Jillian D. Willis

An accomplished litigator, trial lawyer, and former federal prosecutor, Jillian leverages her deep experience in courtroom advocacy and complex investigations to defend clients facing high-stakes lawsuits and government enforcement actions. With a particular focus on the healthcare and life sciences sectors, Jillian guides organizations and individuals through complex civil and criminal litigation, government... investigations, and sensitive internal reviews. She regularly represents clients in White Collar and False Claims Act matters, Product Liability litigation, and business-related disputes.

Jillian spent nearly a decade at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), where she tried more than thirty cases before judges and juries (including 17 bench trials and 16 jury trials) across multiple jurisdictions and handled countless grand jury investigations. While at DOJ, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Columbia, a Trial Attorney in the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and most recently, as Assistant Chief of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section Health Care Fraud Unit. Her experience includes first-chairing and overseeing trials involving charges of Health Care Fraud, violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, and the unlawful distribution of prescription drugs. In addition, she has briefed a number of appellate issues, and argued multiple times before the DC Court of Appeals. 

Following her tenure in government, Jillian joined the Washington, D.C, office of Nelson Mullins, where she continues to expand and utilize her extensive courtroom and investigative skills on behalf of her clients. She regularly assists clients in responding to government inquiries, navigating enforcement proceedings and securing advantageous resolutions, and litigating False Claims Act matters. Additionally, she applies her substantial enforcement background to advise clients on proactive compliance strategies, due diligence, and risk mitigation. Jillian represents clients in product liability lawsuits nationwide, identifying key facts and developing comprehensive knowledge of relevant products and scientific principles, with an eye towards trial.

Jillian’s more than fifteen years’ litigation experience covers every stage of the legal process: initial investigation, making and responding to demands, the filing of complaints and/or indictments, interviewing and/or deposing witnesses, negotiating resolutions (from both sides of the table), high-stakes courtroom battles, post-trial litigation, and briefing and arguing appellate issues.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Education

• Duke University School of Law, JD (2009)
  
  • Articles Editor, Alaska Law Review
  • AIDS Legal Project, Duke Law Clinic
  • Duke in D.C. Externship, Office of U.S. House of Representatives Member (Spring 2009)
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BA, Psychology and Spanish (2006)

Admissions

• District of Columbia
• California
• North Carolina
• U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Practice Areas

• White Collar Defense & Government Investigations
• White Collar Healthcare Fraud, Compliance & Litigation
• Products Liability
• Qui Tam Litigation
• Commercial Litigation & Business Torts

Industries

• Life Sciences, Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices