Mark Knights is a member of the Government Investigations & White Collar Defense practice group and lead of the Global Compliance & Investigations team. He represents individuals and businesses across a variety of industries in connection with matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, the False Claims Act, and other federal and state laws.
Prior to joining Nixon Peabody, Mark served as a law clerk for Judge Mary Beck Briscoe of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and Chief Judge Joseph Laplante of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire.
My practice encompasses a broad range of complex criminal and civil matters.
I help businesses mitigate the risk of investigation and prosecution by designing and implementing strategies to prevent—and, if necessary, detect and remedy—corruption risks and other wrongdoing by employees. When government investigations, prosecutions, and enforcement actions do arise, I draw on my experience to guide my individual and institutional clients through all stages of the case up to and including trial. Among other things, I have helped secure written declinations to prosecute for both a major technology company faced with a Korean government investigation into alleged theft of trade secrets and a large manufacturer of highway safety products in a federal investigation into allegations of false claims.
I also represent both plaintiffs and defendants in a number of commercial litigation matters. I have extensive experience defending against putative class actions, and previously represented a major national bank in a multi-district federal litigation comprised of over 30 different consolidated class actions. I am currently defending the founder and former CEO of a specialty pharmaceutical company against nearly 250 civil actions in state and federal courts throughout the country.
In addition to this work, I am devoted to providing pro bono representation to individuals and organizations in need. I have helped Court Appointed Special Advocates of New Hampshire protect the interests of abused or neglected children in a number of matters before the New Hampshire Supreme Court. Together with Nixon Peabody’s partners at AARP Foundation, the Disability Rights Center of New Hampshire, and New Hampshire Legal Assistance, I am representing a class of older adults and people with disabilities who are suing the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services to ensure their right to live independently in the community instead of being placed in institutional care.
In recent years, countries around the globe have begun to devote more resources and attention to combatting public corruption—including some in which corruption historically has flourished. With this renewed focus on anti-corruption measures, we can expect increased cross-border cooperation between the U.S. Department of Justice and its analogues in other countries to investigate and prosecute corporate corruption, bribery, money laundering, and other offenses that straddle international borders. In this environment, it’s crucial for businesses to retain experienced counsel to help them take measures to prevent wrongdoing in the first place, and to assist them in swiftly responding to government investigations that may arise.
Associated Press | January 20, 2022
This article covering New Hampshire’s proposed $100 million settlement fund related to claims of child sex abuse by former workers at a state-run youth detention center quotes Manchester partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense leader David Vicinanzo, who is representing alleged victims in the case. The NP team also includes Complex Commercial Disputes partner Dan Deane and associates Kierstan Schultz and Nate Warecki, and GIWC partner Mark Knights and associate Michael Strauss, all of Manchester.
Associated Press | January 18, 2022
This article covering New Hampshire’s proposed $100 million settlement fund related to claims of child sex abuse by former workers at a state-run youth detention center quotes Manchester partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense leader David Vicinanzo, who is representing alleged victims in the case. The NP team also includes Complex Commercial Disputes partner Dan Deane and associates Kierstan Schultz and Nate Warecki, and GIWC partner Mark Knights and associate Michael Strauss, all of Manchester.
Granite State News Collaborative | December 04, 2021
This article covers a federal judge’s decision that a class-action lawsuit over the plaintiffs’ right to live independently instead of being placed in institutional care may proceed, quoting Manchester Complex Commercial Disputes associate Kierstan Schultz. In addition to Kierstan, the NP team working on the case includes Complex Commercial Disputes partner Daniel Deane, Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Mark Knights, and paralegal Sharon Willier, all of the Manchester office.
New Hampshire Union Leader | November 29, 2021
This article, covering a federal judge’s ruling that a class-action lawsuit over the plaintiffs’ right to live independently instead of being placed in institutional care may proceed, quotes Manchester Complex Commercial Disputes associate Kierstan Schultz on the decision. In addition to Kierstan, the NP team working on the case includes Complex Commercial Disputes partner Daniel Deane, Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Mark Knights, and paralegal Sharon Willier, all of the Manchester office.
New Hampshire Bar News | July 21, 2021
Manchester Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Mark Knights and associate Michael Strauss contributed this article summarizing and analyzing a federal judge’s dismissal of a 1001 charge against a New Hampshire home exterior company related to alleged false statements.
New Hampshire Business Review | June 11, 2021
Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice group leader and partner David Vicinanzo, GIWC partner Mark Knights and associate Michael Strauss, and Complex Commercial Disputes partner Dan Deane, all in Manchester, contributed this article on the Biden administration’s enforcement priorities, outlining a response plan for businesses faced with government investigations.
