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Justin D. Weitz

Partner

Justin Weitz, who spent nearly a decade in the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) Criminal Division, represents clients in a variety of matters, including government and internal investigations, criminal and civil enforcement proceedings and litigation, and other white-collar matters across all industries. Justin focuses his practice on fraud and corruption investigations, with a special emphasis on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

report report

White Collar: Year in Review and a Look Forward, 2023–2024

At DOJ, Justin served as the principal assistant chief of the Fraud Section’s Market Integrity and Major Frauds Unit, where he led 45 prosecutors who handled complex white-collar criminal investigations and prosecutions, including securities and commodities fraud, financial fraud, market manipulation, procurement fraud and government contracts, and public corruption matters.

Justin represents clients in securities, commodities, cryptocurrency, and other financial investigations led by federal and state prosecutors and regulators, managing relationships with DOJ, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

At DOJ, Justin led and supervised multiple corporate enforcement resolutions and individual cases, tried numerous cases to verdict, and handled appeals. He also conducted and supervised dozens of investigations into publicly traded companies, hedge funds, and financial institutions, including investigations into accounting improprieties, insider trading, market manipulation, and disclosure issues.  As part of his practice, Justin frequently consulted with foreign authorities, including the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and Financial Conduct Authority. Justin developed and led the Fraud Section’s COVID-19 Securities Fraud Initiative, which focused on healthcare and securities fraud in the medical technology and life sciences industries and resulted in charges against multiple corporate executives.

In addition, Justin is a co-leader of the firm’s Aerospace and Defense Industry Group and assists defense and aerospace clients with investigations and government enforcement matters. At DOJ, Justin led the Fraud Section’s government procurement fraud and bribery practice for several years and focused on enforcement involving government contractors in the defense, energy, and homeland security space. Justin is deeply familiar with the issues facing government contractors, including challenges posed by the False Claims Act and the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

Justin holds an active security clearance and works with clients in national security matters.

Justin regularly speaks in the United States at forums on trends and developments in the enforcement space. In addition, he teaches a course on Complex Securities Investigations at Georgetown University Law Center and has guest lectured at various academic institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and Columbia University School of Law.  At DOJ, Justin served as an instructor for the Department’s National Advocacy Center and the Council of Inspectors General for Integrity and Efficiency.

Prior to serving DOJ’s Fraud Section, Justin spent four years as a Trial Attorney in DOJ’s Public Integrity Section, where he led bribery, election crimes, and other public corruption investigations, with a focus on congressional matters, Speech or Debate Clause issues, and the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA).

  • Represent multinational corporation in DOJ criminal and civil investigations related to procurement of defense products
  • Represent energy services corporation in DOJ FCPA investigation related to contracts in Latin America
  • Conduct internal investigations on behalf of large energy company
  • Successfully represent cryptocurrency platform in civil litigation
  • Represent subject of DOJ antitrust investigation
  • Represent multiple individuals in DOJ investigation related to auto emissions
  • At DOJ: Prosecuted the chief financial officer of a publicly traded company for securities fraud in relation to accounting fraud scheme
  • At DOJ: Prosecuted multiple corporate executives for healthcare and securities fraud in relation to schemes to defraud investors surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic
  • At DOJ: Prosecuted a multinational corporation and multiple individuals for fraud and corruption in relation to US Defense Department contracting in South Korea
  • New York University School of Law, 2011, J.D.
  • Cornell University, 2007, B.A., History, magna cum laude
  • District of Columbia
  • New York
  • US District Court for the District of Columbia
  • US District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • US District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • Clerkship to Judge R. Barclay Surrick of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (2011 - 2012)

Up and Coming, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, District of Columbia, Chambers USA (2024)

Edward Bennett Williams Inn of Court

Recommended, Dispute resolution: Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense, The Legal 500 US (2023)

Attorney General’s Award, Commodities Enforcement Initiative (2022)

Recognized, 40 Under 40, National LGBT Bar (2022)

Member, Criminal Justice Act Panel, US District Court for District of Columbia

Mentor, Law School Yes We Can

Adjunct professor, “Complex Securities Investigations,” Georgetown University Law Center