Steven J. McCool

Steven McCool, a former federal prosecutor, has served as lead counsel in more than 75 criminal and civil jury and bench trials. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

In Chambers & Partners, Mr. McCool is a nationally-recognized trial lawyer. In 2021, attorneys and clients stated: Steven McCool is “a first-rate trial lawyer who is relentless in court.” In 2020, attorneys and clients stated: Steven is a “phenomenal trial lawyer;” “He’s a truly talented lawyer and is someone to call if you’re facing trouble;” and “He is a first-rate lawyer who is relentless in court.” In 2019, his peers stated: “Steve is an incredible trial lawyer, truly one of the best I’ve ever seen and he has strategic judgment and thinking that is as good as anyone I’ve ever worked with,” and a client stated, “he knows his way around a courtroom with his eyes closed and his hands behind his back.” In 2018, his peers described Mr. McCool as an “incredibly talented trial lawyer.” In 2017, his peers described him as “one of the best trial lawyers in the city.” Another peer added: “He wins the unwinnable cases. I’ve never seen anyone more committed to the interests of his clients.” In 2016, his peers described him as an “exceptionally gifted” trial lawyer and a “tenacious” advocate for his clients, in matters “including SEC enforcement, internal and grand jury investigations, in addition to FCA litigation.”

Mr. McCool is consistently identified as one of the Best Lawyers in America® by U.S. News & World Report (Tier 1 – Criminal Defense: White-Collar Litigation). He is also recognized, year after year, as one of “Washington’s Top Lawyers” by Washingtonian Magazine, and in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, Mr. McCool was named as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers in Washington, DC” by Super Lawyers®. The National Law Journal named him as one of 50 lawyers in the United States who has made his mark in white-collar litigation.

Mr. McCool represents companies, officers, directors, executives and other individuals in criminal, civil and administrative matters, including grand jury investigations, internal investigations, Inspector General investigations, Congressional inquiries, SEC enforcement proceedings, and False Claims Act litigation. He has litigated a variety of cases relating to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, ITAR, export controls, the Clean Water Act, bank fraud, money laundering, securities fraud, government contracting fraud, mortgage and other accounting fraud. Mr. McCool has also handled complex civil matters involving business disputes, qui tam litigation, and asset forfeiture.