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Securities Enforcement. Criminal Investigations. Litigation.

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Lionel André

Partner

Lionel André is the advocate companies and executives turn to when the SEC, DOJ, CFTC, or another enforcement agency launches an investigation, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. With more than three decades inside the federal government—including senior leadership roles at both the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Securities and Exchange Commission—Lionel brings an insider’s understanding of how prosecutors and investigators think, negotiate, and decide cases. He knows their strategies because he spent years shaping them.

Contact Lionel

landre@secillaw.com

+1-703-232-4622

A seasoned trial lawyer, Lionel has tried scores of cases and led complex investigations involving securities fraud, insider trading, healthcare fraud, public corruption, and FCPA violations. At the SEC, he rose from staff attorney to Assistant Chief Litigation Counsel and created a first-of-a-kind unit dedicated to enforcing judgments. His work included high-profile matters, including an insider trading case so dramatic it later inspired a “Law & Order” episode.

At the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Lionel’s early years were defined by back-to-back trials and a demanding schedule that forged him into a meticulous, persuasive litigator whose cases consistently held up on appeal. Over his sixteen years there, he served as Senior Litigation Counsel and Health Care Fraud Coordinator, supervising investigative teams from the FBI, IRS, HHS, and other agencies.

Today, Lionel uses that experience to protect clients when their careers, reputations, and futures are on the line. He is known for his ability to defuse crises before they escalate—often by meeting with prosecutors and investigators face-to-face, where he can advocate directly, correct misunderstandings early, and shape the narrative before it hardens. When trial becomes necessary, he is a commanding storyteller who knows how to connect with juries and win.

Clients trust Lionel not only for his judgment and experience, but for his steady presence during the most stressful moments of their professional lives. He understands that behind every case is a person whose life has been upended, and he takes that responsibility seriously.

Beyond his practice, Lionel serves as SECIL Law’s Chief of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, championing a culture where a range of perspectives leads to more creative solutions for clients. He also dedicates his time to community service as a member of School Talk—supporting D.C.-area youth of all abilities—and as a board member of Interfaith Action for Human Rights, which focuses on rehabilitation and reentry for individuals in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia prison systems.

Lionel served more than thirty years as a federal prosecutor and with the Securities and Exchange Commission, where he became the Assistant Chief Litigation Counsel in the Division of Enforcement. In private practice, he also was a shareholder for a prominent boutique in the financial services sector.

Watch a brief introduction to learn more about Lionel’s experience, practice, and approach to serving clients.

Insights by Lionel

  • DOJ Launches Civil Rights Fraud Initiative Targeting Compliance Misrepresentations
  • The SEC’s Elimination of the “No Deny” Rule: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
  • Promises and Pitfalls: Department of Justice Releases Department-Wide Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania (inactive)

Court Admissions

Federal Courts:

  • U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. District Courts:

  • D.D.C.

Education

  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
  • B.S., Psychology and African American studies, Syracuse University

Professional Recognition, Leadership & Service

  • Member, D.C. Bar Health Law Section Steering Committee
  • Designated Master, William B. Bryant American Inn of Court
  • Executive Board, Association of Assistant United States Attorneys for the District of Columbia
  • Member, National Bar Association
  • National Black Prosecutors Association
  • U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Achievement Award (2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2008)
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation Commendation (2016), awarded for the successful prosecution of the largest healthcare fraud case in District of Columbia history
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation Commendation (2012), awarded for outstanding prosecutorial assistance on local public corruption matters
  • Securities and Exchange Commission Director’s Award (2000)
  • Chairman, Interfaith Action for Human Rights
  • Vice-Chair, SchoolTalk