WWCDA Mission Statement
The Women’s White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA) promotes the common business and professional interests of attorneys and other professionals whose clients include companies, other organizations and individuals in connection with the wide-range of white collar government investigations and enforcement actions (criminal, civil, regulatory, and administrative), internal investigations, compliance and ethics counseling, and related matters. WWCDA promotes inclusion for all legal and consulting professionals in this field, including organizing professional activities to facilitate networking and business development opportunities, and providing educational programming relevant to the field.
WWCDA Goals
- Promote members who represent or otherwise assist clients in white collar criminal, civil, regulatory, and administrative enforcement, internal investigations, compliance and ethics, and related defense matters.
- Provide networking and business development opportunities for members and other participants locally, nationally, and globally.
- Develop educational programming focused on the legal fields of white collar criminal, civil, regulatory, and administrative enforcement, internal investigations, compliance and ethics, and related defense matters.
- Facilitate collaboration and communication among members and other participants.
- Develop resources to assist members and other participants in their professional endeavors.
WWCDA Membership Criteria
To become a member of WWCDA, the applicant must join a WWCDA chapter and meet all criteria as described below. WWCDA has chapters throughout the world. Membership is free.
The applicant must be a lawyer in a law firm or a professional in a consulting firm whose clients include companies, other organizations and individuals in connection with the wide-range of white collar government investigations and enforcement actions (criminal, civil, regulatory, and administrative), internal investigations, compliance and ethics counseling, and related matters.
You can see a list of the practice areas that meet this criteria here.
For a law firm attorney applicant, the applicant may join a WWCDA chapter in any jurisdiction where the applicant’s business address and/or residence is located if the applicant is an active or otherwise authorized member in good standing of the bar in that jurisdiction, provided the applicant also meets any additional membership criteria of that particular chapter. For a professional in a consulting firm applicant, the applicant may join a chapter in any jurisdiction where the applicant’s business address and/or residence is located, provided the applicant also meets any additional membership criteria of that particular chapter.
The membership criteria for each chapter can be found on the individual chapter webpages. Review the chapter criteria. When applying for membership, be sure to select the correct membership category as defined by the criteria of the chapter you seek to join. The membership categories are:
- Law Firm Attorney Member
- Consultant Member
- Law Firm Attorney Affiliate Member
- Consultant Affiliate Member
Select the category you satisfy according to the chapter criteria chapter membership category rules and Apply now.
Please Note: By submitting a membership application, the applicant certifies that all information provided is true, accurate, current, and complete including, but not limited to, firm affiliation, business address and/or residence, other biographical information, and bar status.
The applicant will have a continuing obligation (including after becoming a member) to promptly update their information including, but not limited to, changes in firm affiliation, business address and/or residence, other biographical information, and bar status. WWCDA does not independently verify applicant-submitted information and assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracy, error, or omission therein.
Chapter Membership & Categories -- Further Explained Below
All chapters welcome as members attorneys who work in law firms and whose clients include companies, other organizations and individuals in connection with the wide-range of white collar government investigations and enforcement actions (criminal, civil, regulatory, and administrative), internal investigations, compliance and ethics counseling, and related matters. You can see a list of the practice areas that meet this criteria here. This category of membership is called: "Law Firm Attorney Member."
Some chapters may limit Law Firm Attorney membership to those of certain seniority. Although law firm attorneys of all levels (partner, counsel, associate, staff) may apply to join a chapter, for those chapters that limit membership based upon seniority, junior attorneys (who otherwise qualify under the criteria set forth herein) can join the chapter as an "affiliate member," which permits them to participate in certain activities of the chapter and WWCDA. This category of membership is called: "Law Firm Attorney Affiliate Member."
Many WWCDA chapters welcome as members attorneys and other professionals who work at consulting firms (or non-attorney professionals who work at law firms) and whose clients include companies, other organizations and individuals in connection with the wide-range of white collar government investigations and enforcement actions (criminal, civil, regulatory, and administrative), internal investigations, compliance and ethics counseling, and related matters. You can see a list of the practice areas that meet this criteria here. This category of membership is called: "Consultant Member."
Some chapters may limit membership of consulting professionals and/or require a certain seniority. Although consulting professionals who otherwise qualify under the criteria set forth herein may apply to join a chapter, for those chapters that limit membership of consulting professionals or require a certain seniority, the consulting professional can join the chapter as an “affiliate member,” which permits them to participate in certain activities of the chapter and WWCDA. This category of membership is called: "Consultant Affiliate Member."
WWCDA Sponsors who are not otherwise a member or member affiliate, may be able to participate in certain WWCDA event and activities. Learn more about becoming a sponsor.
Some WWCDA and chapter events and activities may be limited to law firm attorneys.
Application Process
If you wish to apply to join a WWCDA chapter, please complete and submit the online application located here. You must complete each field on the application, choose the chapter location, review the chapter criteria, and select the correct membership category for which you qualify. Your information will be shared with and transferred to both the WWCDA in the United States as well as the appropriate local chapter relevant to your location. Once your completed application is submitted, WWCDA will contact you. If accepted to join WWCDA, you will be notified and invited to take the final required step, which is to complete each field on your WWCDA profile (including uploading your .jpeg photo, firm affiliation, business address and/or residence, other biographical information, and bar status).
Please Note: By submitting a membership application, you certify that all information provided is true, accurate, current, and complete including, but not limited to, firm affiliation, business address and/or residence, other biographical information, and bar status. You will have a continuing obligation (including after becoming a member) to promptly update their information including, but not limited to, changes in firm affiliation, business address and/or residence, other biographical information, and bar status. WWCDA does not independently verify applicant-submitted information and assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracy, error, or omission therein.
In addition, WWCDA may conduct sanctions screening in connection with your membership application, and if you become a member, periodically throughout your membership to ensure compliance with applicable U.S. sanctions laws and regulations. This may involve processing certain limited personal data (such as your name, date of birth, nationality, and country of residence) as necessary to compare against relevant sanctions lists maintained by applicable regulatory authorities, including via authorized service providers engaged to perform such checks on WWCDA’s behalf. Where consent is required under applicable law, by submitting a membership application, you consent to WWCDA processing your personal data for these purposes.
If you have questions or if you work in an area that does not have a chapter, please send an email to membership@wwcda.org.
Please read our Privacy Statement for more details about how we use your personal data.