Thomas J. Jaworski

“My experience as a federal prosecutor allows me to anticipate government strategies. I use that insight to protect my clients, whether defending them in court, guiding investigations, or helping them build robust compliance programs." —Thomas J. Jaworski

Health care providers, life sciences companies, financial services firms, and corporate executives facing government investigations, complex criminal and civil litigation, or internal compliance crises turn to Tom Jaworski when the stakes are highest.

Tom is an accomplished trial attorney who spent more than 17 years at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), most recently serving as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, a district recognized as the country's health care hub. Clients benefit from his insider knowledge of how prosecutors and law enforcement officers think, investigate, and try their cases.

Tom defends clients in criminal white-collar and health care fraud cases and in False Claims Act matters, including qui tam litigation alleging Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute violations and billing and coding issues. He has handled a broad range of white-collar cases, including contract disputes, tax violations, financial fraud, public corruption, international sanctions, money laundering, and computer crimes. Clients also look to Tom to lead sensitive corporate and workplace internal investigations, including those involving allegations of senior executive misconduct, compliance failures, or potential federal regulatory violations.

As the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, Tom directed efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in the health care sector and successfully resolved numerous high-profile health care fraud enforcement cases involving hospitals, academic medical centers, nursing facilities, Medicare Advantage organizations, and other health care providers. He previously held other prominent leadership roles within the DOJ in Nashville, including First Assistant U.S. Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney in the White Collar and Economic Crime Unit, and served on the White Collar Fraud Subcommittee of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee. He also worked at the DOJ in Washington, DC, as a Trial Attorney in the agency's Criminal Division, Fraud Section, and in the Tax Division's Criminal Enforcement and Civil Trial Sections.

In the private sector, Tom served as Associate General Counsel for Global Investigations and Compliance for a multinational insurance, risk management, and employee benefits company, where he led internal investigations, supported global anti-corruption efforts, and advised on compliance programs.

What Tom Delivers for Clients

• Proven Leadership in Crisis: Tom consistently guides clients through complex investigations and high-pressure situations, providing steady direction and actionable advice that protects reputations, mitigates risk, and supports informed decision-making in critical moments.
• Strategic Defense in High-Stakes Matters: Whether defending clients in criminal health care fraud cases, False Claims Act litigation, or white-collar investigations, Tom draws on his trial experience and enforcement background to build persuasive defenses that address both legal and practical considerations. His clients benefit from representation informed by firsthand knowledge of what works in federal court.
• Compliance Program Design Informed by Enforcement Priorities: Tom's experience leading compliance efforts for a global corporation and resolving enforcement cases as a federal prosecutor enables him to help clients design and implement compliance programs that align with DOJ expectations and reduce regulatory risk. He knows what prosecutors look for and how to structure programs that withstand scrutiny.
• Effective Internal Investigations: When boards of directors or senior management face whistleblower allegations, compliance concerns, or potential regulatory violations, Tom leads investigations that are thorough, credible, and designed to support sound decision-making. His approach balances legal rigor with business judgment, helping clients resolve issues before they escalate.

Internal Investigations and Compliance Counseling

• Investigated anonymous whistleblower allegations made to the board of directors regarding the CEO’s conduct. The allegations concerned improper spending, compliance violations, nepotism/staffing, and executive leadership issues.
• Investigated whistleblower allegations made to the board of directors regarding compliance, governance, and financial management concerns related to potential federal criminal, civil, and regulatory violations, and the conduct of the Executive Director and other high-level individuals in leadership.
• Conducted workplace investigations where whistleblowers alleged misconduct by senior-level executives.
• Conducted a review of a medical school’s compliance program to ensure it complied with all applicable laws in the United States and foreign countries where it operates and that its practices were in accordance with the U.S. DOJ’s enforcement priorities.
• Advised academic medical programs regarding their internal compliance programs.

Health Care Fraud Defense and False Claims Act Litigation

• Served as lead litigation counsel defending a medical device company in False Claim Act litigation in federal court.
• Defended physicians and medical practices that were the subject of federal criminal investigations.
• Represented hospitals in government investigations concerning alleged overbilling by physicians.
• Represented a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company in a commercial litigation dispute in federal court.

• U.S. Department of Justice, Performance Awards (2016 to 2019 and 2021 to 2023)
• U.S. Department of the Army, Achievement Medal for Civilian Service (2018)
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Investigations Award: Outstanding Counter-Proliferation Investigation (2017)

Education

• Case Western Reserve University School of Law (J.D.)
• Miami University (B.A.)