Press Release

Bradley is pleased to announce that partner Natalie Hirt Adams was recognized with the 2021 Investigation of the Year award from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive’s (ATF) Tampa Field Division.

Ms. Adams, who joined Bradley as a partner in the Government Enforcement and Investigations Practice Group earlier this year, served as the prosecutor in the long-term investigation dubbed “Operation Blackjack” while working as an Assistant United States Attorney. The four-year, multi-agency investigation targeted a violent white supremacist organization operating throughout the state of Florida and resulted in dozens of white supremacist gang members being charged with federal violations for violent crimes in aid of racketeering, including kidnapping, threats of violence, and assaults with dangerous weapons, and with the possession of explosive devices, illegal firearms and drugs.

“Natalie has a proven track record of success in complex cases, and we are proud of this well-deserved recognition for her work on a significant investigation that helped remove dangerous individuals and materials from the general population,” said Bradley Tampa Office Managing Partner R. Craig Mayfield. 

Ms. Adams utilizes her nearly decade-long experience as a federal prosecutor and her work for federal district and appellate judges in Florida to provide tactical advice to clients on criminal matters, complex civil litigation, and internal investigations. She has additional experience defending corporate clients targeted by government investigations and class action lawsuits and preparing clients to testify before the United States Congress.

During her nine years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Middle District of Florida, Ms. Adams regularly built complex cases by combining extensive grand jury investigations, electronic surveillance techniques, witness development, financial analysis, and warrants for searches and seizures. She also chaired and participated in numerous trials, including multi-defendant racketeering (RICO) and murder trials, earning recognition in 2016 with the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award for her work in a RICO case.

Bradley’s Government Enforcement and Investigations Practice Group represents companies and individuals in a range of government and internal investigations, regulatory inquiries, white-collar criminal defense matters, compliance issues, civil litigation, and enforcement actions. The group is composed of seasoned defense attorneys with decades of government and industry experience equipped to handle investigations, trials and enforcement matters throughout the United States and internationally.