Daniel D. Adams

Daniel Adams represents individuals, small businesses, and large corporations facing white-collar criminal prosecution, government investigations, and complex business litigation. Having litigated for years in New York, Daniel brings significant trial experience to bear when confronting clients' most pressing legal challenges.

My Practices

White-Collar Criminal Defense

Daniel has over a decade of experience defending clients facing career-defining and potentially life-altering white collar criminal charges, including:

• A prominent political figure charged with alleged bribery, conspiracy, and false statements, resulting in the dismissal of the bribery, conspiracy, and two false statement counts and a probationary sentence for the remaining count, which was terminated early by a presidential pardon.
• A senior bank executive in DOJ, SEC, and CFTC investigations into accounting fraud based on alleged mismarking of illiquid positions. No charges were brought.
• A senior bank executive in DOJ, SEC, and state attorneys general investigations into alleged fraud in the sale of residential mortgage-backed securities. No charges were brought.
• A health care professional in a DOJ investigation concerning alleged kickbacks paid for unnecessary drug testing. No charges were brought.
• A high net worth individual in a DOJ investigation into real estate fraud. No charges were brought.
• A senior hedge fund executive in an SEC investigation into mismanagement and accounting fraud. No charges were brought.
• A publicly traded specialty finance corporation in a DOJ investigation into alleged violations of stranger-originated life insurance restrictions, resulting in a non-prosecution agreement.
• A public company board member and audit committee chairman in civil suits alleging accounting fraud, resulting in dismissal of all claims and entry into a non-prosecution agreement.
• A government contractor accused of conspiracy to commit fraud. Achieved sentence for client of less than half of the low end of the applicable guidelines range.
• A senior executive of a health care management practice in a DOJ Medicaid fraud investigation. Negotiated a resolution avoiding exposure to charges carrying significant mandatory minimum and achieved a sentence for client six months below the guidelines range and less than half the range initially calculated by probation.
• A senior executive of a drug testing laboratory in two Department of Justice health care fraud investigations. No charges were brought.

Internal Investigations

• On behalf of a public company board of directors, investigated alleged insider dealing arising from share repurchases executed with an activist shareholder, resulting in dismissal of all related lawsuits.
• On behalf of a public company, investigated alleged attorney misconduct during intellectual property litigation, resulting in settlement of all related lawsuits.
• On behalf of an accounting firm, investigated alleged fabrication of foreign accounting files, resulting in a favorable resolution with local regulators.
• On behalf of a national sales and marketing company, investigated alleged theft of trade secrets in connection with a business dispute. The dispute was resolved with no claims filed.
• On behalf of a global agricultural company, investigated alleged money laundering and export/import violations by a customer, resulting in no adverse action against the agricultural company.
• On behalf of privately held towing company, investigated alleged unfair and deceptive practices in towing, resulting in no adverse action against the towing company.
• On behalf of a private equity firm, investigated alleged employment discrimination at a corporate target of acquisition, resulting in successful negotiation of purchase agreement.
• On behalf of a financial institution, investigated alleged illegal gambling by key employee, resulting in resignation of the employee.
• On behalf of an accounting firm, investigated alleged accounting fraud, resulting in no charges filed.
• On behalf of a governmental body, investigated alleged improprieties in contract procurement, resulting in successful resolution of the matter.

Complex Business Litigation

• Defended foreign bank executives in litigation asserting RICO conspiracy, securities fraud, and state tort claims arising out of alleged participation in Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, resulting in dismissal of all claims.
• Defended private equity fund in litigation alleging deceptive business practices arising from the purported corporate practice of dentistry, resulting in dismissal of all claims.
• Represented casino and entertainment company in fraudulent conveyance litigation arising out of a multi-billion dollar bankruptcy, resulting in negotiated consensual restructuring and release of all claims.
• Represented drug manufacturer seeking to enforce purchase agreement for transfer of rights to a drug, resulting in substantial payment of amounts owed.
• Represented travel brokerage firm seeking to enforce consulting contract, resulting in substantial payment of amounts owed and dismissal of all asserted counterclaims.
• Defended aerospace company in connection with antitrust, wrongful prosecution, and business tort claims, resulting in settlement of five related lawsuits alleging billions of dollars in damages.

State and Federal Criminal Defense

• Representation on appeal from gun possession charges, resulting in successful petition for writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court, vacatur of conviction, and dismissal of all charges.
• Representation in post-conviction habeas petition challenging lack of accommodations provided to deaf individual, resulting in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals overturning a conviction for murder and ordering retrial or dismissal.
• Representation of primary target in drug conspiracy, resulting in favorable plea to specified term under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(c)(1)(C).
• Representation of individual charged in sprawling RICO gang conspiracy, resulting in favorable sentence following plea.
• Trial to directed verdict for defense in case alleging assault, battery, larceny, and false imprisonment.
• Trial to verdict of larceny and unauthorized use of a vehicle charges, resulting in acquittal.
• Trial to verdict of case alleging prostitution, resulting in acquittal.
• Trial to verdict of case alleging assault, resulting in reversal of conviction on appeal.
• Representation of hundreds of individuals facing a variety of state criminal charges through dismissal of all claims, plea, or trial.

Honors & Recognitions

Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in Commercial Litigation (2025)

Recognized by his peers for inclusion in Business North Carolina’s "Legal Elite" in Criminal Law (2022, 2024)

Recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Litigation: White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations (2024)

Selected for 2021 North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society

Appointed to the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (2020-present)

Selected for 2018 North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society

Selected for 2017 North Carolina Bar Association Leadership Academy

Efforts on the Signal International litigation recognized by American Lawyer as the Global Pro Bono Dispute of the Year (2015)

Education

Harvard Law School, J.D., 2009, President, Harvard Defenders

University of Maryland, B.A., 2003, magna cum laude

Admissions

New York

North Carolina

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 2nd and 4th Circuit

U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York

U.S. District Courts for the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina

Languages

Professional & Civic Activities

Member, North Carolina Bar Association (2016-present)

Member, North Carolina Bar Association Criminal Justice Section Council (2019-2021)

Member, Greensboro Bar Association

Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member, New York Bar Association (2010-2016)

I am an avid traveler, runner, triathlete, and small boat sailor. I find great joy being near, on, or in the water, especially when I am with my family.