Beth Forsythe
PEOPLE

Beth Forsythe

Partner
forsythe.beth@dorsey.com

Overview

BETH ADVISES AND REPRESENTS FIRMS AND INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR MOST SENSITIVE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL MATTERS. FROM FCPA INVESTIGATIONS TO GOVERNMENT LITIGATION TO COMPLEX COMMERCIAL DISPUTES, CLIENTS TRUST BETH TO APPLY GOOD JUDGMENT AND PURSUE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME FOR THEM.
In her white collar and corporate investigations practice, Beth plans and conducts effective internal investigations and represents those under investigation by federal or state authorities for securities fraud, health care fraud, mortgage fraud, public corruption, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") violations. Beth also routinely provides anti-corruption/FCPA due diligence and compliance advisory services, including program development, board presentations, and employee training. Beth’s approach to investigations is to quickly and accurately define the scope of the issue; her goal is to help clients fully resolve the issue at hand without wasting their resources. In her civil practice, Beth focuses on complex commercial disputes and government litigation, drawing on her background as a certified public accountant (her license is on inactive status) to help clients resolve matters involving complex accounting, securities, and other financial issues. Beth also serves on Dorsey’s Management Committee.

Education & Admissions

University of St. Thomas School of Law (J.D., 2006), magna cum laude; Editor-in-Chief, University of St. Thomas Law Journal

Drake University (B.S., Accounting, 2000), cum laude

Admissions

  • Minnesota
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Clerkships

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, Diana E. Murphy

Experience

Representative Experience

  • Represented a safety equipment company in a DOJ FCPA investigation involving its operations in Mexico, which DOJ closed without assessing penalties or fines, and without public disclosure of the investigation.
  • Conducted an internal investigation on behalf of a wellness company with respect to transactions involving potential FCPA violations in Italy, Russia, and former Soviet Republic countries.
  • Conducted an internal investigation on behalf of a professional consulting company with respect to a transaction involving a potential FCPA violation in Qatar.
  • Conducted an internal investigation on behalf of the audit committee of a public technology manufacturing company with respect to transactions involving possible bribery in Singapore and Taiwan.
  • Advised a U.S. company with operations in China regarding potential legal implications of transactions involving possible commercial bribery.
  • Routinely conduct FCPA due diligence investigations for M&A clients in advance of transaction closing.
  • Routinely conduct FCPA training, e.g., trained over 100 international sales staff of an aircraft company on FCPA principles and developments.
  • Routinely review anti-corruption provisions in contracts for goods and services.
  • Routinely provide compliance consulting services, including risk assessments, and review and development of anti-corruption policies and procedures.
  • Represented durable medical equipment company in a DOJ health care fraud investigation.
  • Represented a member of Congress in a DOJ investigation and House ethics probe.
  • Represented major financial institution against claims arising from $200 million Ponzi scheme.
  • Second-chaired trial in which client successfully claimed that a private equity firm underpaid by millions of dollars for the client’s subsidiary; dispute centered on the accounting methods and judgments used to determine post-sale purchase price adjustments.

News & Resources

Articles

New Landmark Foreign Extortion Prevention Act Targets the Demand Side of Foreign Bribery Schemes
U.S. Treasury Department Takes Action Against Russian Darkmarket Entity as Latest Government Move Against Cybercrime
Biden Describes Combating Corruption as National Security Priority, Orders Interagency Review to Bolster Anti-Corruption Tools including Private Sector Partnerships
The Convergence: Feds Level First Hybrid Healthcare- and Securities-fraud Charges Arising from COVID-19 Marketing and Sales
LANDMARK CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT: A Practical Guide
Stimulus Acts
UPDATE: Trial Court Overturns Former Alstom Executive’s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Convictions
Former Alstom Executive Convicted of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Charges on Agency Theory
Organizations Facing Criminal Fines May Be Able To Reduce Them Upon A Proper Showing Of Inability To Pay
A Clerk’s Tribute to Eighth Circuit Judge Diana E. Murphy
Best Practices in the Era of Outside Investigations: Is Your Organization Ready?
Dorsey Anti-Corruption Digest - August 2016
Dorsey Anti-Corruption Digest - July 2016
Dorsey Anti-Corruption Digest - June 2016
Dorsey Anti-Corruption Digest - May 2016
Dorsey Anti-Corruption Digest - April 2016
DOJ Announces One-Year FCPA Enforcement Pilot Program
Anti-Corruption Digest - March 2016
Anti-Corruption Digest - February 2016
Anti-Corruption Digest - January 2016
Dorsey Anti-Corruption Digest - December 2015
Dorsey Anti-Corruption Digest - November 2015
DOJ, SEC Change “Cooperation Credit” Process, Add Resources to Fight Corruption
Dorsey Anti-Corruption Digest - October 2015
Dorsey Anti-Corruption Digest - September 2015

News & Press Mentions

18 Dorsey Attorneys Named Thomson Reuters “Stand-Out Lawyers”
Dorsey Forms New Government Solutions & Investigations Practice Group
200 Dorsey Lawyers Selected for Inclusion in 2024 Best Lawyers in America, Lawyers of the Year, and Ones to Watch
The POWER 30: Beth Forsythe
Erin Bryan and Beth Forsythe Earn Minnesota Racial Equity Challenge Certification
Dorsey Partner Beth Forsythe on Actualizing Diversity and Inclusion
RBG: Legal community recalls a trailblazer
Dorsey & Whitney Expands “China Initiative” Task Force
Super Lawyers Recognizes 41 Dorsey Lawyers in Minneapolis
Super Lawyers Recognizes 36 Dorsey Lawyers in Minneapolis
Minnesotans who 'age out' of foster care can still find help with life skills
Super Lawyers Recognizes 36 Dorsey Lawyers in Minneapolis
Published Opinion: Gender Bias Persists
Super Lawyers Recognizes 37 Dorsey Lawyers in Minneapolis
Dorsey & Whitney Names New Partners

Legal Writings

  • U.S. Editor, Dorsey’s Anti-Corruption Digest
  • Editor, Dorsey’s FCA Now Blog

Select Presentations

  • Panelist, Investigations and Whistleblowing: How to Proceed When an Investigation Reveals Criminal Conduct or Other Improprieties, Dorsey Labor & Employment Conference (2015)
  • Moderator and Conference Organizer, Dorsey Anti-Corruption Conference (2015)
  • Panelist, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Panel, Dorsey Import-Export Conference (2013)

Industries & Practices

Government Contracts Counseling & Litigation
Government Solutions & Investigations
Securities & Financial Services Litigation & Enforcement
  • Anti-Corruption Group
  • Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Corporate Governance & Compliance
  • Energy & Natural Resources
  • Financial Services Regulatory
  • Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
  • Government Contracts Counseling & Litigation
  • Government Solutions & Investigations
  • Healthcare & Life Sciences
  • Mining
  • Mortgage Banking
  • Securities & Financial Services Litigation & Enforcement

Professional & Civic

Professional Achievements

  • Member, University of St. Thomas School of Law Alumni Advisory Board
  • Board co-chair, Connections to Independence

Accolades

  • Recognized as a "Stand-Out Lawyer" by Thomson Reuters, 2024
  • Minnesota Lawyer The POWER 30: Business Litigation, 2021-2022

   Twin Cities Diversity in Practice Racial Equity Challenge 2021

  • Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, Minnesota Racial Equity Challenge Certification, 2021
  • Listed as a "Rising Star" by Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2016-2019

    North Star Lawyer logo

  • MSBA North Star Lawyer, 2012-2015 and 2019
Beth Forsythe