David Zinn is Co-Chair of the firm’s Criminal Defense and Investigations practice. He also heads up the Criminal Tax practice.  One of the country’s leading defense lawyers, David has represented major multinational corporations, as well as individuals, in a broad array of investigations and related litigation and regulatory matters.  

David is regularly recognized as a leader in the white collar bar.  Benchmark Litigation named him the 2023 White Collar Crime/Investigations Litigator of the Year.  

David is described in Chambers as “a superb and creative advocate”; “extremely strategic”; “tough as nails, thorough, and creative”; “a force to be reckoned with”; someone who “fights like hell for his clients”; and “a rarer breed of lawyer who can as effectively represent an individual as a company.”  He is recognized by Legal 500 as “a master tactician” who has “all the right contacts and a great deal of credibility with a lot of success representing institutions and individuals.” 

David has represented clients in cases involving allegations of securities, bank, accounting, and tax fraud; market manipulation; criminal antitrust violations; money laundering; public corruption; and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") violations. David’s matters frequently involve investigations by the SEC, the CFTC, and/or state attorneys general, as well as related civil litigation. Many matters also involve foreign prosecuting and/or regulatory authorities.

David’s clients have included significant multinational companies, U.S. public companies, and individual executives. 

He is the former national Co-Chair of American Bar Association's White Collar Crime Committee and former Co-Chair of the ABA's White Collar Crime Subcommittee on Transnational Crimes.  He has also served on the advisory board for the American Bankers' Association/American Bar Association annual money laundering conference.

Representative Experience

Though all cases vary and none is predictive, David’s corporate representative experience includes:

  • Representation of global financial services company in DOJ money laundering investigation
  • Representation of multinational investment bank in DOJ and SEC fraud and bid rigging investigations
  • Representation of cryptocurrency company in DOJ fraud and money laundering investigation
  • Representation of major accounting firm in criminal tax investigation
  • Representation of public company in DOJ antitrust investigation of labor market collusion
  • Representation of global manufacturer in DOJ cartel investigation
  • Representation of computer software company in DOJ securities and accounting fraud investigation

Though all cases vary and none is predictive, David’s individual representative experience includes:

  • Representation of President of global energy company in DOJ and SEC investigation of FCPA violations
  • Representation of General Counsel of multinational company in DOJ and SEC investigations of FCPA violations
  • Representation of CEO of major financial institution in various DOJ and cross border investigations
  • Representation of Chief Compliance Officer of multinational financial institution in money laundering investigation
  • Representation of Chairman of bank board in cross-border criminal tax investigation
  • Representation of president of insurance company in DOJ and SEC investigations of securities fraud
  • Representation of private equity company executive in DOJ and SEC investigations of securities fraud
  • Representation of CEO of public company in DOJ and CFTC investigations of market manipulation
  • Representations of numerous executives in benchmark rates investigation

Education

Clerkships

Recognitions

"White Collar Crime/Investigations Litigator of the Year," Benchmark Litigation, 2023

Band 1, “Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations (D.C.),” Chambers USA, 2014-2023

"Litigation Star" in the category of White Collar Crime, Benchmark Litigation, 2020-2024

"Top Lawyer Hall of Fame," Washingtonian magazine, 2022

“Washington’s Top Lawyers,” in the category of Criminal Defense & White Collar, Washingtonian magazine, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017-2020

Admissions

Other Government Service

Attorney and Special Assistant to the General Counsel, Central Intelligence Agency, 1991-1993

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