How To Survive A Search Warrant

Firms should have a plan for how to respond to a search warrant, and all the risks that come along with it. “A company’s response in the minutes and hours after the government executes a search warrant can impact the outcome of the entire investigation,” says a white paper from Jones Day. Robust advance planning can help, not only with what occurs during the government visit, but during the internal investigation that inevitably will follow, and it may uncover matters that require attention even in the absence of an official inquiry. In particular, a written search warrant protocol can be invaluable during the “fog of the moment” as government agents enter the workspace, something even experienced legal team experts may find paralyzing. The white paper outlines how to manage the logistics of the search and how to prepare employees, and it includes some important examples of what not to do.