Searby PLLC

What Searby PLLC does

Searby PLLC is a Washington, D.C.-based boutique litigation firm founded in 2018 by Bruce H. Searby, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney (Central District of California) and Trial Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division's Fraud Section, where he prosecuted FCPA matters and received the DOJ Director's Award. The firm represents corporations and high-net-worth individuals in white-collar criminal defense (FCPA, money laundering, securities fraud, public corruption, export violations, tax fraud) and complex civil litigation (antitrust, civil RICO, trade secrets, whistleblowing, appeals). It also conducts independent investigations, FCPA compliance counseling, and strategic litigation on behalf of NGOs targeting environmental and human rights wrongdoers, plus anti-SLAPP representation.

The firm operates as a four-to-five-person boutique (principal, of counsel, associate attorney, and paralegal) from a single Washington, D.C. office. Its competitive positioning rests on the founder's federal prosecution credentials, sustained Chambers and Partners individual and firm rankings (Band 5 for Bruce Searby across 2022-2026; firm Band 2 in 2025 and 2026), and a low-overhead platform that supports alternative fee arrangements (flat/fixed fees post-indictment in criminal matters; contingent fees in civil matters) rather than traditional hourly billing. Distribution relies on thought leadership (OECD, World Bank, Basel Rainforest Tribunal), media commentary (Global Investigations Review, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Law360), and strategic affiliations (FACT Coalition, U.S.-Ukraine Business Council, affiliated consulting entity Good Ground International). Revenue is generated through professional legal fees with a hybrid pricing model, targeting corporations, individuals, NGOs, and government-adjacent clients across cross-border matters spanning the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Name

Searby PLLC

Legal name

Searby PLLC

Website

https://searby.law

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Searby PLLC is a Washington, D.C. boutique law firm founded in 2018 by former DOJ prosecutor Bruce H. Searby, representing corporations, high-net-worth individuals, and NGOs in white-collar criminal defense, FCPA matters, complex civil litigation, and environmental/human rights enforcement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

White-Collar Criminal Defense Legal Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Fraud Risk Management & Anti-Bribery/Anti-Corruption (ABAC) (BPAHAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA)

Keywords

• White-collar criminal defense
• Complex civil litigation
• FCPA compliance counseling
• Regulatory investigations defense
• Appellate advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Professional Fees: The firm generates revenue through professional legal fees including hourly billing, flat/fixed fees post-indictment in criminal matters, and alternative fee arrangements including contingent fees in civil matters. The boutique firm's low-overhead platform enables cost-effective representation while maintaining high effectiveness.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Searby PLLC is a boutique Washington, DC law firm that defends corporations, high-net-worth individuals, and NGOs in complex federal criminal cases (white-collar crime, FCPA violations, money laundering, public corruption, securities fraud, tax fraud, export violations) and high-stakes civil litigation (antitrust, civil RICO, trade secrets, whistleblowing, appeals). The firm also conducts independent internal investigations and provides FCPA compliance counseling.

Product overview

Searby PLLC is a law firm offering specialized legal services rather than a technology product. The firm provides six distinct legal service offerings: White Collar Criminal Defense and Regulatory representation; Complex Civil Litigation and Whistleblowing; Appeals; Independent Investigations and Compliance; Strategic Litigation Against Environmental and Human Rights Wrongdoers; and Anti-Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (Anti-SLAPP). Led by founding principal Bruce H. Searby, the firm leverages over two decades of federal prosecution and Big Law experience to represent corporations and individuals in complex criminal and civil matters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• White-Collar Criminal Defense and Regulatory Defense of companies and individuals in investigations and prosecutions involving healthcare fraud, foreign bribery (FCPA), public corruption, money laundering, tax fraud, export violations, and securities fraud, often with cross-border transactions.
• Complex Civil Litigation and Whistleblowing Representation of corporations and individuals in high-stakes civil litigation including antitrust, securities fraud, civil RICO, trade secrets, general commercial litigation, and whistleblowing cases, with alternative and contingent fee arrangements available.
• Appeals Briefing and arguing appeals before federal and state courts of appeals to overturn adverse results and preserve trial victories, with substantial written and oral argument capabilities.
• Independent Investigations and Compliance Independent investigations of potential violations of law or codes of conduct on a cost-effective basis, and ongoing FCPA compliance counseling to corporations.
• Strategic Litigation Against Environmental and Human Rights Wrongdoers Guidance to NGOs on enforcement of U.S. laws against environmental and human rights violators, including illegal deforestation, fishing, and labor rights violations, using corruption, bribery, money laundering, fraud, and obstruction frameworks.
• Anti-Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (Anti-SLAPP) Legal representation, advice, advocacy, and strategic support when organizations or individuals are SLAPPed, employing integrative strategies across U.S., EU, and other countries' laws.

