Carly A. Chocron

Carly represents individuals and corporations in complex white collar criminal matters, internal investigations, and enforcement actions involving the DOJ, FBI, SEC, IRS, EPA, OFAC, HHS, and other federal and state agencies.

Carly’s practice spans a broad range of white collar issues, including securities, health care, bank, tax, and campaign finance fraud, as well as matters involving money laundering, government contracts, and alleged false claims to the government.

She brings significant hands-on trial experience to her practice, having served on defense teams in two high-stakes federal criminal trials—one involving allegations of insider trading and another concerning false statements to a financial institution and tax fraud. This courtroom experience gives Carly valuable insight into how prosecutors build their cases and informs her ability to craft strategic, proactive defense approaches that protect clients’ interests both inside and outside the courtroom.

• Represented an individual targeted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, and FDIC OIG in an alleged $20 million bank fraud; after a detailed declination presentation, the government declined to charge the client.
• Part of the defense team for a Democratic Committeeperson in the “Broadview Six” case, in which all charges were dismissed following allegations of prosecutorial misconduct in the grand jury.
• Represented an attorney charged with insider trading and securities fraud at trial in the Northern District of Illinois. Despite a guilty verdict, the court granted judgment of acquittal after our briefing, concluding that, even viewing the record in the light most favorable to the government, the evidence was legally insufficient for any reasonable jury to find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
• Represented an executive of a healthcare technology company in connection with an internal investigation into alleged financial and operational misconduct at the company, including advising on interactions with outside counsel, management, and other stakeholders.
• Represented a manufacturing company in a Department of Justice False Claims Act investigation relating to PPP loan proceeds, securing a favorable settlement.
• Represented a restaurant group in a False Claims Act investigation concerning alleged false certifications for Restaurant Revitalization Funds; the U.S. Attorney’s Office closed the matter without filing a claim.
• Negotiated a favorable resolution for a business intelligence company in a False Claims Act investigation involving alleged false PPP loan certifications.
• Represented a government contractor and its owner in a fraud investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office involving alleged abuse of the SBA 8(a) Business Development Program; the Department of Justice closed its investigation.
• Obtained a declination for a mining company and its owner who were targets of a Ponzi scheme investigation in the Northern District of Illinois.
• Represented a lawyer in public and private congressional hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Judiciary Committee relating to Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

• Co-Author, “Snyder and the Evolving Jurisprudence Surrounding Public Corruption Statutes,” NACDL The Champion Magazine, Sept. 2025.
• Co-Author, “Managing the Pitfalls of Restitution,” 2025 Best Lawyers Criminal Law Legal Guide, Oct. 4, 2024.
• Panelist, “”Hot Topics & Current Trends in Federal Criminal Law,” Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter Event, May 16, 2024.
• Co-Author, Taft Law Bulletin, “Proposed CFIUS Regulatory Amendments Reflect Pursuit of Greater Enforcement Powers and Efficiency,” April 30, 2024.
• Co-Author, Taft Law Bulletin, “U.S. Sentencing Commission Proposes Amendments to Federal Sentencing Guidelines,” April 18, 2024.
• Co-Author, Taft Law Bulletin, “DOJ Launches Whistleblower Pilot Program to Encourage Self-Disclosure of Criminal Conduct,” April 17, 2024.
• Co-Author, Taft Law Bulletin, “Key Takeaways from the American Bar Association’s 39th Annual National Institute on White Collar Crime,” March 11, 2024.
• Co-Presenter, “Best Practices and Criminal & Civil Implications: Internal Investigations,” Illinois Manufacturers’ Association Webinar, May 9, 2023.
• Co-Author, Taft Law Bulletin, “Key Takeaways from the American Bar Association’s 38th Annual National Institute on White Collar Crime,” March 14, 2023.
• Speaker, “Internal Investigations in Criminal and Employment Context,” NELA-IL Brown Bag Lunch CLE Webinar, Feb. 14, 2023.