David is a litigator, trial attorney, and strategic advisor leading global compliance and advisory matters and investigations involving anti-money laundering (AML), anti-fraud, anti-corruption, sanctions and export controls, and securities laws and regulatory issues. He counsels clients in highly regulated industries, including financial institutions and financial services and advisory companies, digital asset and blockchain-based companies, chemicals and precious metals companies, and others.
With more than twenty years of experience in both government and private practice, David has a proven record of successfully leading teams through complex investigations, litigations, and prosecutions, including navigating historic challenges in the aftermath of the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, and through the global COVID-19 pandemic. As a skilled strategic advisor, David assists clients in the design, implementation, and improvement of thoughtful, risk-based compliance controls designed to avoid, or mitigate the impact of, costly litigation and investigations. David also maintains a robust pro bono practice that includes representing clients in immigration and asylum proceedings.
Prior to joining DLA Piper, David served in various government positions, including at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Treasury Department.
During his time at the DOJ, David was a prosecutor in the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section's (MLARS) Bank Integrity Unit and the DOJ Fraud Section's Market Integrity and Major Frauds Unit where he investigated and prosecuted individuals and corporations in connection with complex white collar matters, including financial fraud, securities fraud, investment fraud, accounting fraud, bank fraud, insider trading, Bank Secrecy Alert (BSA) and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations, and money laundering. David was also a member of an interagency law enforcement group providing guidance to the Treasury Department and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on emerging anti-money laundering regulatory issues.
While at the U.S. Treasury Department, David served in senior roles as an investigator and compliance advisor for the Office of Financial Stability, and as the Assistant Chief Investigative Counsel and in other roles for Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP). David led nation-wide investigations involving complex securities fraud, bank fraud, government program fraud, and misuse of government trademarks and seals, and liaised with U.S. Attorney's Offices, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and financial regulators throughout the country. David further created and administered compliance and audit review policies and procedures for Treasury Department financial agents, including those involved in mortgage-backed securities trading and housing finance.
David is an active member of the American Bar Association and serves on the ABA's Banking Law Committee as the Vice Chair for the Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering subcommittee. He is also a member of DLA Piper's Corporate Transparency Act Working Group helping advise the firm and its clients on the implementation of the historic AML legislation involving the creation of a beneficial ownership database.