Quantifiable outcome

• Obtained full dismissal of federal money laundering, structuring, and related charges against company executive before trial with return of seized funds
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 November 2024Searby Law joined the USUBC, an organization dedicated to advancing U.S. trade and investment interests in Ukraine's emerging market. The firm supports the Council's mission by providing legal support in high-stakes litigation, compliance with US domestic law and sanctions, anti-corruption matters, and immigration.
• FACT Coalition (Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2024Searby PLLC joined the FACT Coalition and actively participates in its Environmental Crimes Working Group. This initiative addresses the intersection of environmental crime and illicit finance, advancing policy solutions that combat financial secrecy and disrupt laundering of proceeds from environmental crimes.
• Good Ground International, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Good Ground International is an affiliated consulting firm that assists Searby clients and projects with training, capacity building, due diligence/investigation, advocacy, policymaking, and project implementation in environmental and anti-corruption space.
• Climate Advisers, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Climate Advisers is a leading Washington, DC-based climate policy and advocacy organization with frequent impact on the global stage. Searby Law typically works with Climate Advisers in cases about deforestation and climate change.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MoloLamken: Boutique litigation firm focused on complex criminal defense, government investigations, and appeals; comparable in serving sophisticated clients in high-stakes white-collar and appellate matters with a lean partner-heavy model.
• Wilkinson Stekloff: Elite boutique litigation firm with a substantial white-collar defense and government investigations practice; comparable to Searby in offering high-stakes trial-ready representation to corporations and individuals at boutique scale.
• Boies Schiller Flexner: Litigation-focused firm with a strong white-collar defense and government investigations practice; comparable as a litigation-led boutique serving corporate clients facing complex criminal and regulatory exposure.
• Kellogg Hansen Todd Figel & Frederick: Boutique firm specializing in high-stakes civil and criminal litigation and appeals; comparable in offering elite, partner-intensive representation on complex matters including white-collar defense.
• Harris, St. Laurent & Wechsler: Boutique white-collar defense firm founded by former federal prosecutors with deep FCPA and government investigations expertise; directly comparable as a small, partner-led white-collar and corporate crime boutique.
• Goldstein & Russell: Boutique litigation and appellate firm with deep government investigations experience; comparable in size and in operating as a small, expert team serving complex litigation needs.

Broad incumbents

• Latham & Watkins: Global law firm with a leading white-collar defense and investigations practice; competes with Searby for high-stakes FCPA and government investigation matters, particularly cross-border, but with a far larger global platform.
• Covington & Burling: Major law firm with one of the deepest white-collar, FCPA, and government investigations practices in the United States; competes with Searby for FCPA defense matters but offers a much broader corporate and regulatory platform.
• Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton: Premier international law firm with a leading FCPA and anti-corruption practice; competes with Searby for sophisticated cross-border corporate crime matters but serves a broader transactional and regulatory client base.
• Gibson Dunn: Global law firm with a preeminent white-collar defense and FCPA practice; competes for the same sophisticated corporate clients facing government investigations, but at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/searby-pllc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Searby PLLC