The Herald News | April 28, 2021
This article, covering a client’s long-pending application for a provisional license to open a cultivation facility, quotes Manchester Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Mark Knights from arguments on Monday before a Suffolk Superior Court judge, stating that NP client Northeast Alternatives deserves an answer.
Concord Monitor | January 12, 2021
Manchester Complex Commercial Disputes associate Kierstan Schultz is quoted in this article covering a class action complaint filed against the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services for failing to properly administer its CFI Medicaid waiver program. NP—together with NH Legal Assistance, Disability Rights Center-NH, and the AARP Foundation—filed the lawsuit in federal court on behalf of older adults and persons with disabilities enrolled in the CFI program. In addition to Kierstan, the NP team includes Complex Commercial Disputes partner Dan Deane, paralegal Sharon Willier, and Government Investigations & White Collar Defense partner Mark Knights, all of Manchester.
McKnight’s Senior Living | January 12, 2021
The following article covers a class action complaint filed against the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services for failing to properly administer its CFI Medicaid waiver program. NP—together with NH Legal Assistance, Disability Rights Center-NH, and the AARP Foundation—filed the lawsuit in federal court on behalf of older adults and persons with disabilities enrolled in the CFI program.
The NP team includes Complex Commercial Disputes partner Dan Deane, associate Kierstan Schultz and paralegal Sharon Willier, and Government Investigations & White Collar Defense partner Mark Knights, all of Manchester.
Reuters Legal | January 11, 2021
The following article covers a class action complaint filed against the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services for failing to properly administer its CFI Medicaid waiver program. NP—together with NH Legal Assistance, Disability Rights Center-NH, and the AARP Foundation—filed the lawsuit in federal court on behalf of older adults and persons with disabilities enrolled in the CFI program.
The NP team includes Complex Commercial Disputes partner Dan Deane, associate Kierstan Schultz and paralegal Sharon Willier, and Government Investigations & White Collar Defense partner Mark Knights, all of Manchester.
New Hampshire Public Radio | January 11, 2021
The following article covers a class action complaint filed against the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services for failing to properly administer its CFI Medicaid waiver program. NP—together with NH Legal Assistance, Disability Rights Center-NH, and the AARP Foundation—filed the lawsuit in federal court on behalf of older adults and persons with disabilities enrolled in the CFI program.
The NP team includes Complex Commercial Disputes partner Dan Deane, associate Kierstan Schultz and paralegal Sharon Willier, and Government Investigations & White Collar Defense partner Mark Knights, all of Manchester.
New Hampshire Union Leader | January 11, 2021
The following article covers a class action complaint filed against the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services for failing to properly administer its CFI Medicaid waiver program. NP—together with NH Legal Assistance, Disability Rights Center-NH, and the AARP Foundation—filed the lawsuit in federal court on behalf of older adults and persons with disabilities enrolled in the CFI program.
The NP team includes Complex Commercial Disputes partner Dan Deane, associate Kierstan Schultz and paralegal Sharon Willier, and Government Investigations & White Collar Defense partner Mark Knights, all of Manchester.
The Associated Press | January 11, 2021
The following article covers a class action complaint filed against the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services for failing to properly administer its CFI Medicaid waiver program. NP—together with NH Legal Assistance, Disability Rights Center-NH, and the AARP Foundation—filed the lawsuit in federal court on behalf of older adults and persons with disabilities enrolled in the CFI program.
The NP team includes Complex Commercial Disputes partner Dan Deane, associate Kierstan Schultz and paralegal Sharon Willier, and Government Investigations & White Collar Defense partner Mark Knights, all of Manchester.
Law360 | September 21, 2020
Manchester Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Mark Knights is quoted in this article on a Massachusetts marijuana dispensary’s lawsuit alleging the state’s Cannabis Control Commission has failed to take action on the dispensary’s license application for nearly three times the 90-day prescribed turnaround time. The article mentions Mark and Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense associate Charles Dell’Anno for representing the dispensary, Northeast Alternatives.
Law360 | August 28, 2019
New York City partner Isabelle De Smedt (CORP), Manchester partner Mark Knights (GIWC), Boston counsel Robert Fisher (GIWC), Manchester associate Michael Strauss (CDPG) and Boston associate Scott Seitz (GIWC) authored this column about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit’s recent decision regarding the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act’s anti-bribery provisions and what the decision means for companies needing to comply with the law.
George Washington University Law School, J.D., cum laude
University of New Hampshire, B.A., summa cum laude
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court, District of New Hampshire
U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
