (United States v. Belinda Marshal, et al.)
Lead counsel in eight-day jury trial against Michael Lilley for sex trafficking minors. Lilley was found guilty of multiple counts of recruiting girls from local high schools, some as young as 15, to engage in commercial sex acts. (United States v. Michael Lilley)