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Professional Biography

Prior to opening her own private law practice, Ms. Sargeant served as an Assistant United States Attorney, during which time she gained significant jury trial and appellate experience representing the government as a prosecutor and in civil litigation.

She has served as counsel in the Department of Justice's Office of Professional Responsibility and as counsel to the Ethics Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. She also served as an attorney with the Enforcement Division of the Office of Market Oversight and Investigations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

In her practice, Ms. Sargeant has counseled and represented private individuals and small businesses in a range of matters related to employment law issues, Congressional ethics compliance, criminal and administrative matters and internal investigations. She places a high priority on client service, responsiveness and conscientious individual attention.

Ms. Sargeant began her career as an Associate with the law firm of Hogan and Hartson where she worked on civil litigation with an emphasis in employment and labor law.

Investigations and Advice

In her practice, Ms. Sargeant has represented and provided advice to clients who were called upon to serve as witnesses or otherwise cooperate with government or other investigations. She is particularly skilled in working with clients who are apprehensive, vulnerable or otherwise require special attention.

Ms. Sargeant has conducted a wide variety of investigations throughout her career while working at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, the Department of Justice Office of Professional Responsibility, the U.S. House of Representatives, the Enforcement Division of the Office of Market Oversight and Investigations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and in private law firm practice.

As part of her law practice, Ms. Sargeant has conducted EEO and Code of Conduct related internal investigations discreetly and tactfully with minimal disturbance to workplace functioning.

Ms. Sargeant has also provided advice and counseling to high level government officials and to representatives of corporate entities. As staff Counsel to the House Ethics Committee, for example, Ms. Sargeant investigated formal complaints and other allegations of misconduct made against Members of Congress and House employees. She also provided ethics advice on a variety of matters to Members of Congress and employees of the House of Representatives as well as educational briefings to Members of Congress and their staffs. In her current practice, Ms. Sargeant provides ethics compliance advice and support to private entities and individuals in their interactions with the Legislative Branch and various government agencies.

Employment Law

Ms. Sargeant served as counsel in various employment law matters, including investigations of claims of race, sex and national origin discrimination as well as claims of sexual harassment and retaliation including retaliation for the filing of whistleblower claims. She is available and qualified to conduct in-house EEO training.

She has conducted pre-trial discovery and other litigation related matters involving employment law claims, including trials and the negotiation of settlements of employment discrimination claims, whistleblower claims and other employment-related claims. She has worked on the investigation and litigation of class action discrimination claims against both governmental and private sector entities.

Criminal Defense including Representation during Investigations

Ms. Sargeant has tried approximately 30 criminal jury trials in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. In addition, she has tried numerous non-jury criminal trials. She served as the lead prosecutor in approximately 100 grand jury investigations and has represented individuals involved in grand jury investigations either as witnesses or as subjects.

Appeals

Ms. Sargeant has briefed and argued numerous appeals before federal and state-level Courts of Appeal. Published opinions in appeals she has handled range from Legal Assistance for Vietnamese Asylum Seekers v. Department of State, 45 F.3d 469 (D.C. Cir. 1995) to Noble v. Sombrotto, 525 F.3d 1230 (D.C. Cir. 2008). Click here to read case summary. She has also written briefs for and argued more than a dozen criminal appeals in the local District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.