K&L Gates Adds U.S. Deputy Assistant Attorney General as Investigations, Enforcement and White Collar Partner in Washington, D.C., Office

Washington, D.C. - Global law firm K&L Gates LLP welcomes David C. Rybicki as a partner in its investigations, enforcement and white collar practice. He joins the firm from the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), where he served off and on since 2008 in different capacities, most recently as Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Deputy Assistant Attorney General, the second- and third-highest ranking positions in the division.
 
In these roles, Rybicki supervised the investigation, prosecution, and coordination of nationally significant matters and department initiatives involving white collar crime, money laundering, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, cybercrime and cryptocurrencies, civil and criminal RICO, public corruption, healthcare fraud, consumer fraud, immigration fraud, labor racketeering and affiliated benefit plan corruption, and gaming law.
 
Rybicki led the prosecution and resolution of several notable cases, including United States v. Bondarenko, the largest cyberfraud enterprise prosecution ever brought by DOJ with estimated losses of USD$2.2 billion; United States v. HGlobal, one of the largest federal prosecutions of a cross-border telemarketing fraud and money laundering scheme with estimated losses of USD$300 million; United States v. Sartini, a RICO conspiracy indictment against Italian and U.S. defendants involving anti-kickback violations, money laundering, wire fraud, and narcotics offenses related to operation of clinics and pharmacies that unlawfully distributed prescription opioids; and litigation surrounding the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the U.S.S. Cole bombing.
 
In 2018, Rybicki was appointed to serve as a member of the United States Sentencing Commission, where he represented DOJ with respect to all aspects of federal sentencing law and policy, including amendments to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines for corporate fraud and other economic crimes.
 
Thomas J. Smith, K&L Gates’ co-managing partner, United States, and managing partner of the firm’s Pittsburgh office, stated: “We are very excited to have David join our stellar investigations, enforcement, and white-collar practice. His addition will certainly translate to our clients’ gain, particularly as we enter into an unprecedented time of government activity in light of COVID-19.”
 
Previously, Rybicki held several senior roles on the United States Senate Judiciary Committee. As a chief counsel and as counsel to the Chairman, he served as a legal, policy, and legislative advisor on matters involving cybersecurity, data encryption and privacy, intellectual property, bankruptcy restructuring, and criminal justice reform. Prior to his most recent assignment at DOJ and service in the Senate, Rybicki spent nearly six years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia in both the criminal and civil divisions.
 
“We’re delighted to welcome David to the firm,” said J. Barclay Collins, managing partner of K&L Gates’ Washington, D.C., office. “His deep experience leading high profile, cross-border, financial, health care, and cybersecurity cases on behalf of the United States will provide substantial resources to our clients on government agency and legislative branch enforcement actions, compliance, and investigations.”
 
K&L Gates has welcomed more than a dozen other new partners and of counsel to the firm during the first several months of 2020, including in the firm’s Seattle, New York, San Francisco, Miami, Melbourne, Paris, Charlotte, and Chicago offices across practices such as corporate, tax, health care, environment, land and natural resources, asset management and investment funds, IP litigation, and government contracts.
 
Stephen G. Topetzes, a Washington, D.C., partner and a leader of the firm’s investigations, enforcement, and white collar practice, commented: “Our investigations, enforcement, and white collar practice group prides itself on a unique capability to deliver practical, efficient solutions to our clients’ most complex and high-profile government enforcement actions and investigations. We are thrilled by the addition of David because his blend of high-level DOJ experience, particularly his substantial cross-border experience relative to anti-money laundering, healthcare fraud, and cybersecurity, and his time on the Hill with the Senate Judiciary Committee, will enhance our ability to do what matters most: driving positive results for clients. As governmental activity ramps up in response to the pandemic, David’s experience will provide significant advantages for companies that need to engage with the federal government.”
 
K&L Gates’ investigations, enforcement, and white collar practice comprises hundreds of years of prosecutorial, enforcement, and congressional investigations experience on both sides of the witness table, including former DOJ lawyers. Lawyers within the practice provide clients comprehensive advice and counsel when facing the unique challenges associated with parallel political and law enforcement investigations, and have assisted in numerous investigations involving every major enforcement agency, committee, and subcommittee across nearly every industry segment.