George B. Donnini is a shareholder practicing in Butzel Long's Detroit office. He is a 1995 phi beta kappa graduate of The George Washington University and a 1998 graduate of the Duke University School of Law where he served as the Technical Editor of the Law & Contemporary Problems Law Journal.
Mr. Donnini practices in the areas of white collar criminal defense, SEC civil enforcement actions, antitrust investigations, and also routinely conducts corporate internal investigations. Due to the expansive nature of fraud claims, he routinely counsels his clients through both criminal charges and civil liability/enforcement actions. Accordingly, Mr. Donnini must manage complex litigation involving multiple adversaries, multiple jurisdictions, and interrelated issues.
Mr. Donnini has experience in a broad array of criminal and civil cases, representing clients at both the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts across the country. He has varied and significant experience representing clients in criminal cases involving allegations of revenue recognition, securities, and tax fraud, theft of trade secrets, insider trading, stock options back-dating, health care, environmental and mortgage fraud. He also has conducted several internal investigations for both private and publicly traded companies. He aggressively, creatively, and successfully represents clients in a wide variety of federal and state criminal matters.
Before joining Butzel Long, Mr. Donnini served as a law clerk to The Honorable William H. Pauley III, United States District Court, S.D.N.Y., New York, New York (1998-1999). He also served as a Judge Advocate for the United States Marine Corps from 1999 to 2003. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 2003 after serving as counsel of record in numerous criminal trials.
Admissions
Mr. Donnini is admitted to practice in Michigan (2003), New York (1998) and California (2000). He is also admitted before all U.S. District Courts in Michigan, the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd and 6th Circuits.
Affiliations
ABA, Criminal Justice Section, White Collar Crime Committee, Young Lawyers' Division; National Co-Chair (2006-2009)
ABA, Criminal Justice Section, White Collar Crime Committee; Midwest Regional Co-Chair (2005-2010)
ABA Criminal Justice Section, Book Board, Appointed Member (2008-2011)
Memberships
American Bar Association Sections of Litigation and Criminal Justice
Federal Bar Association
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Clerkships
Honorable William H. Pauley III, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Honors
Up and Coming Michigan Lawyers, Michigan Lawyers Weekly (December 8, 2008)
DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, White-Collar Criminal Defense; Non-White-Collar Criminal Defense; Professional Malpractice Law, 2011-2012
Michigan Super Lawyer, Rising Star (Criminal Defense: White Collar), 2011
Representative Matters
The following matters are representative of his recent work:
Conducted numerous internal investigations for public and private companies
Represented Tier 1 suppliers and companies in other industries in federal antitrust investigations
Represented Tier 1 supplier in parallel proceedings conducted by U.S. Attorney's Office (SDNY) and SEC
Represented numerous individual and corporate defendants facing federal criminal prosecution arising from allegations of wire and mail fraud, tax fraud, insider trading, healthcare fraud, environmental crimes, theft of trade secrets and drug conspiracy
Represented a registered representative in a selling away action
Represented the CFO of a public company in a significant SEC enforcement action alleging 10b-5 and 17(a) violations in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan
Represented a CFO of a non-profit hospital system in a joint DOJ and SEC investigation
Represented an attorney in connection with tax shelter investigation conducted by the DOJ Criminal Tax Division
Represented an attorney in criminal matter involving kickbacks on vendor contracts being funneled to corporate executives of public company
Represented a public company in an SEC investigation involving revenue recognition issues which, after significant document production and SEC depositions, culminated in a no action termination letter being issued by the SEC
Represented a witness involved in options back-dating investigation by the United States Attorneys' Office for the Northern District of California
Routinely represent individuals and companies subject to SEC subpoenas and investigations concerning alleged violations of securities laws with respect to a wide variety of financial transactions
Represented a book publisher and distributor in criminal investigation conducted by U.S. Postal Service
Represented executive of an environmental company charged with criminal violations of the Clean Water Act and related environmental statutes
Represented corporate manager in a significant criminal health care fraud case, which culminated in an acquittal of the firm's client, involving allegations of federal anti-kickback statute and Prescription Drug Marketing Act violations
Represented Director of Financial Accounting and Reporting of Tier I supplier in SEC Enforcement action alleging 10b-5, 13(b), 17(a) in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan
Representative Speaking Engagements
Moderator, Aggressive Use of the Rules of Evidence to Gain Tactical Advantage: Views From the Government, the Bench, and the Defense, ABA National Institute on White-Collar Crime (2006).
Panelist, Daubert: The Challenge in 2008 and Beyond, Federal Bar Association/ABA White Collar Crime Committee, Midwest Region.
Panelist, Corporate Fraud Investigations: Financial Fraud in Small Companies, Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (May 13, 2009)
Panelist, Taking Aim at Kickbacks, Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (May 18, 2010)
Firm Publications
Sentencing Advocacy For White Collar Defendants: Show Some Gall, December 21, 2007
Justice Department Approves New Guidelines For Charging Corporations With Crimes, August 30, 2008
External Publications
Call The Question: Is Capitol Hill A Warrant Free Zone Post-Rayburn? (Published in ABA White Collar Crime Institute Publication (March, 2008)
Experience
· Represent multiple Japanese Auto Supplier companies in criminal antitrust investigations conducted by the Department of Justice, Antitrust Division (Washington, DC)
· Obtained a complete declination of all proceedings, criminal and civil health care fraud, against pharmaceutical client by the US Attorney's Office in Dallas
· SEC Enforcement Action: Corporate Representation Regarding Alleged GAAP Accounting Irregularities
· Represented officer of pharmaceutical company in health care fraud case; case included pre-trial motions and four months jury trial; client acquitted
· Represented individuals and companies subject to SEC subpoenas and investigations
· Represented metals trading company in major U.S. Attorney and U.S. Customs investigation
· Represented CFO of a non-profit hospital for securities fraud; case settled no jail or fine, SEC restitution
· Represented international auto supplier in U.S. Dept. of Justice anti-trust investigation.
