Firm's Philosophy
Safeguarding Integrity--The Most Precious Of Assets
“To have an effective compliance and ethics program . . . an organization shall—(1) exercise due diligence to prevent and detect criminal conduct; and (2) otherwise promote an organizational culture that encourages ethical conduct and a commitment to compliance with the law.”
Alicia Villarreal’s practice is dedicated to helping companies and organizations achieve an ethical corporate culture. It is her deep experience in both prosecuting and defending organizations that led to her focus on helping clients achieve long term success by preventing waste, fraud, abuse and other serious risks. Ms. Villarreal understands that an organization’s reputation for acting with integrity is a priceless asset that merits adoption of thoughtful protective measures to safeguard it. Indeed, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines establish that all organizations, large and small, public and private, should have a compliance program in place and regularly evaluate its effectiveness.
Too often organizations get bogged down in expensive and time-consuming litigation or investigations by government regulators that disrupt operations and drain vast resources. Not only are many of these problems avoidable, but a well-tailored compliance program can establish to regulators that the organization endeavored in good faith to do the right thing and should therefore avoid liability. Thus, reasonable attention to risk can avoid crises, provide a shield when they occur, and, most importantly, keep the organization’s focus where it belongs - on creating and delivering success
Through her keen understanding of business operations and excellent judgment, Ms. Villarreal guides clients to practical and effective compliance solutions tailored to their unique operations.