I’ve been subpoenaed by a grand jury as a “business representative.” What should I do?
If you’ve been subpoenaed to a grand jury as a business representative your role is a little bit different; you’re simply there it testify on behalf of the business and in most cases you’re there to provide documents or records of the business to the grand jury.
However, I would consult with a criminal defense attorney to discuss the subpoena to see what role you have in the business; are you simply a records custodian, are you the CEO or president of that business? Could you be the subject or the target of that criminal investigation?
So sometimes that role as the business records custodian or the business representative can bleed over and subject you to some criminal liability and so you want to make sure that you know all of your rights that you have and consult with a criminal defense attorney. But, also it’s critical that you comply with the subpoena if they’re asking for records in a thorough and proper manner and an attorney can help you do that because you wouldn’t want to be accused later on of obstructing justice because you didn’t comply with the subpoena in a proper way.
So if you’ve been subpoenaed as a business representative to provide records or testimony, I would suggest that you consult a criminal defense attorney to help you, guide you, through that process to make sure you’re only there as a business representative and not as a potential defendant.
Author Bio
James P. Whalen
James P. Whalen is the managing attorney and founder of Whalen Law Office, a Texas criminal defense firm offering personalized legal representation for various federal criminal charges. With a commitment to providing comfort and guidance during challenging times, Mr. Whalen serves as both an attorney and counselor to his clients, helping them navigate their cases while striving to restore normalcy to their lives.
In an inherently unbalanced criminal justice system, Mr. Whalen takes on cases with unwavering dedication. With decades of legal experience, he offers representation across various criminal charges, including white-collar crimes, violent crimes, drug charges, and more. Mr. Whalen’s numerous accolades, including Super Lawyer recognition and board certification in Criminal Appellate Law and Criminal Law, reflect his unwavering commitment to ethical and high-quality legal representation.
