DeWitt is a partner in the regulatory group at Troutman Sanders LLP whose practice focuses on the design and administration of corporate ethics and legal compliance programs, lobbying law, political campaign finance law, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), corporate public relations and crisis management, and public utilities.

Representative Experience
DeWitt has worked with numerous corporate clients to help assure their U.S. and non-U.S. ethics and legal compliance programs meet the expectations published by the U.S. Sentencing Commission, federal and state courts, the Justice Department, the Securities and Exchange Commission, other federal agencies, and international organizations such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OCED). He has helped companies develop and enhance their compliance activities, draft policies and procedures, and train employees. He has conducted, and advised clients on conducting, many internal investigations involving compliance issues.

DeWitt also advises companies on their compliance with the often complex federal, state and foreign laws and regulations which govern governmental relations activities in the areas of lobbyist registration and reporting, gifts for public officials, and political contributions. He has had extensive experience assisting clients in the formation and administration of corporate-sponsored and independent political action committees (PACs) on the federal and state level in the United States. He has worked with many clients on the structuring of international transactions to minimize FCPA risks.

DeWitt worked as a journalist prior to attending law school.  After receiving a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, he joined The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution as a staff writer.  He later served as business editor, city editor and assistant managing editor of the newspapers.  In these positions, he was in charge of local, state and financial news coverage.  He is able to use his news media experience in advising clients on the public relations implications of legal matters.

Presentations and Speaking Engagements
DeWitt has appeared before The Conference Board’s Council of Senior International Attorneys, the Institute of Internal Auditors, the American Society of Corporate Secretaries, the Public Relations Society America, the Southern Institute for Business and Professional Ethics, the Carter Center and the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals to speak about ethics and legal compliance programs.

DeWitt addressed the American Bar Association Forum on Air & Space Law Washington Update Conference in January 2008 on Congressional lobbying law and gift rule amendments enacted in 2007.

DeWitt was a featured speaker at the American Conference Institute’s 17th National Conference on the FCPA in New York City in March 2007.  His topic:  “Conducting an Effective FCPA Risk Assessment.”

In March 2002, DeWitt served on a U.S. Justice Department-led team of experts who were selected to brief an OECD task force on the state of compliance by U.S. companies with the FCPA.

In October 2001, DeWitt led a panel presentation to the State Bar of Georgia’s annual Business Law Institute entitled, “The Corporate Lawyer’s Role in Crisis Management for the Business Enterprise.”