Vito A. Iaia
Associate
Vito represents clients in connection with government enforcement actions, internal investigations, complex commercial disputes, and compliance matters. His clients include health care and pharmaceutical companies, private equity firms and their portfolio companies, and asset managers.
Vito has represented clients under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and other federal and state authorities. Vito has substantial experience conducting thorough and independent investigations into allegations of serious wrongdoing, including allegations of bribery/corruption and unlawful or unethical business practices. Vito also represents clients in private equity disputes and transaction-related litigations and arbitrations.
Vito maintains an active pro bono practice and regularly represents pro bono clients who are facing federal criminal charges and deportation orders and is currently representing an individual in novel constitutional civil rights litigation.
Experience
Internal Investigations and Government Enforcement Actions
- Conducted an internal investigation for a publicly traded U.S.-based multinational medical device company in response to a whistleblower report alleging widespread fraud throughout the business’s South American operations.
- Represented a major publicly traded pharmaceutical company in connection with parallel DOJ and SEC investigations into allegations of widespread company fraud.
- Advised a board committee of a publicly traded health care insurance company in response to a whistleblower report alleging systemic Medicaid/Medicare fraud.
- Represented a global investment advisor in connection with DOJ and SEC insider trading investigations and prosecutions of a former employee.
- Represented an executive of a Japanese medical device manufacturer in a major DOJ and FDA investigation.
- Developed anti-corruption and third-party compliance programs for clients with significant international operations, including in particularly high-risk jurisdictions.
- Advised clients across industries regarding anti-corruption, trade sanctions, and export control due diligence in connection with joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions, and other key business partner relationships around the world.
Complex Civil Litigation Matters
- Represented a Fortune 250 company in a contract and consumer fraud trial stemming from a data security breach.
- Negotiated a multi-million-dollar settlement for a major pharmaceutical company in connection with a complex commercial dispute involving widespread fraud.
- Defended a seller private equity firm in transaction-related dispute where buyer firm was seeking to unwind the transaction.
Pro Bono Matters
- Represented several indigent defendants facing an array of criminal charges in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
- Represented an indigent petitioner challenging indefinite detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in habeas corpus proceedings.
- Counseled applicants for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and completed and submitted renewal applications to federal immigration authorities.
Publications
- Co-author, “SEC Remedies Litigation,” Practical Law (January 2023)
- Co-author, “In Case You Missed It: Hottest Firms And Stories On Law360,” Law360 (June 24, 2022)
- Co-author, “2 Years Since Liu, Disgorgement Case Law Is Favoring SEC,” Law360 (June 21, 2022)
Education
- JD, The University of Chicago Law School, 2017
- BA, Le Moyne College, 2009
Admissions / Qualifications
Qualifications
- Illinois, 2017
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 2023
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 2018
