White Collar

  • June 03, 2025

    MoFo Adds DOJ Official To Help Lead Investigations Team

    Morrison Foerster LLP has hired the former assistant attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Legislative Affairs, who is joining the firm to co-lead its congressional investigations group, the firm announced Tuesday.

  • June 02, 2025

    5th Circ. Will Mull In-House Banking Cases In Jarkesy's Wake

    A Fifth Circuit panel is set to scrutinize in-house proceedings at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and other banking agencies on Tuesday in a trio of appeals with the potential to upend the regulators' primary mode of enforcement.

  • June 02, 2025

    Ex-NFL Player Jack Brewer Traded On Insider Info, Court Says

    NFL player turned investment adviser Jack Brewer used nonpublic information he obtained from a client of his financial consulting business to sell shares before the company made an announcement that caused the stock price to plummet, a New York federal judge ruled Friday.

  • June 02, 2025

    1st Circ. Largely Backs Convictions For Cop Union Kickbacks

    The First Circuit on Monday mostly upheld the convictions of a former Massachusetts state police union president and a Beacon Hill lobbyist who were found guilty of running a kickback scheme, but ordered new sentencing hearings for them after vacating some of the guilty findings.

  • June 02, 2025

    RBC Client Claims Billions Swept Into Low-Yield Accounts

    A new suit filed in New York federal court has alleged the Royal Bank of Canada and RBC Capital Markets ran a cash-sweep program that funneled billions of dollars into affiliated banks while paying clients as little as 0.01% interest.

  • June 02, 2025

    Chinese Rival Shouldn't Get Code Docs, Micron Tells Justices

    Micron Technology Inc. is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block a Chinese semiconductor competitor from accessing paper copies of sensitive source code during patent infringement litigation, asserting in a petition that a lower court "ignored completely the national-security concerns tied up" in the dispute.

  • June 02, 2025

    Chief Fed. Judge Bans Conn. Courthouse Arrests, With Limits

    The chief federal judge for the District of Connecticut has issued a standing order banning law enforcement officers from arresting or detaining individuals in the state's three federal courthouses, with some exceptions for courtroom security functions and federal offices housed in shared buildings.

  • June 02, 2025

    Nursing Exec Says DOJ Misapplied Justices' Fraud Ruling

    A Nevada nursing home executive convicted of wage-fixing and wire fraud has told a Nevada federal judge that a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a fraud case doesn't preclude his motion for a new trial, contrary to what the U.S. Department of Justice has argued.

  • June 02, 2025

    US Trustee Pushes For Fee Examiner In Guo Bankruptcy

    The U.S. Trustee's Office asked a Connecticut bankruptcy judge to appoint an independent examiner to review fee requests from an increasing number of global professionals authorized to provide legal and other services to the Connecticut-based Chapter 11 estate of Chinese exile Miles Guo.

  • June 02, 2025

    Fla. Judge Ends Ex-Bank CEO's Fraud Claims In Ponzi Case

    A Florida state court judge on Monday ended a long-running suit by a former bank CEO who claims he was set up as a scapegoat in the legal fallout of attorney Scott Rothstein's $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme, dismissing the ex-CEO's fraud and negligent misrepresentation claims.

  • June 02, 2025

    CFTC Announces 2nd Enforcement Head In 4 Months

    The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Monday named a new head of enforcement for the second time in four months, appointing its longtime deputy director to head the division.

  • June 02, 2025

    Girardi's Dropped Pants Don't Sway Judge From Sentencing

    A California federal judge ruled Monday she will sentence Tom Girardi this week for his wire fraud conviction, finding him mentally competent enough to potentially serve prison time following a bizarre hearing where the disbarred attorney made an appearance on the witness stand that culminated in his pants falling down.

  • June 02, 2025

    Judge Finds Exec Sought To Dodge Chicago Hotel Fraud Order

    A construction company and executive found by a jury in 2022 of misusing millions intended for Chicago's Nobu Hotel are facing contempt orders from an Illinois federal judge for concealing cash withdrawals and construction work as an investor attempts to collect a $22 million judgment.

  • June 02, 2025

    Feds Want 12½ Years For Ex-Ill. Speaker Convicted Of Bribery

    Prosecutors are urging an Illinois federal judge to sentence former state House Speaker Michael Madigan to prison for 12½ years for bribery, conspiracy and fraud, saying his conduct adds "another sordid chapter to Illinois' storied reputation of corruption" while Madigan, armed with more than 200 letters of support, seeks only probation.

