Bradley L. Henry

Bradley L. Henry
Partner
White Collar Defense & Investigations

Biography

Brad Henry is an internationally recognized trial lawyer and strategic counselor whose practice focuses on white-collar criminal defense, government and internal investigations, complex civil litigation, regulatory compliance, and international arbitration.

Global Investigations Review’s GIR 100 describes Brad as “a versatile lawyer known as a go-to for sanctions, money laundering, bribery and corruption cases, and handles internal and government investigations, compliance advisory work, complex commercial litigation and international arbitration.” The American Lawyer named Brad “Litigator of the Week” for his work in securing a full dismissal with prejudice of the charges against former Pilot Flying J President, Mark Hazelwood, in a decade-long white-collar case.

A partner in Blank Rome LLP’s top-ranked White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, Brad is regularly sought after by corporations, boards of directors, senior executives, and high-profile individuals facing their most sensitive, high-stakes legal challenges. Drawing on more than two decades of courtroom and boardroom experience—including over thirty federal jury trials tried to verdict—he blends meticulous preparation, deep subject-matter knowledge, and fierce advocacy to secure favorable outcomes in courts across the United States and in numerous foreign jurisdictions.

Brad’s work is truly global in scope. He has guided clients through cross-border inquiries in Europe, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Türkiye, and Ukraine, and he routinely interfaces with enforcement authorities such as the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”), Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), Bureau of Industry and Security, New York Department of Financial Services, and an array of foreign regulators. Brad’s experience includes handling allegations of securities or commodities fraud, violations of the False Claims Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), economic sanctions breaches under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, anti-money-laundering and Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) violations, market manipulation, antitrust misconduct, tax fraud, and economic espionage and theft of trade secrets.

Trial Advocate: Trial advocacy is Brad’s hallmark. Known for his readiness to go to verdict when strategy demands, Brad has tried cases in federal and state courts nationwide. He has briefed and argued appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First, Second, Fourth, Sixth, and Eleventh Circuits as well as the Supreme Court of the United States. His readiness to litigate from indictment through appeal enhances his credibility in negotiations, allowing him to secure non-prosecution agreements, deferred prosecution agreements, declinations, and favorable settlements when trial is not in the client’s best interest. At the same time, his track record before juries underscores his commitment to vindicating clients when settlement is neither possible nor prudent.

Whether cross-examining technical experts, translating complex trading data for jurors, or litigating sensitive national-security issues under the Classified Information Procedures Act, he brings the same disciplined approach: uncover the true story, expose weaknesses in the prosecution’s narrative, and present an affirmative defense grounded in both law and common sense.

Internal and Government Investigations: Corporations frequently turn to Brad to lead high-stakes internal investigations for audit and special committees. Clients value his holistic approach—he looks beyond criminal exposure to assess collateral risks such as debarment, securities listings, export licenses, and M&A impact. His solutions often include proactive stakeholder communication, negotiation of monitorship terms calibrated to operational realities, and coordination of remedial measures like clawback policies and governance reforms. His crisis-management acumen is complemented by steady judgment during board presentations, where he translates investigative findings into actionable recommendations. Clients also rely on Brad to manage parallel criminal, civil, congressional, and administrative proceedings while navigating media scrutiny and maintaining business continuity.

Regulatory Compliance: Corporate leaders turn to Brad for proactive risk mitigation: he regularly designs, implements, and stress-tests compliance programs tailored to complicated international supply chains, emerging-market joint ventures, and high-value public-private partnerships. His fluency in navigating differing enforcement cultures around the world is bolstered by his role as lead counsel on dozens of cross-border disputes spanning multiple jurisdictions around the globe.

Sanctions and AML: Sanctions and anti-money laundering (“AML”) compliance are cornerstones of Brad’s practice. As co-chair of the International Bar Association’s Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions Experts Subcommittee, he remains at the forefront of evolving global enforcement expectations. He has designed, implemented, and stress-tested compliance programs for financial institutions, multinational manufacturers, port and mining conglomerates, energy companies, technology providers, and emerging-growth enterprises. These programs frequently address high-risk jurisdictions, complex distributor networks, cryptocurrency exposure, and cutting-edge FinTech innovations. In internal investigations, he has led audit committees and special committees in examining potential misconduct involving sanctions evasion, offshore fund flows, and corrupt payments, offering candid assessments that satisfy regulators while protecting corporate interests.

