Daniel Grooms

Private Practice Experience*

Criminal investigations and prosecutions

• Represented a global communications technology company in criminal and civil securities fraud investigations, resulting in full declinations by DOJ and SEC.
• Represented a consumer products manufacturer and distributor in a criminal investigation concerning potential violations of the CPSA, resulting in full declination by DOJ.
• Represented a major data security company and government contractor in a criminal investigation concerning potential antitrust, bribery, and kickbacks violations, resulting in full declination by DOJ.
• Represented an individual in a sanctions violations investigation resulting in case closure and no action taken by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
• Represented a global consumer electronics and technology company in a criminal investigation by DOJ concerning potential violations of the CPSA.
• Represented an individual in a securities fraud prosecution conducted by DOJ and SEC.
• Represented a medical products company in a criminal prosecution by DOJ concerning violations of the federal FDCA.
• Represented multiple employees of a global consulting firm in a criminal investigation by DOJ concerning potential violations of the federal FDCA.
• Represented multiple employees of a global investment bank in a criminal investigation by DOJ concerning potential violations of the FDCA.
• Represented an individual in a financial fraud prosecution conducted by DOJ.
• Represented an individual in a criminal investigation concerning potential false statements, resulting in full declination by DOJ.
• Represented an individual in connection with a criminal referral to DOJ concerning allegations of potential obstruction of justice and contempt of Congress.
• Represented an individual in the Special Counsel investigation concerning potential retention and mishandling of classified information by a former President of the United States.

False Claims Act investigations and litigation

• Represented a medical testing company in a civil investigation by DOJ concerning potential violations of the federal FCA related to federal health care programs.
• Represented a data analytics company in a civil investigation by DOJ concerning potential violations of the federal FCA related to the Paycheck Protection Program.
• Represented a federal government contractor in a civil investigation by DOJ concerning potential violations of the federal FCA related to data security.

State Attorneys General investigations and litigation

• Represented a global internet technology and social media company in defense of consumer protection investigations and litigation conducted by more than 40 state attorneys general offices.
• Represented a global video game developer and gaming platform in defense of consumer protection investigations conducted by dozens of state attorneys general offices as well as a state criminal investigation concerning potential violations of state laws concerning child safety.

Internal investigations

• Represented a pharmaceutical company in an internal investigation concerning potential violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute.
• Represented a technology support company and consulting firm in an internal investigation concerning potential violations of the federal immigration laws.
• Represented a telecommunications company and government contractor in an internal investigation concerning potential fraud and FCA violations.
• Represented an enterprise AI platform and government contractor in an internal investigation concerning potential contract fraud and FCA violations.
• Represented a consumer products company in an internal investigation concerning potential FCPA violations.
• Represented a global consumer clothing manufacturer and distributor in an internal investigation concerning potential bribery and FCPA violations.
• Represented a global nonprofit in an internal investigation concerning potential bribery and FCPA violations.
• Represented an international law firm in an internal investigation concerning allegations of potential corruption and bribery.
• Represented a global nonprofit in an internal investigation concerning allegations of potential fraud and corruption in overseas charitable operations.

Congressional investigations

• Represented a nonprofit in a multiyear congressional investigation concerning misinformation and foreign influence efforts.
• Represented an individual in multiple congressional investigations concerning misinformation and content moderation on online platforms.
• Represented a former government official in congressional and Special Counsel investigations concerning the 2016 election and US intelligence collection.

Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) counseling

• Advised an international law firm concerning FARA registration requirements related to representations of foreign governments.
• Advised a major venture capital firm concerning FARA registration requirements related to relationships with foreign principals including governments, sovereign wealth funds, and state-owned enterprises.
• Advised a foreign nonprofit with ties to a foreign government concerning FARA registration requirements related to US policy advocacy and distribution of funds.

Pro bono

• Represented an individual in a collateral challenge to his capital conviction and sentence, resulting in his death sentence being vacated by the state trial court.
• Represented an individual in a collateral challenge to his federal criminal conviction and life sentence, resulting in his conviction being overturned and his release from prison.
• Represented a nonprofit in successful litigation against a federal government agency to compel rulemaking and enforcement of federal firearms laws as required by statute.

*includes matters handled prior to joining Freshfields.

Government Experience

Among more than 1,000 cases investigated and prosecuted during his career at DOJ, Danny worked on and oversaw the following cases:

• United States v. Elena Khusyaynova – prosecution of Russian national associated with the Internet Research Agency for interfering in the U.S political system.
• Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) – $850 million FCPA investigation and non-prosecution agreement.
• Netcracker Technology Corp. – export control investigation resulting in non-prosecution and security agreement.
• McKesson Corporation – Controlled Substances Act pharmaceutical diversion investigation resulting in $150 million civil settlement agreement.
• United States v. Schlumberger Oilfield Holdings Ltd.– guilty plea and $232 million penalty for Iranian and other sanctions violations.
• United States v. Edward Snowden – prosecution of former government contractor for violations of the Espionage Act.
• United States v. Wang Dong, et al.– first ever prosecution of Chinese military officers for computer hacking and economic espionage involving theft of trade secrets from US energy and other businesses.
• United States v. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev – prosecution and conviction of one of the men responsible for 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
• Multiple prosecutions involving the leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel drug trafficking organization, including United States v. Damaso Lopez Nunez, culminating in the 2019 conviction of Chapo Guzman.
• United States v. Syed Fai – Virginia man prosecuted and sentenced to 24 months in prison for conspiracy and tax violations involving secretly taking millions of dollars from the Pakistan government to fund lobbying efforts in the US related to Kashmir.