Robert H. Bell

Special Counsel

  • Robert H. Bell
  • Phone: +1 212 404 8707

    Import to Address Book

  • Duane Morris LLP
    22 Vanderbilt
    335 Madison Avenue, 23rd Floor
    New York, NY 10017-4669
    USA

Robert H. Bell focuses his practice on advising highly regulated global companies on internal investigations, white-collar criminal matters, ethics and compliance policies and procedures, anti-corruption risks, and complex commercial disputes. He is a member of Duane Morris’ Trial Practice Group. 

Mr. Bell has two decades of experience representing corporate and individual clients in relation to a variety of government regulatory and enforcement matters brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and other federal, state and local agencies. His practice includes advising clients with respect to investigations into alleged violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and False Claims Act, as well as conducting proactive risk assessments and updating codes of conduct and applicable compliance policies. He also provides his clients with crisis response and real-time legal advice and support during government investigative activities.

Mr. Bell has an active civil litigation practice in state and federal courts, and has performed a substantial amount of pro bono work. In addition, he has conducted training seminars in New York and abroad on FCPA and other regulatory issues.

Mr. Bell received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Denison University and his J.D., cum laude, from Duke University School of Law.

 

Areas of Practice

  • Business Litigation

  • Corporate Compliance and Integrity Counsel

  • Internal Investigations

  • Construction and Infrastructure

  • Security Regulatory Litigation and Compliance

  • White-Collar Litigation and Regulatory Enforcement

Admissions

  • New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • Supreme Court of the United States

Education

  • Duke University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2002
  • Denison University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1999

Experience

  • Duane Morris LLP
    - Special Counsel, 2024-present
  • Peckar & Abramson PC
    - Special Counsel, 2017-2024
  • Linklaters LLP
    - Senior Litigation Associate, 2005-2015
  • Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
    - Litigation Associate, 2002-2005

Professional Activities

  • New York City Bar Association
    - Member, Construction Law Committee
    - Former Member, Committee on LGBT Rights

Representative Matters

  • Representing global construction company in RICO and antitrust litigation in federal court.

  • Representing contractors seeking delay damages in connection with public construction contracts with New York City.

  • Represented developer and construction manager in federal court litigation with subcontractor following site accident.

  • Represented global companies in internal investigations related to alleged bribery and corrupt practices.

  • Represented government contractor in FCPA and money laundering investigations related to work in Iraq and Afghanistan.

  • Represented government contractors in False Claims Act investigations.

  • Represented general contractor in successful Second Circuit appeal affirming grant of summary judgment dismissing claims by subcontractor as barred by no-damages-for-delay clause.

  • Represented financial institutions in litigations regarding alleged fraud issues in the context of complex financial transactions.

  • Represented foreign manufacturer in antitrust investigations and successfully settled related Sherman Act class action and False Claims Act litigations.

  • Authored US Supreme Court amicus brief in 2022 on effect of right-to-control theories of wire fraud prosecutions on government contracting processes.

  • Conducted risk assessments and investigations for global companies regarding potential ethics and policy violations, and created/updated applicable policies and procedures regarding anti-corruption risks, government contracting requirements, and other subject matters.

  • Successfully represented gay and lesbian clients fleeing persecution in their home countries in securing US asylum.