  • June 02, 2025

    Ex-Lead Atty On Eric Adams' Case Joins Hueston Hennigan

    One of the former government lawyers who defied a top U.S. Department of Justice official's orders to drop the corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams for political reasons has joined Hueston Hennigan LLP as a New York partner, the firm announced Monday.

  • June 02, 2025

    1st Circ. Partially Revives 'Varsity Blues' Conviction

    The First Circuit has reinstated one of the two convictions against a former University of Southern California coach in the "Varsity Blues" college admissions case, saying a federal district court "did not explain" its decision to wipe out the entire verdict.

  • June 02, 2025

    Immunity Shields Mich. AG From Flint Water Prosecution Suit

    A Michigan federal judge has dismissed a wrongful prosecution lawsuit brought by a former aide to ex-Gov. Rick Snyder against the Michigan attorney general and Wayne County prosecutors, ruling that immunity shields the prosecutors from liability over their handling of charges against officials in the aftermath of the Flint water crisis.

  • June 02, 2025

    Ex-Par Funding CFO Sentenced To 5½ Years, Must Pay $303M

    Joseph Cole Barleta, the last of the triumvirate behind the $404 million Par Funding investment scam to be sentenced, was handed a 66-month prison term Monday, along with a staggering $303 million restitution order.

  • June 02, 2025

    Justices Won't Review Ex-Temple Biz Dean's Fraud Conviction

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to review the fraud conviction of Moshe Porat, the former dean of the Temple University Fox School of Business, who was accused of falsely inflating the school's stats to boost its rankings in U.S. News & World Report.

  • May 30, 2025

    Kousisis May Boost Fraud Cases, But Questions Remain

    The U.S. Supreme Court's finding that inducing a transaction through lies, even with no intent of economic loss, is a valid basis for a wire fraud conviction opens the door for a wave of aggressive fraud prosecutions, but unanswered questions on issues like materiality may lead the court to again consider reining in the government's power.

  • May 30, 2025

    Pharma Co. Hid Cancer Study Method Problems, Investor Claims

    Biotechnology company UroGen Pharma Ltd. and three current and former executives are facing a proposed investor class action in New Jersey federal court alleging the company failed to disclose methodology flaws affecting a study of its lead drug candidate that ultimately doomed its bid for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval.

  • May 30, 2025

    SEC's Staking Guidance Ignores Court Rulings, Crenshaw Says

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's dismissal of its lawsuit against crypto exchange Binance paved the way for its staff's same-day statement that many "staking" services are no longer subject to agency jurisdiction, according to the SEC's sole Democrat, who criticized the move as conflicting with a pair of court decisions the agency won.

  • May 30, 2025

    Wheeling & Appealing: The Latest Must-Know Appellate Action

    Saying that June's circuit court calendars include important arguments in all practice areas would be hyperbolic — but just slightly. That's because significant showdowns are imminent involving appellate procedure principles, "click-to-cancel" rules, government procurement protests, judiciary employment protections and litigation risk insurance — as well as President Donald Trump's felony convictions and extraordinary deportation measures.

  • May 30, 2025

    Tornado Cash Judge Won't Order Review Of Feds' Evidence

    A New York federal judge said Friday that she won't direct federal prosecutors to conduct a review for additional evidence in their case against Tornado Cash founder Roman Storm despite the defense's claims that a recent disclosure in a separate crypto mixer prosecution could impact Storm's defense.

  • May 30, 2025

    Ex-Mich. Speaker, Wife To Face Nonprofit Embezzlement Trial

    Former speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives Lee Chatfield and his wife on Friday were sent to circuit court to stand trial on allegations that the former speaker misused state and campaign funds, and that the pair embezzled money from Chatfield's nonprofit to pay for their lifestyle.

Expert Analysis

  • 2 Practical Ways For Banks To Battle Elder Financial Abuse

    Author Photo

    Federal regulators' recent statement raising awareness of elder financial exploitation provides a useful catalog of techniques that banks can employ to fight fraud, particularly encouraging older account holders to establish trusted contacts and sharing timely warnings about the latest scams with customers, say attorneys at Nutter.

  • 3 Ways Civil Plaintiffs Could Fill An FCPA Enforcement Gap

    Author Photo

    While the Department of Justice recently announced it would deprioritize Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations into U.S. businesses without obvious ties to international crime, companies should stay alert to private plaintiffs, who could fill this enforcement void — and win significant civil damages — through several legal channels, says Eric Nitz at MoloLamken.

