When big companies face big problems, they usually hire giant law firms with deep benches of lawyers. But one more modest-sized Connecticut firm is often hired to enter the ring against government prosecutors and regulators.

Wiggin and Dana’s white-collar defense, investigations and corporate compliance practice group fights above its weight class, its lawyers say. The firms has 150 attorneys in Connecticut, New York City and Philadelphia, but takes on the types of cases usually handled by much larger firms, said James Glasser, the firm’s litigation department chairman.