People
Zack Harmon is a partner in the firm’s Special Matters & Government Investigations practice. He has served in leadership roles in the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), including most recently as FBI Chief of Staff. During the course of his 25-year career, he has led hundreds of investigations across a wide spectrum of issues, industries and geographies.
Clients ranging from Fortune 100 global corporations to senior company executives and boards rely on Zack to address issues posing enterprise risk.
As the leader of King & Spalding's national security practice, Zack provides clients with cutting-edge guidance regarding the practical implications of U.S. national security priorities. He helps clients to preempt and respond to nation-state IP theft and data breaches; navigate emerging government requirements concerning cybersecurity and business transactions; and liaise with senior government officials at DOJ, FBI, SEC, State, Treasury, DOD and Congress to address national security concerns of all kinds.
After serving for over 15 years as a leader of King & Spalding's government investigations team, Zack also focuses on government and internal investigations, as well as compliance counseling. He has served as lead counsel to clients in a wide variety of industries. He has led investigations in over 30 countries and designed global compliance programs for companies operating in numerous industries. Zack also has extensive trial experience, having first-chaired over 25 jury and bench trials in federal and state courts throughout the country.
Zack’s focus on national security dates back to his appointment to the presidential commission that investigated the FBI’s national security and counterintelligence programs in the wake of FBI Special Agent Robert Hanssen’s espionage. Thereafter, serving as Counsel to U.S. Deputy Attorney General Larry D. Thompson, he played a central leadership role in DOJ’s extensive mission shift following 9/11. He held other roles at DOJ, including as Trial Attorney on the Enron Task Force, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia, and prosecutor in the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Before first joining King & Spalding in 1996, Zack clerked for the Honorable William Garwood, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Zack retains Secret and Top Secret clearances.
J.D., The University of Texas at Austin
A.B., Princeton University, cum laude
District of Columbia
Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Law Clerk, Hon. William Garwood, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Member, American Health Lawyers Association
Member, American Law Institute
August 11, 2022
Zack Harmon and Drew Hruska quoted in a profile of FBI Director Chris Wray
August 22, 2016
Global Investigations Review Names King & Spalding to List of Top D.C. FCPA Practices
July 8, 2016
Legal 500 U.S. Ranks King & Spalding Practices and Lawyers Among the Best in 2016
Represented a major oilfield services company in a multinational FCPA internal investigation in Africa and the Middle East, and in response to parallel investigations by the DOJ and SEC.
Represented a Singapore-based energy company in a high-profile FCPA/anti-corruption investigation by DOJ and the Indonesian KPK.
Representing numerous international corporations—including several Fortune 50 companies—in matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, including international investigations (in Angola, Azerbajan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Saudia Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom), DOJ and SEC disclosures, and development of FCPA compliance programs, including:
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March 28, 2024
Executive Order Restricts Foreign Access to U.S. Data, Citing National Security Risks
January 24, 2024
General Counsel’s Decision Tree for Internal Investigations for the Energy Industry
December 13, 2023
General Counsel’s Decision Tree for Internal Investigations for the Financial Services Industry
August 11, 2022
Zack Harmon and Drew Hruska quoted in a profile of FBI Director Chris Wray
August 22, 2016
Global Investigations Review Names King & Spalding to List of Top D.C. FCPA Practices
July 8, 2016
Legal 500 U.S. Ranks King & Spalding Practices and Lawyers Among the Best in 2016
Represented a major oilfield services company in a multinational FCPA internal investigation in Africa and the Middle East, and in response to parallel investigations by the DOJ and SEC.
Represented a Singapore-based energy company in a high-profile FCPA/anti-corruption investigation by DOJ and the Indonesian KPK.
Representing numerous international corporations—including several Fortune 50 companies—in matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, including international investigations (in Angola, Azerbajan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Saudia Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom), DOJ and SEC disclosures, and development of FCPA compliance programs, including:
See more
March 28, 2024
Executive Order Restricts Foreign Access to U.S. Data, Citing National Security Risks
January 24, 2024
General Counsel’s Decision Tree for Internal Investigations for the Energy Industry
December 13, 2023
General Counsel’s Decision Tree for Internal Investigations for the Financial Services Industry
August 11, 2022
Zack Harmon and Drew Hruska quoted in a profile of FBI Director Chris Wray
August 22, 2016
Global Investigations Review Names King & Spalding to List of Top D.C. FCPA Practices
July 8, 2016
Legal 500 U.S. Ranks King & Spalding Practices and Lawyers Among the Best in 2016
J.D., The University of Texas at Austin
A.B., Princeton University, cum laude
District of Columbia
Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Law Clerk, Hon. William Garwood, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Member, American Health Lawyers Association
Member, American Law Institute