Our
Practices
At Clarence & Dyer, we give our clients vigorous representation, combining the broad expertise of a large firm with the focus and responsiveness of a small one. Our attorneys are seasoned trial lawyers who have spent years handling cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout California and beyond.
Representing individuals and institutions under investigation or indictment for federal or state crimes is the centerpiece of our criminal practice. We have represented companies and senior executives across a broad spectrum of industries from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. There is no area of regulatory enforcement we have not encountered before, from antitrust to healthcare to public integrity to tax.
Although we frequently represent our clients at the early stages of an investigation with an eye toward avoiding the courtroom, we are veteran trial lawyers known for our skill with judges and juries. We approach every case from the perspective of how it might fare at trial, working backwards to develop pretrial strategies that will best position our clients for success.
Many of our white-collar clients face parallel regulatory and civil actions, including SEC investigations and class-action and derivative lawsuits. We are uniquely qualified to help our clients navigate these particularly challenging waters. In addition, we are frequently called upon to conduct sensitive internal investigations for companies and public institutions.
Representative Matters
We resolved a federal criminal action, multiple agency enforcement proceedings, and shareholder derivative and class-action lawsuits for a senior officer of a failed regional bank.
We won acquittal at trial for a foreign-exchange trader charged with federal wire fraud based on alleged manipulation of FX option prices.
We secured a non-prosecution and declination of injunctive actions by the California Attorney General’s Office against a Fortune 100 company in connection with the shipping of tobacco products.
We secured dismissal of federal criminal charges against a technology executive accused of possessing stolen trade secrets.
We represented multiple executives in federal antitrust investigations involving allegations of market division, price fixing, and bid-rigging domestically and abroad.
We brought a successful legal challenge on behalf of a technology company to the government’s interpretation of the Stored Communications Act.
We achieved a declination and successfully resolved an enforcement action and civil lawsuits for a principal of a $700 million investment fund.
We achieved a declination of prosecution of a water sanitation plant manager under investigation for Clean Water Act violations.
We represented multiple executives of a major biotechnology company in a federal investigation involving the marketing of a cancer drug that resolved without any criminal charges being filed.
We litigated challenges to the sufficiency of an indictment which led to dismissal of all charges against an energy trader prosecuted for manipulation of the electricity markets during the California energy crisis.
We achieved a declination for an analyst at a major securities broker in a federal insider-trading investigation.
We achieved a declination for a senior executive of a real estate investment company in a public integrity investigation involving alleged bribes to city leaders.
We represented individual employees at technology companies in multiple DOJ/SEC investigations relating to FCPA, cybersecurity and other potential business crimes.
We won a full acquittal at trial of a commercial pilot indicted for federal crimes during an international flight.
We won a directed verdict at trial for a public utility employee charged with vehicular manslaughter arising from an on-the-job collision.
We defended an individual under investigation for Endangered Species Act and FDA violations relating to the distribution of herbal remedies imported from China.
We represented a whistleblower before the SEC Office of the Whistleblower in connection with securities law violations by a large technology company.
We won acquittal of first degree murder charges against San Francisco adult entertainment mogul James Mitchell of the Mitchell Brothers O’Farrell Theatre.
On the civil side, we specialize in high-stakes claims with multimillion-dollar exposure and significant reputational considerations. We handle matters ranging from catastrophic personal injuries to complex business disputes, always working together with our clients to achieve their goals in the most efficient manner. When a sure and swift resolution is paramount, we aggressively pursue strategies to bring our opponent to the table to negotiate a favorable resolution. When it is in our clients’ best interests, however, we hold the line through trial, planning and preparing the best possible defense with diligence, creativity, and relentless determination.
Representative Matters
We represented a large corporation facing federal criminal prosecution and dozens of injury and wrongful death lawsuits arising out of a sudden and catastrophic explosion.
We represented a company subject to state and federal criminal investigations into alleged improper communications with a government agency.
We assisted a business accused of infiltrating its competitor’s computer database and emails.
We have successfully defended multiple corporate clients in civil lawsuits after a company employee killed or seriously injured someone while driving a company vehicle.
We represented a construction company executive sued by a former customer while facing related state criminal fraud charges.
We achieved a favorable settlement for a transportation network carrier of tort claims filed by a celebrity lawyer.
We defended a corporation sued by a Bay Area municipality for allegedly not paying certain local taxes.
We have advised various clients facing allegations of Sarbanes‐Oxley improprieties.
We defended a small business sued in a class action alleging that independent contractors were misclassified.
We represented a large corporation sued by a city for an alleged multi‐million‐dollar breach of contract.
We defended a stockbroker sued for $100 million in two separate civil lawsuits (state and federal) while under federal indictment on related criminal charges.
We have advised and/or defended several companies, large and small, who were sued by purported whistleblowers alleging various acts of malfeasance or retaliation.
We have conducted dozens of internal investigations, for various clients, relating to allegations of fraud, sexual harassment, security breaches, financial improprieties, safety violations, theft, and retaliation.
At Clarence & Dyer, we strive to meet our clients’ litigation goals in creative and cost-effective ways by using efficient strategies, small teams, and an unwavering focus on results.
Legal Disclaimer
This website has been prepared by Clarence & Dyer LLP for informational purposes only. It is not intended as advertising. Nothing herein is intended as legal advice nor should you rely upon any information in these web pages as a source of legal advice. Receipt of any such information by you does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Clarence & Dyer LLP
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