Brian T. Markley
Partner
212.701.3230
bmarkley@cahill.com
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Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Practices
- Global Risk Assessment & Anticorruption Compliance (FCPA)
- Commercial Litigation
- Corporate Social Responsibility and Supply Chain Compliance
- Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
- Cryptocurrency & Blockchain
- Corporate Internal Investigations & Crisis Advisory
- Securities Litigation
- White Collar Defense & Investigations
- Project Finance, Energy & Infrastructure
Education
- New York University School of Law, J.D., 2000
- Rutgers University, B.A., 1997
Admission
- New York
Brian T. Markley represents companies, boards of directors and special committees in connection with civil litigation and internal investigations and inquiries by the DOJ, SEC and other governmental agencies and self-regulatory organizations. He frequently investigates potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") and other anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws in countries around the world, as well as allegations of accounting fraud, earnings management, workplace harassment and other misconduct.
In addition, Brian represents financial institutions in connection with regulatory investigations, examinations, enforcement actions, litigations and internal investigations involving residential mortgage-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations, credit default swaps and other complex financial products, as well as general commercial and securities litigation.
Brian also advises companies in connection with FCPA diligence for mergers, acquisitions and other investments in jurisdictions with high corruption risk and works with clients to implement effective post-acquisition compliance programs.
Brian has been recognized as a leading FCPA lawyer by Chambers USA. In speaking with Chambers, sources remarked, "he is a thoughtful, disciplined, strategic lawyer who brings an extraordinary breadth of knowledge to the matters he works on," and praised Brian’s “anticorruption vision that is out of this world,” noting, “he evaluates all of our risks and provides precise advice." He is a Legal 500 recommended lawyer in the Corporate Governance arena, was named a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation and was named to Global Investigations Review's “40 under 40” list of the world’s leading investigations lawyers in 2014. He is also listed in Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators in America guide. In 2022, Brian co-authored a chapter for the Anti Money Laundering 2022 guide by International Comparative Legal Guides (ICLG). He began his legal career at Cahill in 2000 and was elected partner in 2009. Today, he serves as Co-Chair of Cahill’s Business Development and Ethics Committees, and has previously served as the firm’s Hiring Partner and Co-Administrative Partner.
- Representing one of the world’s largest asset management firms and its portfolio companies in connection with internal compliance investigations, M&A diligence, development of policies and employee training programs, and other regulatory matters, including FCPA and trade sanctions compliance.
- Representing Falcon Strategic Partners in $120M breach of contract and fraud action in New York Supreme Court relating to its sale of portfolio company, Triad Digital Media.
- Represented StraightPath Venture Partners and relevant individuals in connection with DOJ and SEC investigations of alleged $400M securities fraud and related civil enforcement action.
- Represented the Audit Committee of Wal-Mart Stores in an FCPA investigation relating to activities in Brazil, China, India and Mexico.
- Counsel to the Audit Committee of Qualcomm in an investigation by the DOJ and SEC, and a related internal investigation, into the company’s FCPA compliance.
- Counsel to the Audit Committee of Diageo in connection with an internal investigation and an SEC enforcement action concerning the company’s FCPA compliance.
- Counsel to the Monitor for Toyota Motor Corporation in connection with a Deferred Prosecution Agreement entered into with the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
- Representing multiple companies in the oil service and equipment industry in connection with investigations in Asia and Latin America.
- Prevailed in 2018 on behalf of officers and directors of S&P Global and its then-parent company in two derivative suits brought by shareholders alleging breaches of fiduciary duty and other claims relating to S&P’s credit ratings practices.
- Counsel to S&P Global in connection with other litigation as well as investigations, regulatory examinations and testimony before U.S. Senate and House committees.
- Counsel to one of the nation’s largest telecommunications companies in numerous disputes related to affiliation and retransmission agreements.
- Prevailed in AAA arbitration concerning a dispute over interpretation of a Purchase Agreement earn-out provision, securing an award of attorneys’ fees from the petitioner.
- Represented financial services company against wrongful termination and other claims before a FINRA arbitration panel.
- Oversaw compliance and governance reforms at Biomet as part of a Monitorship required by a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey.
- Represented journalists Judith Miller and Matthew Cooper in connection with the federal government's efforts to compel disclosure of their confidential sources in a criminal investigation into the leak of a CIA agent's identity.
- Defended the Columbia Journalism Review against a libel claim arising out of an article concerning an alleged American mercenary imprisoned in Afghanistan.
- Represented The New York Times in connection with grand jury subpoenas seeking to compel disclosure of its reporters' telephone records in a federal grand jury investigation.
- Represented six major media companies in numerous First Amendment challenges to restrictions on newsgathering activities at polling places during primaries and general elections.