Kathleen McGovern

Kathleen is the Chief Litigation Counsel at the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB)'s Division of Enforcement & Investigations where she supervises all aspects of litigation in the enforcement of violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, securities regulations, PCAOB rules and professional standards. She has extensive investigative, litigation and trial experience as a former U.S. federal and state prosecutor specializing in securities and financial fraud; healthcare and governmental program fraud; and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations.

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Kathleen was a partner in Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP's government investigations & white collar practice where she conducted global investigations and advised clients regarding their most sensitive litigation and enforcement issues. Kathleen was also a principal in EY LLP's Forensic & Integrity Services where she routinely advised corporate clients regarding regulatory, risk and compliance issues spanning multiple industries including health and life sciences, financial services, manufacturing, telecommunications, sports and education.

Kathleen served as the Senior Deputy Chief in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Criminal Division, Fraud Section. In that position, she supervised over 150 attorneys and investigated and prosecuted complex international and domestic white collar crime cases against entities and individuals across various industries, sectors and geographies.

Kathleen has received numerous awards and recognitions including DOJ’s Director’s Award for Superior Performance, the Assistant Attorney General’s (AAG) Award for Distinguished Service, the AAG’s Award for the Safeguarding and Maintenance of Confidence in the American Marketplace, and the St. John’s University Distinguished Alumni Award.

Kathleen speaks frequently on topics including audit liability, corporate governance, anti-corruption, and other regulatory enforcement and compliance issues. She was an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center from 2015-2023 teaching the White Collar Crime course, and serves on the St. John's University Tobin College of Business Board of Advisors.