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Richard S. Glaser Jr.

Retired of Counsel
Charlotte | 704.372.9000

Rick Glaser focused his practice in the areas of white collar criminal defense, internal investigations, and corporate monitoring. He worked with public and private corporations to understand the foundation of the charge, build an investigative strategy, conduct a full inspection, and then provide conclusions and recommended actions. He worked on investigations involving grand juries, federal and state courts, regulatory agencies and auditors, congressional inquiries, and civil disputes. He also advised on corporate monitoring and has worked alongside companies’ legal and compliance departments to develop and improve internal controls and processes and to tailor efficient and cost-effective compliance plans to a particular company’s needs.

Prior to joining the firm, Rick served as an Assistant United States Attorney in various districts in the United States for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) – holding numerous management positions – and finally as First Assistant and Executive Assistant United States attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, responsible for oversight and operational review of the Civil, Administrative, and Criminal Divisions of the district. Since joining the firm to help create the Government Investigations & White Collar Defense Team, he was responsible for overseeing antitrust, health care, accounting, and general fraud internal investigations, as well as representing individuals in major antitrust, accounting, securities, general fraud, and health care criminal investigations.

As a lead evaluator and former director of the DOJ’s Evaluation and Review Staff, the DOJ’s self-evaluating body, Rick gained a deep understanding of how the U.S. Attorneys' Offices operate throughout the nation. He was able to focus on the challenges that businesspeople may face when encountering a federal lawsuit. In addition, he frequently lectured and made presentations in both white collar and criminal investigations areas to clients and special outside groups.

Rick previously served on Parker Poe's board of directors and served as the chair of the Litigation Department. Rick created and led the firm's Government Investigations & White Collar Defense Team.

Representative Experience

  • More than 20 years of experience in grand jury investigations, including major health care fraud, insurance fraud, public corruption, bankruptcy fraud, and Securities and Exchange Commission-related cases.
  • More than 90 criminal jury trials in federal court and has handled health care qui tam (whistleblower) cases in federal court.
  • Internal investigations, audits and compliance matters have included health care providers ranging from international to regional companies, HHS-OIG defense, import/export control, EAR, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) matters, addressing specific situations and scenarios for companies to be aware of and to enable companies to evaluate potential risks.
  • Successfully supervised and coordinated internal investigations of seven independent subsidiaries of an international company being investigated by the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
  • Achieved appropriate outcome in the defense of a shipping lines official in major prosecution by the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
  • Represented a North Carolina state senator in a campaign funding prosecution and argued for – and was granted – a major variance from the guideline sentence, serving only a minimal amount of time, based on a number of statutory factors.
  • Successfully argued in a high-profile securities fraud case for the reduction of the defendant's time in prison to time served, which was one quarter of his original sentence.

In addition to successful prosecution of numerous white collar cases, including major health care fraud, he has obtained major verdicts in the following cases over the years:

  • United States v. ArthroCare Corp. – A $400 million fraud case in which he assisted the company in securing a dramatically reduced fine and a shorter deferred prosecution agreement than is typical.
  • United States v. Caldwell – Key-man insurance fraud involving a double homicide.
  • United States v. Musgrove – Bankruptcy fraud of more than $6 million.
  • United States v. Lanier – Securities and Exchange Commission-related insider trading.
  • United States v. Wade – The seminal case regarding a prosecutor's sole right to file a substantial assistance motion in a federal case, which was handled by Rick at both the district and circuit court levels and affirmed by the United States Supreme Court in a published opinion.
  • Major medical laboratory – Investigation and prosecution.

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Honors & Awards

  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • The Best Lawyers in America in Criminal Defense: White Collar, 2008-2023; Qui Tam Law, 2018-2023; Health Care Litigation, 2019-2023
  • The Best Lawyers in America "Lawyer of the Year" in Charlotte for Health Care Litigation, 2020
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers in Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, 2012-2023
  • North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2009-2023
  • North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society, 2021
  • Business North Carolina magazine's "Legal Elite" in Criminal Law, 2009-2010 & 2012

Memberships

  • Temple Beth El, Pro Bono Counsel; President; Board of Directors
  • Shalom Park, Pro Bono Counsel; Board of Directors for Park and Foundation
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, Board of Directors
  • Jewish Community Relations Council of Charlotte, Board of Directors
  • American College of Trial Lawyers, International Committee, Vice Chair
  • American Bar Association, Co-Chair, Southeast Region White Collar Crime Committee
  • WDNC Local Rules Committee, Vice-Chair
  • Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community (FCJC), Board of Directors
  • CONEXX (American-Israel SE Chamber of Commerce), Board of Directors