Fritz E. Berckmueller

Fritz handles complex and high-stakes disputes and litigation for clients across the country. He brings to bear a broad set of experiences – in the boardroom, courtroom, high-profile government relations investigations and behind-the-scenes inquiries – to find the right approach for each client and the best strategy for each matter.

In his role leading Calfee's White-Collar Defense and Investigations practice, Fritz focuses on helping corporate clients and individuals navigate criminal investigations and inquiries and other related matters, by both federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), among others.

Fritz has extensive experience in each of the following areas:

• FCPA and other bribery and corruption matters, both foreign and domestic
• Securities fraud and False Claims Act (FCA) investigations
• Securities fraud class actions, shareholder derivative actions, and proxy challenges

• Economic Espionage Act and criminal trade secret theft investigations and prosecutions

• Treasury and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) investigations regarding sanctions lists
• Department of Commerce and the Export Administration Act
• Whistleblower claims
• FINRA insider trading inquiries

Additionally, he has significant experience conducting internal corporate investigations for boards and audit committees on governance and other issues.

Fritz has defended individuals and corporations against criminal investigations and in criminal actions in courts across the country over charges of securities fraud, FCPA violations, money laundering, copyright infringement, public corruption, and theft of trade secrets/economic espionage. He also assists clients in developing policies, providing training, and conducting due diligence in many of these areas, including FCPA and other anti-corruption and bribery laws.

Fritz also regularly represents businesses and business partners in complex litigation, whether in arbitration or in state and federal courts, regarding all manners of commercial disputes including breach of contract, fraud, breach of duty, tortious interference, misappropriation of trade secrets, and civil conspiracy.

Since 2021, Fritz has been recognized for his work in Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations in Ohio by Chambers USA. Clients reported to Chambers USA researchers that "Fritz is a pleasure to work with. He is an amazing lawyer who offers his clients the services they require. Fritz is very easy to work with – he's accessible, responsive, smart, and capable. He's always on top of his game. He has extensive experience in sophisticated securities litigation and internal investigation work. Fritz is extremely capable at navigating the complexities of dealing with investigators and prosecutors in high-profile cases. Fritz is a subject-matter expert, very even-keeled and has a very engaging approach."

He writes and speaks regularly on issues relating to securities fraud, shareholder derivative actions, corporate compliance and internal investigations.

Formerly at a firm in Chicago, Fritz joined Calfee in 2006 and was elected Partner in 2010. He began serving as Vice Chair of the Litigation practice group in 2022.

Honors & Recognitions

• Chambers USA, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, Band 2, Ohio (2021-2024)
• Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Star – U.S. (National) and Ohio, White-Collar Crime (2022-2025)
• The Best Lawyers in America^®, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2020-2025)
• Ohio Super Lawyers, Criminal Defense: White Collar (2022-2025)

Education

J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 2000

B.A., Washington and Lee University, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1997

Experience

Internal Investigations and Regulatory Examinations

• Representing three individual investors in connection with a potential Ponzi scheme, including responding to various state and federal investigations, and conducting an investigation into corporate activities.
• Lead internal investigation for a nonprofit's board of directors into potential issues regarding coding and federal reimbursements.
• Representing a building services company in a grand jury investigation into potential corrupt acts by a public official.  
• Representing a manufacturing company and its audit committee in an internal investigation and voluntary self-disclosure regarding potential corruption issues at a subsidiary in India.
• Representing a company in responding to a state's Attorney General investigation into potential antitrust issues regarding revenue management software.
• Defending a manufacturing company client in a grand jury investigation involving the DOJ investigation of an entity for potential counterfeiting, fraud, and false claims violations.
• Defending a registered investment advisor client in an investigation involving the U.S. SEC’s Office of Investor Advocacy's demand for information on the client regarding an investor complaint.
• Representing a medical device manufacturer in an internal investigation and voluntary self-disclosure of potential export violations to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Office of Export Enforcement, within the Department of Commerce.
• Conducted an internal investigation of revenue recognition and other accounting practices for a privately held high-tech company.
• Represented a national financial institution in responding to SEC subpoenas.
• Conducted an internal investigation of corporate ethics for a publicly traded company.
• Represented a national investment bank in an investigation by a self-regulatory organization relating to compliance and conflict of interest issues.
• Conducted internal investigation of ethics and legal compliance issues for a not-for-profit company.

Securities Class Actions and Shareholder Derivative Actions

• Representing an Asian consumer electronics company in a shareholder derivative action. Calfee is developing and implementing the defense strategies with co-counsel, interfacing with the court where this action was filed and the court to which the action was removed, and together with co-counsel, is drafting, editing, and providing comments on case filings, and also providing comprehensive representation to the clients.
• Represented an accounting officer of a publicly traded manufacturing company in shareholder derivative and class actions, all alleging securities fraud based on accounting issues; obtained complete dismissal of class and derivative claims.
• Represented officers and directors of a publicly traded medical equipment manufacturer in related securities fraud class action, ERISA class action, and shareholder derivative actions alleging fraud and breaches of fiduciary and other duties in regard to regulatory compliance programs.
• Represented a national financial institution in a class "strike suit" involving disclosure and fiduciary duty claims.
• Represented a hedge fund in one of the largest-ever proxy challenges.

SEC Enforcement Actions

• Represented a publicly traded company in the oil and gas industry in an FCPA investigation by the SEC, resulting in a close-out letter, with no further action, from the SEC.
• Represented an accounting officer of a publicly traded manufacturing company in an SEC enforcement action alleging securities fraud based on accounting issues.
• Represented an officer of an investment advisory firm in securities fraud class actions and a related SEC investigation.

White-Collar Defense

• Defended company in a criminal investigation involving the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD IG), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC) regarding potential fraud and related charges.
• Serving as defense counsel to an officer of a crypto-exchange company in multiple civil lawsuits, including by the FTC.
• Representing a nonprofit entity in a corruption investigation by the State of Ohio Attorney General and a grand jury.
• Defended a felony trade secret theft prosecution in the Eastern District of Michigan.
• Current representation of multiple corporate clients in DOJ criminal investigations in various jurisdictions nationally.

Business Litigation

• Represented a publicly traded, Fortune 500 manufacturing company client in a dispute with a supplier regarding the termination of a letter of intent for long-term supply of finished goods, including breach of contract threats.

Professional & Community

• Federal Bar Association, Member and Board Member of the Northern District of Ohio Chapter (2016-present)

• American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section and White-Collar Crime Committee

• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio, Inc., Past President of the Board of Directors

• Citizenship and Education Foundation of Edison Local Schools, Board Member; Past Elected Member of the Board of Education of Edison Local Schools

• Boy Scouts of America, Lake Erie Council, Board Member

Publications

• Co-Author, "Recent Controversial Decision and Insurance Law May Mitigate Exposure for Companies Subject to False Claims Act Lawsuits," Corporate Counsel (February 7, 2025)