David’s work focuses on individual and corporate white-collar criminal defense, commercial, business, shareholders’ rights, employment litigation, Section 1983 claims, and products liability matters, as well as advising clients concerning government and regulatory investigations.
David has tried dozens of cases in both state and federal courts, as well as in private arbitration, and has argued in the U.S. Courts of Appeals on multiple occasions. David’s trial skills have garnered him membership in the exclusive Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County.
Currently, David’s White Collar and Investigations practice helps companies and individuals confronted with the weight and worry of government investigations and prosecutions. David provides sound advice and guidance based on a wealth of experience and knowledge, assisting clients through the trials and tribulations of the criminal process. David represents clients in all aspects of white collar crime and regulation, including: criminal tax violations, FCPA violations, money laundering, DBE fraud, Health Care fraud, Stark Act and Anti-Kickback violations, government contracting fraud, False Claims Act allegations, export violations, FDA violations, securities fraud, public corruption, environmental crimes, and banking offenses.
Besides his white collar criminal defense and investigations work, David has litigated—and tried—a broad variety of civil matters, including trade secrets, restrictive covenants, business fraud, breach of contract, employment discrimination, minority shareholder freeze-out claims, products liability, Section 1983 claims and personal injury defense.
From 2000 to July 2005, David left private practice to serve as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. There, he handled a variety of criminal prosecutions and investigations and worked closely with representatives of financial institutions, including internal auditors, compliance officers, and counsel, as well as corporate representatives. For several years, David specialized in investigating complex international money laundering and narcotics importation cases.
A native of Altoona, Pennsylvania, David has served as a faculty member for the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Allegheny County Bar Association, and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute to instruct other lawyers on topics related to white-collar crime.
David was named Best Lawyers’ Pittsburgh Lawyer of the Year for Criminal Defense: White Collar, for 2019 and recently, 2021, and has also been ranked by Chambers and Partners for Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations.
Mediator
Throughout his 25 year career as a litigator, David has tried dozens of cases in both state and federal courts, as well as in private arbitration, representing both plaintiffs and defendants with a specialization in complex litigation and procedure. He has served as a faculty member for the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Allegheny County Bar Association, and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, sharing his considerable knowledge and experience with other attorneys. During that time, he has endeavored to build lasting relationships with his fellow litigators by dealing honestly and fairly with both co- and opposing counsel, believing that the basis for any dispute resolution is communication and mutual respect. David brings his substantial litigation experience and extensive understanding of the law to his mediation practice and believes that every dispute creates the potential for a resolution that serves the needs of the parties involved.
David’s Recent Successes Include:
- Seven-figure jury verdict in favor of physician client in breach of employment contract lawsuit.
- Dismissal of complaint based on Rule 12 motion filed on behalf of corporate client accused of racial discrimination and business torts.
- Summary judgment for nursing home client in a case involving an issue of first impression related to collateral estoppel.
- Seven-figure settlement mid-trial for business executive of a publicly traded company in a breach of employment contract suit.
- Seven-figure award in arbitration for architectural firm in a case involving breach of contract and business torts.
Awards
Education
- Harvard Law School (J.D., 1996), graduated magna cum laude
- Bucknell University (B.A., 1993), graduated magna cum laude
- Recipient of Robey Prize, highest honor awarded to graduating senior at Bucknell
- Captain of varsity football team
- Received All-League honors as wide-receiver for Bucknell University
- Twice elected to GTE First Team Academic All-American Team
Bar and Court Admissions
- Pennsylvania
- New York
- Ohio
- West Virginia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Honors and Memberships
- Admitted to the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County
- Ranked in Chambers USA 2020 for Pennsylvania for Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
- Received highest ranking (AV® Preeminent™) in the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating Process
- Named by Best Lawyers as Lawyer of the Year for 2021 for Criminal Defense: White Collar, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Recognized by Best Lawyers from 2011 to the present in White Collar Criminal Defense
- Recognized by Best Lawyers from 2013 to the present in Commercial Litigation
- Recognized as Pennsylvania Super Lawyer from 2013 to the present
- Recipient in 2005 of John Marshall Award for Asset Forfeiture from Attorney General of the United States
- Speaker at annual money laundering conference hosted by Colombian Association of Banks and Financial Institutions in Cartagena, Colombia (July, 2004)
- Member of Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Member of Allegheny County Bar Association and Co-chair of its Federal Court’s Section, Criminal Sub-Committee
- Member of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and part of the Executive Committee of the Allegheny County Chapter
- Pennsylvania Innocence Project, Board of Directors