Cited by Chambers USA for his experience and judgment handling internal investigations and international anti-corruption issues, Wally Dietz has more than 35 years of experience guiding his clients through complex litigation and investigations where exposure is significant. Wally has notable successes negotiating with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Tennessee Attorney General and other governmental agencies, oftentimes producing a favorable result in a very short time frame. His work representing clients in connection with possible Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations and other anti-corruption issues has taken him to Asia, Africa, Europe and Central America.
Wally is the chair of the firm’s Compliance & Government Investigations (CGI) Practice Group and serves as the firm’s liaison partner for its Washington, D.C. office.
Nashville Bar Association — Board Member (2003-2006)
District of Columbia Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association
American Health Law Association (AHLA)
Lex Mundi — Global Chair, Litigation, Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Committee
Nashville Pro Bono, Inc. — President (1994-1995)
Represented Tivity Health, Inc. in its acquisition of Nutrisystem, Inc.
Engaged in 2010 to serve as independent disclosure counsel to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Bank of America pursuant to a settlement order entered into by Bank of America and the SEC
Conducted a multi-country FCPA and local law investigation in Southeast Asia for a U.S. company
Advised a publicly traded U.S. company on anti-corruption due diligence related to the potential acquisition of a U.S. company with an active unresolved DOJ and SEC FCPA investigation
Conducted an anti-corruption compliance investigation for a private U.S. company involving executives at the client’s Asia Pacific headquarters
Served as lead counsel for the Special Litigation Committee created by the board of directors to investigate allegations of breaches of fiduciary duties by all company directors in connection with alleged healthcare fraud billing issues and consider possible filing of derivative action
Represented a Fortune 500 company related to anti-corruption compliance integration of a United Kingdom acquisition
Advised Engility Holdings in its tender offer and acquisition of Dynamics Research Corporation for $120 million
Coordinated Telecheck’s follow-up responses to the civil investigative demand by the FTC
Chambers USA — Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (2020); Litigation: General Commercial (2003-2020)
Best Lawyers® — Nashville Litigation: Banking and Finance “Lawyer of the Year” (2020); Nashville Trade Secrets Law “Lawyer of the Year” (2019); Nashville Litigation: Banking and Finance “Lawyer of the Year” (2018, 2012); Nashville Litigation: Securities “Lawyer of the Year” (2016); Nashville Litigation: Mergers and Acquisitions “Lawyer of the Year” (2014)
The Best Lawyers in America© — Commercial Litigation; Corporate Compliance Law; Corporate Governance Law; Corporate Law; Health Care Law; International Trade and Finance Law; Litigation: Banking and Finance; Litigation: Health Care; Litigation: Mergers and Acquisition; Litigation: Securities; Trade Secrets Law (2006-2021)
Benchmark Litigation — Local Litigation Star: Tennessee (2012-2021)
Super Lawyers — Corporate Counsel Edition
Mid-South Super Lawyers (2006-2020)
Nashville Business Journal “Best of the Bar” (2011-2012)
Nashville Bar Association Liberty Bell Award
American Criminal Law Review — Associate Editor (1980-1982)
Law Clerk to Hon. Thomas A. Wiseman, Jr., United States District Judge, Middle District of Tennessee (1982-1983)
Speechwriter and Press Aide to United States Senator Jim Sasser, Washington, D.C. (1977-1981)