Blog Post 11.20.24
Alex Anderson represents institutional and individual clients in white collar criminal actions, internal investigations and enforcement actions, as well as complex civil litigation.
Alex’s practice has a particular focus on representing schools and businesses in the rapidly evolving collegiate athletics industry. Alex has directly collaborated with Division I universities on various investigative matters concerning collegiate sports programs, including in connection with current NCAA enforcement proceedings. Notably, he, along with William M. Sullivan, Jr., Pillsbury’s Corporate Investigations & White Collar Defense practice group chair, secured a significant and widely recognized victory for the University of Kansas and its head men’s basketball coach, Bill Self.
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This followed a years-long NCAA enforcement action brought through the Independent Accountability Resolution Process that culminated in a multiday contested hearing before the IARP’s Independent Resolution Panel. Alex has particular experience with the rapidly changing collegiate sports industry, regularly speaking on and publishing insightful commentary on pertinent name, image and likeness (NIL) developments, regulatory and enforcement, and collegiate athletics governance issues.
As a litigator, Alex has significant experience in all phases of civil and criminal litigation, including trial. He has obtained convincing victories for a wide range of clients, often in disputes involving complicated or challenging fact patterns. Alex’s thoroughness, insightfulness and ability to deftly manage sprawling disputes implicating complex legal issues positions clients for successful results even in the most difficult of circumstances.
Representative Experience
- Achieved a significant victory on behalf of his clients, the University of Kansas and head men’s basketball coach Bill Self. Following a years-long investigation, the NCAA’s Independent Resolution Panel concluded that allegations of severe NCAA rules violations against the University of Kansas and its men’s basketball program were without merit, and in regard to head men’s basketball coach Bill Self, only a single, Level 3 violation was supported by the record, which afforded no additional penalties beyond those self-imposed by the university, which the IRP also accepted.
- Represents head of anti-fraud software company in DOJ criminal action, SEC action and related civil litigation alleging securities fraud.
- Successfully defended former Westinghouse Vice President Jeff Benjamin in obtaining a dismissal of a criminal indictment alleging various serious charges, including conspiracy, wire fraud and securities violations, on the grounds that his constitutional rights were violated when the government presented its case to a per se-biased grand jury. The ourt held that the government’s failure in this respect was a violation of Benjamin’s constitutional right to an unbiased jury, with a further explanation that while “dismissal is a drastic remedy,” such constitutional violations “constitute extreme cases” and the court must take the necessary steps to “protect the law as an institution, […] the community at large, and […] the democratic ideal reflected in the processes of our courts.”
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- Successfully represented the developer of Washington, DC's $2 billion Wharf project in litigation with Washington Municipal Fish Market tenants.
- Successfully represented national construction firm in multi-million-dollar recovery of damages in connection with a large Maryland residential construction project.
- Successfully represented major optical industry client in obtaining unconditional merger clearance for the acquisition of an iconic eyewear company before the FTC.
Professional Highlights
- Ranked as a top author in Education in JD Supra’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards.
- Law.com/AmLaw Litigator of the Week “Shout Out” for University of Kansas/Bill E. Self victory.
Education
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J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2014
B.A., Southern Methodist University, 2010
Admissions
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District of Columbia
Virginia
Courts
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U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
Clerkships
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Hon. James A. Teilborg, U.S. District Court of the District for Arizona (2015-2016)
Hon. Senior Judges of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals (2014-2015)