Congressional inquiry into nonprofit organizations
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.
United States (Federal)
Financial Services
Government & Public Sector
Nonprofit
Representative Matter
DOJ False Claims Act investigation of a U.S. state government
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).
Settlement
United States (Federal)
Financial Services
Government & Public Sector
Representative Matter
DOJ price-fixing investigation; client cleared
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.
Acquittal
No Charges
United States (Federal)
Financial Services
Representative Matter
House inquiry into nonprofit immigration organizations
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.
United States (Federal)
Financial Services
Government & Public Sector
Nonprofit
Representative Matter
Framed by the government as one of the largest unlicensed money-remittance cases in U.S. history
Represents a client charged in the Southern District of Florida with money laundering arising from allegations of unlicensed money remitting. The case involves over $350 million and has been described by the government as one of the largest of its kind. The client is in Argentina awaiting extradition proceedings.
Argentina
Cross-border
Government & Public Sector
Representative Matter
Probationary sentence in a pharmaceutical-misbranding case
Represented a client charged with misbranding pharmaceutical compounds purchased from China. The government sought 18 months' imprisonment. The court sentenced the client to probation.
United States (Federal)
Healthcare
Government & Public Sector
Representative Matter
SEC trial counsel in a $300M accounting-fraud action
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.
Recovery
Settlement
United States (Federal)
Financial Services
Representative Matter
Special Counsel investigation: witness representation
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.
