Taft Law is pleased to welcome former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa Peter E. Deegan, Jr. to its Chicago office as a partner in the firm’s White Collar Criminal Defense and Commercial Litigation practice groups.

Deegan has extensive national experience in White Collar Criminal Litigation and Corporate Compliance, having served on the U.S. Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee for White Collar Fraud. His background offers a unique understanding of how to navigate through complex investigations and prosecutions. Deegan joins the ranks of other Taft attorneys who were previously with the Department of Justice in various roles, including Jackie M. Bennett, Jr., Christopher T. Grohman, Ralph W. Kohnen, Robert K. McBride, and Trent J. Sandifur. Taft partners Charles A. Bowers, Jayna M. Cacioppo, Jeanne M. Cors, David H. Thomas, and Chad R. Ziepfel also focus a significant portion of their practices on white-collar defense. 

Deegan brings an exceptional breadth of capabilities to the firm, serving over 22 years with the Department of Justice and leading numerous federal prosecutions, including matters in white collar crime, financial fraud, banking and business crime, opioids and methamphetamine trafficking, and police misconduct. Deegan also brings to Taft more than two decades of first-chair trial experience, having tried federal cases to verdict in courtrooms across the Midwest.

“Pete’s dedication to serving our country, along with his impressive and outstanding track record during his tenure with the Department of Justice, is a tremendous resource for our team and ultimately our clients. He has an impeccable reputation among his peers and is highly respected within the legal community. It is an honor that Pete selected Taft as the best fit for his impressive legal background and skills,” said Taft Chicago Chairman and Partner Cezar (Cid) M. Froelich. 

As the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, Deegan has made a significant impact across several areas in his role. In addition to his participation on the U.S. Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee on White Collar Fraud, he held positions as Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer in the Northern District of Iowa, Chair of the U.S. Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee for Personnel and Management, a member of the U.S. Deputy Attorney General’s Filter Team Working Group, and as a member of the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Executive Board.

“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa. Representing our nation has been the privilege of my lifetime, and it has been an honor to have been entrusted with that responsibility,” said Deegan. “I look forward to joining Taft and continuing to serve through private practice. Taft’s solid reputation and the opportunity to build upon the success of its white collar practice were compelling reasons in my decision-making process regarding the next chapter of my career.”

Prior to becoming a United States Attorney, Deegan served as the Northern District of Iowa’s Criminal Chief, General Crimes Coordinator, Assistant U.S. Attorney for both the Northern District of Iowa and Eastern District of Michigan, and as a Special Assistant U.S. Trial Attorney. Before serving as a federal prosecutor, Deegan specialized in labor and employment matters at a Chicago-based law firm.

Deegan received his B.A. in philosophy with a concentration in Middle East studies from the University of Notre Dame and his J.D. from Wayne State University Law School.

Deegan joins during a period of continued upward trajectory for Taft, with the announcement of a Washington, DC office, formation of the Taft Public Affairs Strategies Group, the successful combination with Briggs and Morgan (now Taft Minneapolis), and a strengthened commitment to its diversity and inclusion initiatives, including the prestigious Mansfield Certification Plus status.