Sarah Hyser-Staub
Represents businesses and public leaders in government investigations, regulatory defense, and civil litigation. Advises on compliance and commercial disputes.
See full profileWhite Collar Defense and Investigations
When an investigation begins, early decisions matter. You need a defense strategy that protects your rights while accounting for the business and reputational risks that come with the matter.
Our Focus
Government investigations, criminal allegations, and regulatory enforcement actions can create pressure long before a case reaches the courtroom. A subpoena or agency inquiry may require immediate decisions about how to respond, what to preserve, and who needs to be involved.
We help organizations and individuals respond with discretion and urgency. Our work includes white collar criminal defense, internal investigations, grand jury matters, regulatory enforcement actions, professional licensing defense, ethics investigations, and parallel civil or administrative proceedings.
We represent clients before federal and state agencies, licensing boards, and law enforcement authorities. Our attorneys have handled matters involving the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and other federal and state authorities.
These matters often involve reputational pressure as well as legal risk. When a situation involves employment, government relations, public communications, regulatory compliance, or civil litigation, we bring the right colleagues into the strategy early.
Whether the goal is to resolve the matter discreetly, respond to government action, or prepare for trial, we help clients understand their options and make careful decisions from the outset.
Our work has included federal and state investigations, grand jury proceedings, ethics matters, professional licensing proceedings, consumer protection defense, False Claims Act matters, and banking and securities issues.
- National FBI inquiry: Represented a high-profile individual in an investigation that concluded without charges.
- State ethics investigation: Represented a senior Pennsylvania agency executive in a matter that resulted in a finding of no violation.
- Grand jury investigation: Represented individuals in a hazing investigation that concluded without criminal charges.
- Federal antitrust investigation: Represented a large government contractor in a multistate inquiry.
- Consumer protection defense: Defended automotive dealerships and other consumer-facing businesses in matters brought by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.
- Professional licensing defense: Counseled licensed professionals and businesses in matters before the Pennsylvania Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs.
- False Claims Act litigation: Represented a government contractor in a False Claims Act matter.
- Banking and securities proceedings: Represented investment advisers before the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities.
Key Contacts
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Related news and insights
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McNees white collar attorneys among first ranked in Legal 500’s Elite City Focus for Philadelphia
White collar defense attorneys Sarah Hyser-Staub and Erik Anderson have been ranked in Legal 500’s White Collar Crime series of the publication’s Elite City Focus for Philadelphia. Each year, Legal 500 selects leading attorneys and firms by region and practice area to include in its Elite City Focus ranking. Honorees are chosen based on peer […]
Defending the Rule of Law: The Roles of the Bench and Bar
Sarah Hyser‑Staub will participate in Widener University Commonwealth Law School’s upcoming Annual Jurist in Residence Lecture, “Defending the Rule of Law: The Roles of the Bench and Bar,” sponsored by the Law & Government Institute, on February 23. Presented by Jurist in Residence Karoline Mehalchick, District Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Middle […]
Legal update: Using AI for legal advice? Proceed with caution
Public AI chatbots may be convenient, but they are not a substitute for legal counsel. When someone is facing a lawsuit, government investigation, or other sensitive legal issue, it may be tempting to ask a chatbot for quick guidance before contacting a lawyer. As the fictional exchange below illustrates, doing so can create serious risks. […]
McNees adds former Assistant US Attorney Stephen Cerutti to white collar and litigation team
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Jan. 6, 2026) – McNees Wallace & Nurick today announced the addition of former Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Cerutti to the firm’s White Collar Defense, Public Corruption & Investigations Group in Harrisburg. Cerutti brings more than two decades of federal prosecutorial and investigative experience from the U.S. Department of Justice, further strengthening the […]