WASHINGTON—Michael Granston, who previously served as the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch at the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”), has rejoined Covington in Washington as a partner. Michael will serve as Chair of Covington’s False Claims Act Investigations and Litigation practice group.
Michael spent nearly three decades at DOJ and for the last six years served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General, the highest-ranking career employee in the Civil Division. Michael advanced through the ranks within the Civil Fraud Section, beginning his DOJ career as a Trial Attorney, and eventually serving as Director from 2013 to 2019. As Director, he oversaw the Department’s pursuit of False Claims Act (“FCA”) investigations and litigation in life sciences, health care, government contracts and other industries, as well as other actions relating to fraud, kickbacks, and conflicts of interest.
Michael most recently served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General starting in 2019. In this capacity, he managed not only the Civil Fraud Section, but also all aspects of the Commercial Litigation Branch, including litigation in areas such as international trade, intellectual property, bankruptcy, and bid protests. During his tenure at DOJ, Michael supervised many of the most significant FCA matters while playing a key role in formulating the Department’s FCA priorities and policies.
“Michael is a recognized leader with unmatched experience in FCA enforcement and policy,” said Matthew O'Connor, co-chair of Covington’s Life Sciences Investigations and Litigation practice group. “His arrival further solidifies our position as the go-to firm for FCA matters across the sectors most heavily scrutinized under the FCA. We are excited to have him rejoin our Washington office in a leadership role and look forward to the insight and strategic vision he brings as we move into new and evolving areas of FCA enforcement under the Trump Administration.”
"Covington has built a formidable reputation over the years in handling some of the most complex and challenging FCA investigations and litigation, and I’m thrilled to join Covington’s premier team and begin this new chapter of my career,” said Michael. "After almost three decades at DOJ, I’ve seen firsthand the sophistication and scope of Covington’s work in this space. I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues to help clients navigate an increasingly complex FCA enforcement landscape across industries.”
Michael earned his JD from Yale Law School, and a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton College. He previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable Judge Ebel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit and the Honorable Judge Dubois of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining DOJ, Michael was an associate in Covington’s litigation and white collar practice groups.
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