International Arbitration: Brad has significant experience representing clients (both claimants and sovereigns) in high-stakes international commercial and treaty-based arbitration proceedings. He has acted as counsel in arbitrations under the rules of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, and in ad hoc arbitrations under the rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague. His arbitration matters span a wide range of industries and disputes, including construction mega-projects, manufacturing, real estate development, ports, and oil and gas, as well as bilateral investment treaty claims between sovereign nations and private investors. His ability to translate criminal-law principles into the arbitral context—such as issues of corruption, sanctions, and fraud—gives his clients a decisive edge when public-law questions intersect with private contractual remedies.

Complex Civil Litigation: Brad’s civil-litigation docket mirrors the sophistication of his criminal practice. He represents public and private companies in cross-border contract disputes, follow-on civil actions arising from investigations, and multi-party commercial litigation with bet-the-company implications.

Asset Forfeiture: Brad has extensive experience handling federal asset forfeiture cases, representing clients in complex proceedings involving the seizure of assets by government authorities. His deep understanding of the intricacies of asset forfeiture laws and regulations has enabled him to successfully challenge and negotiate the return of seized property. Brad’s strategic approach and meticulous attention to detail have resulted in favorable outcomes for clients facing asset forfeiture actions, including the recovery of significant financial assets and property. Examples of his successes include his work as counsel in having Tennessee’s illegal drug tax struck down as unconstitutional resulting in the return of millions of dollars of assets; complete dismissal of federal asset forfeiture claims against multiple individuals for allegations of using fraudulent straw men to export cars for sale in the gray market resulting in the return of multiple vehicles and hundreds of thousands of dollars in currency; and the successful settlement of an alleged cryptocurrency fraud forfeiture and return of millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency.

1782 Discovery Litigation: As part of his international practice, Brad has extensive experience defending clients against aggressive 1782 discovery actions in courts around the United States. In recent cases, Brad’s adept advocacy in countering these requests has resulted in the denial of a request in a Curacao online gaming dispute involving cryptocurrency in the Northern District of California and a denial in a request stemming from a billion-dollar dispute over a Chinese investment in a South American country.

Client Success: Brad’s representative matters reflect both breadth and depth. He defended the CEO of an international tobacco company in a sanctions investigation that culminated in the DOJ’s decision to decline charges. He was lead counsel in the high-profile defense of Mark Hazelwood, the former President of Pilot Flying J, in a federal fraud case. After Hazelwood's initial conviction was overturned on appeal due to prejudicial evidence, Brad and the defense team successfully advocated for the complete dismissal of all charges, bringing an end to a years-long legal ordeal and securing Hazelwood’s freedom. Brad also contributed to the defense of Xiaoqing Zheng, a former General Electric engineer accused of economic espionage and theft of trade secrets. In a complex federal trial, the jury acquitted Zheng on four counts, deadlocked on several others, and convicted on only one, resulting in a significantly reduced exposure for the client compared to the original charges.

He has also secured the dismissal of charges for a high-ranking law enforcement officer in a DOJ probe arising from a multimillion-dollar fraud investigation. Brad has secured dozens of dismissals, declinations, and deferred and non-prosecution agreements for his clients. He has counseled a leading global port and mining conglomerate on a host of regulatory compliance issues ranging from FCPA risk in Latin America operations to supply-chain sanctions exposure resulting in the approval of a multimillion-dollar financial facility for the improvement of one of its ports.

Blank Rome: In leading matters for the group, Brad draws on the firm’s multidisciplinary resources—including sophisticated corporate, government contracts, international trade, data privacy, energy, environmental, healthcare, and maritime capabilities—to deliver seamless advice that accounts for every regulatory and commercial dimension of a problem.

Thought Leadership and Pro Bono Work: Beyond his client work, Brad is a frequent commentator and speaker on topics including white-collar trends, cross-border investigations, economic sanctions, AML best practices, and trial strategy. He has presented at conferences around the globe, and he regularly authors articles analyzing enforcement priorities and defense strategies.

Brad has also dedicated his time to the defense of indigent defendants though the Criminal Justice Act panels in the Eastern District of Tennessee and the Southern District of New York and multiple federal appeals courts.

