Sara Kropf is an experienced trial lawyer who defends both people and companies. She loves to represent the underdog, whether in a white-collar criminal case against the Department of Justice, an investigation by a federal Office of Inspector General or the Securities and Exchange Commission, or in civil litigation. Sara treats every case as “high stakes,” whether big or small.


If credentials matter, then Sara has them. She is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only association for lawyers who demonstrate excellence and professionalism in the courtroom. She was a partner in one of the nation’s largest law firms, where she practiced for over a decade before starting her firm. Sara graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown Law and clerked for a federal court of appeals judge.

For most clients, though, Sara’s credentials are much less meaningful than her passion for representing them. Sara combines a willingness to fight for her clients at every step with her ability to dig deep into the facts and the law to develop creative defenses. She never forgets that her clients are people first—and works to help them understand and navigate sensitive legal matters. She co-authors a blog called Grand Jury Target that probes issues in white-collar criminal matters.

Sara’s trial experience has run the gamut from smaller state-court cases to multi-week federal trials across the country. Sara’s experience falls into three types of cases:


First, she has represented people who are under federal investigation or facing criminal charges.

  • Defended president of a construction company accused of contracting fraud in both federal and state cases, including winning a reversal of his conviction at trial after the government failed to disclose exculpatory evidence.
  • Won a complete acquittal at trial for an executive of a clinical laboratory accused of Medicare kickbacks and research fraud.
  • Won complete acquittal at trial of medical care provider accused of felony rioting during political demonstration.
  • Represented company executives accused of criminal antitrust violations related to alleged price-fixing and other types of agreements.
  • Represented CEO of company in federal contacting fraud matter into allegedly improper set-aside contracts.
  • Defended federal employees in Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigations into allegations of conflict of interest, time-and-attendance violations, and procurement fraud.
  • Represented a former lobbyist in grand jury investigation into public corruption.

Second, Sara helps small and mid-market companies navigate federal criminal and regulatory investigations, as well as conduct internal investigations.

  • Represented a federal contractor in parallel criminal investigation and civil False Claims Act case.
  • Represented an engineering company in an OIG investigation related to federal contracts.
  • Represented a company accused of bid-rigging in a criminal antitrust case.
  • Defended an internet start-up company in securities fraud investigation.
  • Led an internal investigation into employee’s multi-year embezzlement scheme at a public company.
  • Led an internal investigation into potential ethics violation by executive at international organization.
  • Conducted internal investigation into accounting issues associated with a multi-billion dollar financial restatement.

Third, Sara has handled complex civil litigation for individuals and companies.

  • Successfully defended law firm partner in trial against breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract claims related to the firm’s dissolution.
  • Successfully defended former retail company CEO in federal court trial in breach of contract case involving a complex real estate transaction.
  • Prevailed in state court trial for a general contractor in defamation case.
  • Successfully defended public company in lawsuit alleging tortious interference of contract and civil conspiracy claims in state court.
  • Represented an energy company in defamation and RICO matters in federal court, as well as successfully defended company at trial of allegations of human rights abuses overseas.
  • Represented limited liability company in federal court case alleging fraudulent conveyance.
  • Defended a Fortune-500 company in a class action lawsuit alleging civil fraud and RICO.

Admissions

Sara practices across the country. She is licensed to practice law in:

  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • Virginia

She is admitted to practice in the following federal district courts: Eastern District of Virginia; Western District of Virginia; District of Maryland; District of Columbia; and the Court of Federal Claims.

She is also admitted to practice in the following federal courts of appeal: United States Supreme Court; Second Circuit; Third Circuit; Fourth Circuit; Eleventh Circuit; and D.C. Circuit. 


Education and Experience

Baker Botts L.L.P., 2002-2013 (partner 2009-2013)
Judicial clerk, Honorable Paul Niemeyer, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., magna cum laude, 1999
Georgetown University, Ph.D., 2002
Georgetown University College of Arts & Sciences, B.A., summa cum laude, 1995


Professional and Civic Memberships

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers

Elected Member, Board of Governors for the DC Bar, 2014-2017

Member, Board of Directors, Legal Counsel for the Elderly, 2012 to present

Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Board member, Historical Society of the D.C. Circuit