Smyser Kaplan & Veselka Add To White Collar Group with Pair of Partners

HOUSTON, Nov. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Smyser Kaplan & Veselka, L.L.P. announced today that the law firm has added two partners to its White Collar Practice group, effective immediately. The new team expands SKV's depth and experience in the white collar defense bar. Joining the firm as partners are Shaun Clarke and Dane Ball.

"Shaun and Dane are absolute pros. Their addition gives SKV the premier white collar defense practice in Texas and the Gulf Coast," said Craig Smyser, SKV founding partner. "As SKV moves into its 20^th year, we believe that adding lawyers with exceptional credentials and experience in large scale government investigations and criminal defense will enable us to provide clients with the very best representation across the entire spectrum of litigation matters."

Clarke and Ball come to SKV from the Houston office of Quinn Emanuel. Prior to that, they practiced together at Gerger & Clarke.

"Dane and I are thrilled to be at SKV," said Clarke. "They're great colleagues and outstanding professionals. We look forward to upholding SKV's reputation for excellence while expanding its white collar practice."

About Shaun Clarke and Dane Ball

Shaun Clarke is renowned for his trial skills and deft management of high-profile, government and corporate investigations. Described by Chambers USA as a "master in handling government investigations on behalf of a nationwide clientele," Clarke has earned accolades from The Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. Clarke first earned his reputation as an Assistant United States Attorney in New Orleans where he led a multi-agency task force investigation and series of prosecutions following the failure of Anglo-American Insurance Company.  In 1996, Clarke established the environmental and white-collar defense practice at Liskow & Lewis, then moved to Gerger & Clarke in 2008.  Clarke has led defense teams in nearly every area of white collar defense and has represented clients ranging from Fortune 50 companies to individual employees.  Presently Clarke is lead trial counsel for the BP rig worker charged with manslaughter arising from the Deepwater Horizon blowout and oil spill.   A few other noteworthy cases include the landmark "constructive amendment" reversal in U.S. v. Hoover, reversal of a $17 million restitution award in U.S. v. D.L., and the successful representation of a former New York Yankee in the congressional investigation into performance enhancing drug use.

Clarke received his J.D. from Yale Law School where he was an editor of The Yale Law Journal, and his undergraduate degree from Brown University.  Mr. Clarke clerked for Judge Lowell Jensen on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.   He is admitted to the Bars of Texas and Louisiana.

Dane Ball has focused his practice over the past decade on federal criminal trials and appeals; parallel criminal, civil and administrative proceedings; and internal and federal investigations of companies and individuals as "targets," "subjects," and "witnesses."  He has handled matters involving alleged insider trading; commodities manipulation and cornering; environmental violations; criminal negligence; bribery; theft of trade secrets; trading with sanctioned countries; money laundering; mail, wire and tax fraud; and conspiracy.  He has written for national publications and has taught at The University of Houston Law Center on these topics and has been recognized as a "Rising Star" in White Collar Criminal Defense by Super Lawyers.

Mr. Ball started his legal career as a clerk on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. After clerking, he practiced at Skadden Arps and then Gerger & Clarke.  He received his undergraduate degree from Pepperdine University and his Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from Pepperdine University School of Law, where he was an editor on the law review and member of the mock trial team.  He is admitted to practice in Texas and Minnesota.

About SKV

SKV represents plaintiffs and defendants in multimillion dollar, and sometimes multibillion dollar cases, with clients from the United States, Asia, Latin America and Europe. Client service is an SKV priority; we staff cases intelligently and efficiently and provide a first class work product.

SOURCE Smyser Kaplan & Veselka, L.L.P.