Kelly E. Handzo

Counsel
Kelly Handzo

Kelly Handzo represents companies and executives facing regulatory and criminal investigations, prosecutions, and litigations. Kelly has experience handling all aspects of government enforcement actions, including complex legal analysis, factual development, and litigation strategy. She has represented clients under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and other federal and state regulators. Kelly also conducts internal corporate investigations in response to whistleblower complaints at the direction of general counsel, boards of directors, or management.

In addition, Kelly routinely advises clients on issues that arise out of investigations, including complex privilege issues, considerations of risks posed by parallel proceedings, and assessment of compliance program gaps and implementation of testing and remedial measures.

Kelly has experience representing clients facing liability under a variety of state, federal, and foreign laws, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the Anti-Kickback Statute, and the False Claims Act (FCA). She has also counseled clients through matters involving federal securities; criminal antitrust; environmental crimes; sanctions and export control violations; state, federal, and international bribery; and bank, wire, and mail fraud. The clients she represents span a range of industries, including financial services, healthcare, technology, and government contracting, and extend beyond U.S. borders.

Kelly maintains a robust pro bono practice, focused primarily on helping asylum seekers and other immigrants from Afghanistan, Rwanda, and El Salvador navigate the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) process. She has also represented individual plaintiffs in constitutional challenges against state and federal agencies.

Insights

Credentials
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Education

  • J.D. William & Mary School of Law 2016
    • Contributor, William & Mary Law Review
    • Legal intern, Solace Women's Aid
    • Law clerk, Maryland Office of the Attorney General
  • B.S. University of Maryland 2013

Bar Admissions

  • Maryland

Recognition
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  • The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, 2021 – 2025
  • Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, 2023