Experience

Corporate Fraud

  • Lead counsel in the high-profile defense of Mark Hazelwood, the former President of Pilot Flying J, in a federal fraud case. After Hazelwood’s initial conviction was overturned on appeal due to prejudicial evidence, Brad and the defense team successfully advocated for the complete dismissal of all charges, bringing an end to a years-long legal ordeal and securing Hazelwood’s freedom.
  • Secured the dismissal of charges for a high-ranking law enforcement officer in a DOJ probe arising from a multimillion-dollar fraud investigation.
  • Represented an executive of a nuclear remediation company in an investigation into violations of the False Claims Act. No charges were filed.
  • Represented a chief of general surgery of a regional university medical center in an investigation into Medicare/Medicaid fraud. No charges were filed.
  • Represented an executive of an Ivy League university in a federal jury trial for allegations of bribery and visa fraud.
  • Represented an individual in nationwide fraud scheme related to civil war collectibles. Brad convinced the government to drop all charges in the indictment prior to trial.

U.S. Economic Sanctions

  • Defended the CEO of an international tobacco company in a sanctions investigation that culminated in the DOJ’s decision to decline charges.
  • Represented a state-owned foreign bank in a sanctions and BSA/AML investigation by the DOJ and the OFAC.
  • Represented an international tobacco company in connection with an investigation by the DOJ National Security Division and OFAC for alleged violations of U.S. economic sanctions against North Korea.
  • Conducted an internal investigation of a European payment services company related to possible violations of U.S. economic sanctions against Iran.
  • Represented a foreign corporation in an investigation by the DOJ National Security Division for alleged violations of North Korean sanctions regulations.
  • Represented a foreign individual in having their name removed from the prohibited persons list administered by OFAC.
  • Represents foreign entities in applications for special licenses before OFAC.
  • Conducted a comprehensive risk assessment and internal investigation for a foreign agricultural product manufacturing company related to U.S. economic sanctions on Iran in response to a joint inquiry from OFAC and the U.S. State Department.
  • Counseled a U.S.- based international restaurant franchisor on issues with franchisee operations in Latin America involving OFAC and State Department Magnitsky sanctions.

Regulatory Compliance

  • Counseled a leading global port and mining conglomerate on a host of regulatory compliance issues ranging from FCPA risk in Latin America operations to supply-chain sanctions exposure resulting in the approval of a multimillion-dollar financial facility for the improvement of one of its ports.

Economic Espionage and Theft of Trade Secrets

  • Secured acquittals on the majority of counts in a high-profile economic-espionage prosecution where the government alleged that a foreign-born engineer conspired to steal proprietary turbine technology.
  • Represented a construction company in a federal lawsuit alleging theft of trade secrets and fraud.
  • Represented a medical device engineer in an investigation by the DOJ for theft of trade secrets.
  • Represented a senior engineer in a DOJ investigation for theft of trade secrets and International Emergency Economic Powers Act violations related to laser fiber technology.

Asset Forfeiture

  • Counsel in having Tennessee’s illegal drug tax struck down as unconstitutional resulting in the return of millions of dollars of assets.
  • Secured complete dismissal of federal asset forfeiture claims against multiple individuals for allegations of using fraudulent straw men to export cars for sell in the gray market resulting in the return of multiple vehicles and hundreds of thousands in currency.
  • Successful settlement of an alleged cryptocurrency fraud forfeiture allegations and return of millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency.

1782 Litigation

  • Denial of a request in a Curacao online gaming dispute involving cryptocurrency in the Northern District of California.
  • Denial in a request stemming from a billion-dollar dispute over a Chinese investment in a South American country.

International Arbitration

  • A foreign state in a billion-dollar claim in an oil and gas pipeline dispute.
  • A foreign investor in investment treaty arbitration related to the expropriation of a manufacturing facility.
  • A foreign investor in an investment treaty arbitration related to the expropriation of real estate assets.
  • A foreign investor in an investment treaty arbitration related to the expropriation of a construction project.

Computer Fraud and Abuse Act

  • A foreign individual in an investigation for alleged violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (“CFAA”) related to the creation of internationally distributed malware.
  • An executive in investigation for violations of the CFAA.

News & Views

See all News and Views

Recognitions

  • 2025, listed in The Legal 500 United States
  • 2024, White Collar Criminal Law, listed in New York Metro Super Lawyers

Affiliations

Memberships

  • International Bar Association
  • New York Council of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Professional Activities

Brad serves as a member of the Federal Bar Council, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the International Bar Association. He also serves as co-chair of the Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions Experts Subcommittee of the International Bar Association.

Credentials

Admissions

  • New Jersey
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • New York
  • Texas
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court - Northern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York
  • United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Tennessee

Education

  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, BS
  • Florida Coastal School of Law, JD

A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here.

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