Willy Ferrer

One of NAFUSA’s newest members, Wifredo A. “Willy” Ferrer, has joined Holland & Knight as a partner in the Miami office. Ferrer, the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, will lead the firm’s Global Compliance and Investigations Team.

Under Mr. Ferrer’s leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida handled more than 11,000 cases and charged more than 18,000 defendants for their alleged roles in criminal schemes. The office prosecuted a wide range of financial fraud, including investment and securities fraud as well as fraud against the U.S. government and the Medicare program. Mr. Ferrer directed cases involving international and domestic terrorism, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, violent crime and human trafficking.

“Willy Ferrer is one of the most respected government officials in South Florida. He has an impeccable reputation in our profession,” said Steven Sonberg, managing partner of Holland & Knight. “We are proud that he has chosen to continue his remarkable career at Holland & Knight.”

The move to Holland & Knight reunites Ferrer with John Hogan, who currently serves as head of the firm’s Litigation Section. They previously worked together at the U.S. Department of Justice, while Hogan was chief of staff to the late U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.

At Holland & Knight, Ferrer’s practice will focus on international and domestic investigations for corporate clients, including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters. He will utilize the firm’s strong Latin America Practice to assist clients in the region. He will represent companies and individuals facing enforcement actions, complex litigation and other compliance issues. Ferrer also will use his considerable background in the areas of healthcare and financial services regulation to advise companies on compliance with federal and state laws.

Ferrer was nominated as a U.S. Attorney by President Barack Obama and received unanimous confirmation from the U.S. Senate in April 2010. Prior to serving as a U.S. Attorney, Ferrer was Chief of the Federal Litigation Section for the Miami-Dade County Attorney’s Office from 2006 to 2010 and an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida from 2000 to 2006.

Ferrer received his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and his A.B. degree from the University of Miami, where he graduated first in his class.