Larry Laurenzi

NAFUSA’s newest member, Lawrence “Larry” J. Laurenzi, has joined Baker Donelson’s Government Enforcement and Investigations Group in the Memphis office.

Laurenzi, who joins as of counsel, brings more than 35 years of experience with the U.S. Department of Justice for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Tennessee, including an appointment as U.S. Attorney from 2008 to 2010. After beginning his career serving as a trial attorney, Laurenzi went on to serve as criminal chief, before becoming First Assistant U.S. Attorney. In addition to the three years he served as U.S. Attorney, Laurenzi was also named Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District on three separate occasions: 2000 – 2001, 2006 – 2007, and 2017.

As a senior trial attorney, Laurenzi was responsible for managing the litigation and regulatory affairs of the United States in Western Tennessee. He actively engaged in both civil and criminal litigation, concentrating on a variety of cases that include white collar fraud, tax fraud, public corruption, civil rights, affirmative civil enforcement, and defensive torts. He has tried more than 100 jury trials and has been recognized on numerous occasions by local law enforcement and the Department of Justice for his work.

Joe D. Whitley, chair of Baker Donelson’s Government Enforcement and Investigations Group, said “Larry brings extensive experience and a stellar reputation as a career federal prosecutor who has held multiple national leadership positions within the Department of Justice. We’re very pleased to welcome him to our growing team of attorneys focused on the defense of businesses and executives in domestic and international investigations and prosecutions.”

Baker Donelson’s Government Enforcement and Investigations Group defends businesses and executives in a wide range of domestic and international investigations and prosecutions. Led by Joe Whitley, former U.S. Attorney in the Middle and Northern Federal Districts of Georgia and former General Counsel of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the group includes more than 30 lawyers, including a former acting associate attorney general, former U.S. attorneys in multiple districts, a former FBI agent, appointed special attorneys general for several states and many former state and federal prosecutors.

Recognized by FORTUNE magazine as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For,” Baker Donelson is among the 60 largest law firms in the country, with more than 750 attorneys and public policy advisors representing more than 30 practice areas to serve a wide range of legal needs across 22 offices in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C.