News & Insights
Updates on our practice and developments in the law.
February 2025
Reflecting on Accomplishments in 2024
As we enter 2025, we are reflecting on the year gone by. For our firm, 2024 was another eventful year, and we were proud to secure excellent results for our clients. Below, we share a few of our 2024 highlights.
December 2024
Happy Holidays From Your Friends at Khalil & Lake
We would like to take a moment to express our gratitude for your continued trust and support this year. Because of people like you, our team was able to celebrate another anniversary. We wish you and your loved ones a happy holiday season and joyful new year as we look forward to 2025.
November 2024
Kousisis v. United States: What is Fraud?
If a company wins a contract through deception, is that fraud? That may sound like a rhetorical question, but the Supreme Court stands ready to answer the question, albeit with one twist: what if the company never intended to cause any economic harm?
September 2024
Pleading the Fifth
When, and how, can a person invoke their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent? In this newsletter, we analyze the right to remain silent, along with best practices and potential implications.
July 2024
Supreme Court Recap: Criminal Cases
Last month, the Supreme Court issued a whirlwind of decisions, many of which have received significant attention. In this month’s newsletter, we focus on three of those decisions: Rahimi, Fischer, and Snyder.
June 2024
Samy Khalil Earns Band 2 Chambers Ranking
Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business announced this month that Samy Khalil has once again been ranked among the top lawyers in the category of Texas Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations.
May 2024
Sentencing in Federal Criminal Cases
How does sentencing work in federal criminal cases? If you or a loved one is asking that question, we know that it comes with an overwhelming degree of stress and anxiety. No one wants to face federal charges; but if it happens, you want answers. You want a guide.
In this article, we break federal sentencing down into its component parts, and we summarize important aspects of each step. No two cases are alike, but this overview should help demystify a complex process.
April 2024
Snyder v. United States: Does Federal Bribery Law Criminalize Gratuities?
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court heard oral argument to consider what type of conduct is criminal under a major federal bribery statute. We analyze the case and discuss what it could mean for future bribery prosecutions.
March 2024
Obstruction of Justice: Legal Challenges to 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)
The federal crime of obstructing justice has been heavily featured in recent news, and on April 16, 2024, the Supreme Court will take up this question: Does 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c) — the primary federal obstruction statute — apply to “acts unrelated to investigations and evidence”?
February 2024
Speedy Trial: Just How Fast is “Speedy”?
Recent high-profile cases have illustrated the wide range of time it can take a federal criminal case to progress to trial. One defendant was set for trial just months after his arrest, while former President Donald J. Trump asked a federal court to postpone one of his trials until April 2026. An interested observer could reasonably ask: just what does the law mean by a “speedy” trial?
Exciting Announcement: Introducing Khalil & Lake!
It is with great pleasure that we announce a significant milestone for our firm. Effective February 1, 2024, our firm will officially be known as Khalil & Lake.
August 2023
United States v. Rahimi: How Far Does the Second Amendment Go? And the Professional Responsibility of Lawyers
Last year, the Supreme Court struck down a New York law that required applicants to prove “proper cause exists” before they would be granted a firearm license. In New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen, the Court found…
July 2023
United States v. Castillo: International Travelers Beware
As many travelers know, federal agents at international borders have authority to search phones, computers, and other electronic devices. Less clear, however, is whether agents may do so without.…
March 2023
Wearry v. Foster: When is a Prosecutor not a Prosecutor?
Prosecutors typically receive absolute immunity for actions they take while initiation and prosecuting a criminal case. Court have recognized….
February 2023
White-Collar Federal Sentencing: Is “Intended Loss” Irrelevant?
White-collar federal sentences are typically driven by the amount of loss caused by a crime. To most people’s surprise, however,….
January 2023
Update: How Safe Are Your Attorney-Client Communications?
The Supreme Court recently heard oral argument to decide whether attorney-client privilege protects communications that contain both legal and non-legal advice…..
November 2022
Ciminelli v. United States: A Fraud Conviction Without Financial Harm
The Supreme Court will soon decide whether a person can be convicted of federal wire fraud for…..
October 2022
In re Grand Jury: How Safe Are Your Attorney-Client Communications?
The Supreme Court recently granted certiorari to decide when communications containing both legal and non-legal advice are…..
September 2022
Federal Bribery: “Quid needs Quo,” the Law of Entrapment, and the Rule of Lenity
In United States v. Hamilton, the Fifth Circuit recently concluded that “bribery concerning a local government receiving federal benefits,” under 18 U.S.C. § 666, requires…..
August 2022
FCPA Dismissal, Probationary Sentence, and Not-So-Speedy Trial
Last month, the court dismissed all four federal charges against our client. The Department of Justice had charged him with conspiring to violate…..