Simon A. Latcovich is a partner at Williams & Connolly and a trial lawyer. Over two decades, he has represented Fortune 500 companies, chief executives, senior government officials, law firms, and news organizations in criminal trials, government investigations, and civil litigation where the stakes include liberty, livelihood, and reputation. He co-chairs the firm’s Anti-Money Laundering & Economic Sanctions practice group.
“On my personal shortlist for lawyers I would call for my most important matters” - Chambers USA, 2026
Simon has defended clients against charges and allegations of fraud, political corruption, disclosure of classified information, false statements, money laundering, and sanctions violations. He has tried cases to verdict in federal court, obtained dismissals after indictment, and persuaded prosecutors to close investigations without charges. Chambers USA ranks him among the leading white-collar and government investigations lawyers in the District of Columbia, and Lawdragon has named him to its 500 Global Leaders in Crisis Management, which reflects his experience in high-stakes and sensitive client matters.
Simon’s civil practice covers congressional investigations, antitrust litigation, professional liability, and partnership disputes.
He also represents the press. Simon serves as General Counsel to the White House Correspondents’ Association and has represented media companies in federal criminal investigations, defended reporters against grand jury subpoenas, and litigated defamation claims through summary judgment and trial.
Before law school, Simon served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy. He co-authored Federal Criminal Discovery, which the ABA called an invaluable resource, and has taught Trial Practice and Federal White Collar Crime at Georgetown University Law Center, where he sits on the Board of Visitors and endowed the Latcovich Family Scholarship for student veterans. He clerked for Judge Thomas B. Griffith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Representative Experience
Though all cases vary and none is predictive, Simon’s experience includes:
- Lead counsel in a federal jury trial regarding a business partnership dispute; trial verdict ultimately resulted in judgment for both compensatory and punitive damages
- Lead counsel for multiple media companies in federal criminal investigations
- Represented an international bank indicted for sanctions violations; government dismissed all charges
- Represented a prominent lobbyist in a Foreign Agents Registration Act investigation by Special Counsel Mueller and the SDNY; government declined to prosecute
- Represented a reporter who received a grand jury subpoena; the government withdrew the subpoena after a hearing on the motion to quash
- Lead counsel in an administrative trial regarding the security clearance of a senior (four-star equivalent) Pentagon official; government conceded mid-trial
- Represented the heirs in litigation challenging a multibillion-dollar estate plan; case settled favorably after a bench trial that led to removal of the adverse trustee
- Lead counsel in trial for a successful writ of innocence claim in Maryland for an inmate imprisoned for thirty-five years
- Represented United States Senator Ted Stevens in a federal corruption trial; government dismissed based on misconduct uncovered by the defense
- Lead counsel for individual in a criminal trial that resulted in dismissal of all charges after the jury verdict
- Obtained summary judgment for a publicly traded company on a defamation claim regarding statements in a securities disclosure
- Trial verdict on defamation claim involving allegations of theft
- Represented the chief executive officer of an international bank in multinational money laundering and securities fraud investigation; government closed the investigation
- Defense counsel for a large pharmaceutical company in antitrust cases that resulted in a successful settlement on the eve of trial
- Lead counsel for a renter in a dispute with condominium association resulting in a trial verdict and full recovery for the client
- Represented an international law firm in a criminal investigation; no charges brought
- Represented a bank charged with criminal securities fraud; government settled with a civil resolution on the eve of trial
- Represented a health care clinic owner in a federal criminal trial
- Represented real estate developers in litigation against a fellow developer and various banks; obtained settlement in which clients paid nothing
- Represented an Army veteran pro bono in first-degree murder trials
- Represented a manufacturing plant manager in an environmental criminal investigation; government declined to prosecute
- Represented health care clinics in a government false claims investigation; government declined to prosecute
- Represented a senior intelligence official in an investigation involving the destruction of interrogation videotapes; government declined to prosecute
- Represented a senior real estate executive in a New York federal corruption investigation; government declined to prosecute