María González Calvet

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María González Calvet is an anti-corruption and international risk partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. With a practice that spans two decades, María is recognized for her deep understanding and significant experience in anti-corruption and other investigative matters in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, and in every significant business sector. Recognized for her deep understanding and experience in the application of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-bribery statutes, María has worked with leaders in government, business and finance to conduct a wide variety of investigations and risk assessments, as well as on behalf of companies, portfolio companies and individuals concerning multi-jurisdictional matters involving corruption, money laundering, and other forms of financial fraud. For example, María has recently assisted a global pharmaceutical company in managing the strategy for an investigation related to a corruption scandal. María is also leading an investigation on behalf of a medical device company in connection with allegations of fraud in connection with public bidding.

María has conducted internal and government investigations in more than 30 countries around the globe and draws on her past work in government and the corporate sector to help clients across industries, including private equity and other investors, and geographies to identify and mitigate corruption risks and implement effective compliance programs. 

She has particular experience in the following areas:

• Pre- and post-acquisition due diligence in high-risk markets; including for private equity investors
• International white collar fraud investigations
• Jurisdictional questions and challenges that arise from coordinated prosecution by multiple enforcement authorities
• Transactions and business dealings with government entities and financial institutions
• Risks associated with consortia and other partnerships

Prior to joining Ropes & Gray in 2018, María served as Executive Counsel, Global Investigations for General Electric where she led and managed government, regulatory and internal investigations for the company’s business in Latin America. Earlier in her career, she was a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Fraud Section, and was a member of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Unit where she led some of the Department’s most important investigations involving allegations of corruption and other white collar offenses. 

María is a fluent, native Spanish speaker, and an advanced Portuguese speaker. Before becoming a lawyer, she worked in education, focusing on adult literacy and bilingual education. 

• Publications
• Presentations