Lead counsel for a U.S. state agency in a DOJ False Claims Act investigation over alleged quality-control fraud in a federal benefits program — resolved for $17.5 million against a government demand that exceeded $40 million.
Defense of a former Gunvor S.A. employee charged in the Eastern District of New York with conspiring to launder proceeds of an international bribery scheme involving Ecuador's state oil company, PetroEcuador — a scheme Gunvor itself later admitted to in a $474.4 million FCPA resolution.
Kenia Valle Boza was charged in the Southern District of Florida with health-care-fraud and wire-fraud conspiracies and major fraud. The case reflected an aggressive theory by the Department of Justice, one that sought t
Patient Care America's CEO led the compounding pharmacy at the center of a scheme involving TRICARE benefits for veterans.
The SEC alleged that a real estate investment fund, which had raised about $170 million, operated as a real-estate-debenture Ponzi scheme. Our client, an executive of the fund, was swept into the enforcement action and faced the prospect of protracted litigation.
Something was wrong inside Toshiba International Corporation's facilities operations. Construction contracts were being awarded in ways that did not add up, and the dollars at stake were large. When the firm dug in, the
Dr. Vanja Abreu, a woman from the Dominican Republic, had been convicted of a health-care-fraud conspiracy and sent to prison. She served roughly three years for a crime the record did not support. Beyond her liberty, he
The SEC moved on an emergency basis against a cryptocurrency fund and its co-founder, alleging a Ponzi scheme the agency framed at roughly $100 million in a vehicle that had held around $150 million.
Represented a global financial institution in a regulatory enforcement action concerning the institution's anti-money laundering compliance program.
Advised a commodities trader in a regulatory investigation involving an alleged fraudulent investment scheme (more than $10 million), counseling on criminal exposure.
Brought in to represent four individuals employed by a biotechnology company in a confidential arbitration involving allegations of trade-secret theft in the development of compounds to treat cancer, with more than $100 million at stake. The client served as a critical witness. The arbitration concluded with the matter resolved.
Represents, pro bono under the firm's rule-of-law and democracy-protection initiative, four nonprofit organizations targeted in a Congressional inquiry into their use of federal funds.
Counseled a subject of a parallel SEC and U.S. Attorney's Office securities investigation, negotiating a settlement of disgorgement exposure with the SEC receiver.
Selected through a competitive process as lead counsel for a U.S. state agency in a False Claims Act investigation brought by the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ alleged the agency introduced bias into a federal benefits program's quality-control process, resulting in false quality-control data and unentitled performance bonuses. The government's demand exceeded $40 million, reflecting the treble damages and per-claim civil penalties available under the False Claims Act. The matter resolved for $17.5 million, a fraction of the government's original demand; Mr. Fridman signed the settlement agreement on behalf of the agency (DOJ Press Release No. 21-647, July 12, 2021).
Represented a Senior Vice President of a Fortune 1000 technology company in connection with a DOJ insider-trading investigation. The related prosecution resulted in a guilty plea by the charged individual; our client was not charged.
Assisted the corporation with its responses to grand jury subpoenas in a DOJ investigation involving national security issues.
Conducted a full internal investigation in response to government subpoenas in a DOJ antitrust price-fixing investigation, demonstrating the client's lack of involvement in the charged conspiracy. Other individuals charged in the matter were subsequently acquitted. In a separate DOJ antitrust investigation of a former company officer, the firm's internal investigation led the DOJ to close its inquiry.
Represented a client charged with health care fraud in connection with a family member's scheme. The firm helped the client cooperate, reduced restitution, and obtained a sentence below the Guidelines that avoided incarceration. The firm later obtained early termination of probation after the client served roughly 40% of the term.
Pursued District Court and Eleventh Circuit litigation on behalf of a Venezuelan businessman whose assets were seized by FARC terrorism victims despite no direct evidentiary connection to the FARC, drafting the Court of Appeals brief challenging the district court's findings.
Represented a registered commodity-pool adviser and its principal in an emergency NFA enforcement action before the Business Conduct Committee for alleged willful false statements and reporting violations.
Engaged by a public company's CEO to assist an audit-committee investigation into allegations concerning personal-versus-business expenses.
Represented an audit committee in an internal investigation into alleged FCPA violations, including coordination with outside auditors on the committee's remediation and disclosure obligations.
Co-led the representation of four nonprofit immigration-assistance organizations targeted in a House Committee on Homeland Security inquiry into the use of federal funds by more than 200 NGOs. The representation is pro bono under the firm's rule-of-law initiative.
Investigated and advised an investment adviser facing civil fraud allegations of charging improper fees to high-net-worth clients (more than $10 million), counseling on both civil and potential criminal exposure.
Represented a nurse employed by a nurse practitioner who was under federal indictment for a $192 million health care fraud conspiracy. The nurse practitioner was convicted and sentenced to 20 years. Persuaded the DOJ not to charge our client, who cooperated and testified at trial and has since resumed her career.
Represents a registered investment adviser and its principal in a parallel SEC and FINRA investigation arising from a customer complaint involving alleged overbilling and improper gifts (approximately $5 million).
Represented a company and its principal in an SEC enforcement matter alleging $1.2 million in investor fraud through false press releases; handled pre-filing settlement negotiations.
Assisted on internal investigations connected to a DOJ price-fixing probe involving industry executives, work that helped establish a client's non-involvement.
Represented a client charged with misbranding pharmaceutical compounds purchased from China. The government sought 18 months' imprisonment. The court sentenced the client to probation.
Represents the former chief executive and chief financial officer of a technology company in an SEC enforcement action alleging $30 million in securities fraud based on material misrepresentations and omissions.
Represents a client and a related holding company in an SEC enforcement action alleging a $35 million securities-fraud and Ponzi scheme.
Represented an individual and a related family trust in an SEC enforcement action arising from an investment program that allegedly raised more than $500 million from investors. The trust was placed into receivership in August 2021; the individual settled the matter in November 2022.
Represents a company and its chief executive in an SEC administrative action alleging the company made false statements about its revenue to investors. The SEC is evaluating a potential federal enforcement action.
Represents a senior accountant at an investment-fund manager in a formal SEC books-and-records and accounting investigation.
Represents the co-founder of a cryptocurrency fund that held roughly $150 million in assets, in an SEC emergency enforcement action alleging a $100 million Ponzi scheme. Managing simultaneous parallel criminal exposure in the Southern District of Florida.
As co-trial counsel for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Soto litigated a $300 million accounting-fraud enforcement action. After the SEC obtained partial summary judgment, the defendants settled for more than $50 million in disgorgement and penalties.
Represented a grand jury witness in Special Counsel John Durham's investigation into the predication of the inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Conducted an investigation and prepared the client for grand jury testimony.
Represented a chief executive in a Florida Office of Financial Regulation investigation into the sale of more than $100 million in viatical settlements alleged to be unregistered securities.