  • Examining Trump Meme Coin And SEC's Crypto Changes

    Author Photo

    While the previous U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission tended to view most crypto-assets as securities, the tide is rapidly changing, and hopefully the long-needed reevaluation of this regulatory framework is not tarnished by an arguable conflict of interest due to President Donald Trump's affiliation with the $Trump meme coin, say attorneys at Thompson Coburn.

  • Opinion

    State FCAs Should Cover Local Fund Misuse, State Tax Fraud

    Author Photo

    New Jersey and other states with similar False Claims Acts should amend them to cover misappropriated municipal funding, and state and local tax fraud, which would encourage more whistleblowers to come forward and increase their recoveries, says Kenneth Levine at Stone & Magnanini.

  • New Fla. Financial Abuse Law May See Limited Buy-In

    Author Photo

    Florida's newly effective financial protection law comes with compliance burdens and uncertainties that could discourage financial institutions from participating, even though the law aims to shield them from liability for delaying transactions when they suspect exploitation of elderly and vulnerable account holders, say attorneys at Shutts & Bowen.

  • 7 Tips For Associates To Thrive In Hybrid Work Environments

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
    Author Photo

    As the vast majority of law firms have embraced some type of hybrid work policy, associates should consider a few strategies to get the most out of both their in-person and remote workdays, says James Argionis at Cozen O’Connor.

  • White Collar Archetypes: Wrangling The Shape-Shifter

    Author Photo

    In white collar criminal trials, certain pieces of evidence can shape-shift in the jury’s eyes, presenting both challenges and opportunities for defense counsel, says Jack Sharman at Lightfoot Franklin.

  • Series

    Playing Beach Volleyball Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    My commitment to beach volleyball has become integral to my performance as an attorney, with the sport continually reminding me that teamwork, perseverance, professionalism and stress management are essential to both undertakings, says Amy Drushal at Trenam.

  • How GSA Lease Clauses May Affect DOGE Terminations

    Author Photo

    The Department of Government Efficiency has begun to cut the U.S. General Services Administration's enormous real estate portfolio, but some standard lease clauses include limits helpful to landlords that may slow progress toward the administration's cost-cutting goals, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

  • Managing Anti-Corporate Juror Views Revealed By CEO Killing

    Author Photo

    After the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson laid bare deep-seated anti-corporate sentiments among the public, companies in numerous industries will have to navigate the influence of related juror biases on litigation dynamics, say Jorge Monroy and Keith Pounds at IMS Legal Strategies.

  • Terraform Case May Be Bellwether For Crypto Enforcement

    Author Photo

    The prosecution of crypto company Terraform Labs and its CEO, Do Kwon, offers a unique test of the line between lawful and unlawful conduct in digital transactions, and the Trump administration’s posture toward the case will provide clues about its cryptocurrency enforcement agenda in the years to come, say attorneys at Brooks Pierce.

  • What's Next For Russia Sanctions After Task Force Disbanded

    Author Photo

    Attorney General Pam Bondi’s recent disbanding of Task Force KleptoCapture, which was initially aimed at seizing Russian oligarchs’ funds and assets, is unlikely to mean the end of Russia sanctions enforcement and other economic countermeasures, as the architecture for criminal enforcement remains in place, say attorneys at BakerHostetler.

  • How Law Firms Can Counteract The Loneliness Epidemic

    Author Photo

    The legal industry is facing an urgent epidemic of loneliness, affecting lawyer well-being, productivity, retention and profitability, and law firm leaders should take concrete steps to encourage the development of genuine workplace connections, says Michelle Gomez at Littler and Gwen Mellor Romans at Herald Talent.

  • What Remedies Under New Admin's SEC Could Look Like

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is likely to substantially narrow the remedies it pursues over the next few years, driven by the mounting challenges it faces in court, as well as the views of its incoming chair and fellow Republican commissioners on injunctions, penalties and disgorgement, say attorneys at Milbank.

  • Texas Fraud Case Shows Dangers Of Faulty Crypto Reporting

    Author Photo

    The recent sentencing of a man who failed to properly report capital gains from bitcoin sales is a reminder that special attention must be given to the IRS' reporting requirements in order to stay out of the government's crosshairs, says Saverio Romeo at Fox Rothschild.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the White Collar archive.