Former U.S. Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney Join Bradley’s Tampa Office
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP announced that former U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley III and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Mehta have joined the firm’s Tampa office as partners in the Government Enforcement and Investigations Practice Group. Both served the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, based in Tampa and Jacksonville, Fla., respectively.
Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Beau Grenier said, “As former federal prosecutors with extensive experience handling diverse criminal and civil fraud cases at the highest levels, Lee and Jason offer invaluable insights and skills for securing successful outcomes for our clients and defending their interests in every stage of an investigation. They each add significant depth to several key industries of interest for our clients: healthcare, government-contract defense, financial services, higher education, and cybersecurity.”
“The strengths of Lee and Jason, along with the recent addition of former Assistant United States Attorney Scarlett Singleton Nokes in our Nashville office, expand our already robust capabilities. We have a truly premier group of government enforcement attorneys, which enables us to provide unparalleled service to clients dealing with compliance issues, corporate investigations, and regulatory, civil, and criminal enforcement matters,” said Ty Howard, chair of the firm’s Government Enforcement and Investigations Practice Group.
“We are thrilled to welcome Lee and Jason to Bradley’s Tampa office,” said Bradley’s Tampa Office Managing Partner Robert B. Glenn. “Both are great additions to our team of experienced attorneys that supports and defends our clients’ pro-business efforts in today’s challenging enforcement environment. Our clients, both in Florida and nationally, will receive an outstanding defense team with Lee and Jason in place.”
Bentley now focuses his practice on defending False Claims Act and qui tam matters, handling federal criminal and regulatory matters, and conducting internal investigations. He has more than 30 years of experience in complex civil litigation and criminal matters and has handled trials and appeals in numerous federal and state courts. Bentley has served as sole or lead counsel in nearly 40 civil and criminal jury trials, the firm said in a news release.
As U.S. Attorney, Bentley oversaw more than 120 civil and criminal prosecutors. During his tenure, his office led the country in the number of qui tam cases prosecuted and was routinely one of the highest performing offices throughout the country, the firm said. Bentley participated in and supervised high-profile matters in the healthcare, defense procurement, and white-collar criminal areas.
Previously, Bentley served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and as an attorney advisor for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Legal Counsel, advising the White House and executive branch agencies on constitution and statutory questions. He also spent time in private practice in Washington, D.C., and in Atlanta.
Bentley received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was Order of the Coif and an editor of the Virginia Law Review, and his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia. Following law school, Bentley clerked for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit for Chief Judge Haynsworth and for the Supreme Court of the United States for Justice Powell.
The firm said Mehta helps businesses and individuals navigate government investigations, conduct internal investigations, and defend False Claims Act and business litigation matters. His litigation and regulatory experience includes matters related to healthcare, defense procurement, cybersecurity, and financial services.
During his time as Assistant U.S. Attorney, Mehta recovered nearly a quarter of one billion dollars for the U.S. government, working on matters throughout the Middle District of Florida, including in Tampa, Fort Myers, Orlando, and Ocala. He was recognized in 2017 with the DOJ’s Director Award, one of the highest honors bestowed upon the department’s employees.
Previously, Mehta worked as an attorney-adviser for the U.S. State Department in Washington, where he led the department’s responses to various Congressional investigations and represented the department in lawsuits throughout the country. In 2012, Mehta was recognized with the department’s Exemplary Service Award. His experience also includes private practice in Washington and clerking for Judge Gerald Tjoflat of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Mehta earned his J.D. (magna cum laude) from Harvard Law School, where he was senior editor of the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy and editor of the Harvard Journal on Legislation, and received his Bachelor of Arts with high honors from the University of California, Berkeley.
