Daniel D. Adams

Daniel represents individual and corporate clients facing white-collar criminal prosecution in both state and federal court, as well as regulatory investigations pursued by the Department of Justice, the Securities & Exchange Commission, the North Carolina Attorney General's Office, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other enforcement bodies. Formerly a New York public defender, he has experience defending clients against claims of securities fraud, real estate fraud, accounting fraud, embezzlement, criminal tax evasion, political corruption, and other forms of financial mismanagement.

Representative matters include:

• A high net worth individual in a DOJ investigation into real estate fraud. 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 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.

Daniel assists businesses with conducting internal investigations to assess the risks of, and respond to, concerns raised by federal regulators, internal whistleblowers, and public company shareholders. He has experience investigating alleged securities violations, money laundering claims, corporate governance issues, trade secret misappropriation claims, and claims of environmental violations (including Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act violations), among other matters.

Representative matters include:

• 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 a prominent 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.

An attorney with years of experience practicing in Manhattan, Daniel helps companies of all sizes address their most complex legal issues, including matters regarding real estate, contracts, unfair and deceptive trade practices claims, False Claims Act violations, business torts, and securities.

Representative matters include:

• 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.
• Representing drug manufacturer in asserting breach of contract action to enforce purchase agreement for transfer of rights to a drug.
• 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.
• Defending construction company in qui tam False Claims Act litigation.