· SEC Enforcement Actions: individual and corporate defendants facing federal criminal prosecution and SEC investigations
· Successfully represented officer of pharmaceutical company in largest health care fraud trial to date in U.S. District Court in Boston
· Represented corporations and executives under federal investigation
· Represented executive of an environmental company charged with criminal violations of the Clean Water Act and related environmental statutes
· Represented numerous individual and corporate defendants facing federal criminal prosecution arising from allegations of wire and mail fraud, tax fraud, insider trading, healthcare fraud, environmental crimes, theft of trade secrets and drug conspiracy
· Represented the CFO of a public company in a significant SEC enforcement action alleging 10b-5 and 17(a) violations in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan
· Represented Tier I auto supplier in parallel proceedings conducted by US Attorney's Office
· Represented witnesses in a variety of criminal and civil proceedings
· Represented numerous Tier I auto suppliers in federal Antitrust investigations
· Routinely represent individuals and companies subject to SEC subpoenas and investigations concerning alleged violations of securities law with respect to a wide variety of financial transactions
· Represented pharmaceutical company in Qui Tam case in Boston.
· Represented a book publisher and distributor in criminal investigation conducted by US Postal Service
· Represented a defense contractor accused of fraudulently supplying non-conforming materials to the Department of Defense.
· Represented a company in connection with a bribery investigation.
· Health Care Fraud Federal Criminal Trial: Individual Defense
· Ponzi Schemes: Representation of Broker Dealers/Investment Advisors
· Obtained a declination of prosecution for an accounting officer of an international automotive supplier after investigation by the DOJ and the SEC
· Represented a former Chief Financial Officer and Controller of several corporations accused in state court of embezzling almost $200,000.
· Represented a registered representative in a selling away action
· Represented a public company in an SEC investigation involving revenue recognition issues which, after significant document production and SEC depositions, culminated in a no action termination letter being issued by the SEC
· Represented an attorney in criminal matter involving kickbacks on vendor contracts being funneled to corporate executive of company
· Represented a witness involved in stock options back-dating investigation by the United States Attorneys' Office for the Northern District of California
· Represented a major automotive supplier under investigation for allegedly participating in a several hundred million dollar international antitrust price-fixing conspiracy.
· Represented a former employee accused of stealing more than $100 million worth of trade secrets from his employers in violation of the federal economic espionage act.
· Represented a physician accused of illegally prescribing pain medication to individuals without a medical need.
· Represented a major law firm partner in connection with tax shelter investigation conducted by the DOJ Criminal Tax Division
News
Media Releases
11.28.11, 68 Butzel Long attorneys named to DBusiness magazine's Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit 2012
10.20.11, Butzel Long attorney George B. Donnini featured during Society of Automotive Analysts program on October 26 in Southfield
02.22.11, Butzel Long attorney George B. Donnini featured during March 8 MACPA webinar on corporate fraud investigation
12.02.10, Sixty-four Butzel Long attorneys named to DBusiness magazine's Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit 2011
05.10.10, Butzel Long attorney George B. Donnini featured during MACPA's Anti-Fraud Issues Conference on May 18
05.27.09, Butzel Long's Taxation and Succession Planning Institute hosts seminar on June 4, 2009 in Troy
03.30.09, Butzel Long attorney George B. Donnini featured during MACPA's Anti-Fraud Issues Conference May 13, 2009 in Livonia
12.30.08, Butzel Long attorney George B. Donnini named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly's Up & Coming Lawyers
05.28.08, Butzel Long Taxation and Succession Planning Institute hosts June 5 seminar in Troy
04.21.08, Butzel Long attorney George B. Donnini featured during panel presentation concerning expert witness issues on April 30
News in brief
10.26.11, Butzel Long attorney George B. Donnini discusses federal government's probe into price-fixing in the U.S. auto supply chain
Publications
Articles, presentations & briefs
03.01.08, Article: Is Capitol Hill a Warrant-Free Zone Post-Rayburn?
Client alerts
02.01.11, Automation Alley Newsletter
01.20.11, Client Alert: Business - New Federal Sentencing Guidelines Amendments Reward Strong Corporate Compliance Programs
08.30.08, Enews: Corporate Defense Update - August 30, 2008
Memberships
American Bar Association - Sections of Litigation and Criminal Justice
ABA - Criminal Justice Section, White Collar Crime Committee, Young Lawyers' Division; National Co-Chair (2006-2009)
ABA - Criminal Justice Section, White Collar Crime Committee; Midwest Regional Co-Chair (2005-2010)
ABA - Criminal Justice Section, Book Board, Appointed Member (2008-2011)
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Federal Bar Association
Recognitions
Up and Coming Michigan Lawyers, Michigan Lawyers Weekly (December 8, 2008)
DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, White-Collar Criminal Defense; Non-White-Collar Criminal Defense; Professional Malpractice Law, 2011-2012
Michigan Super Lawyers, Rising Star; Criminal Defense: White Collar, 2011
Speaking Engagements
Moderator, Aggressive Use of the Rules of Evidence to Gain Tactical Advantage: Views From the Government, the Bench, and the Defense, ABA National Institute on White-Collar Crime (2006).
Panelist, Daubert: The Challenge in 2008 and Beyond, Federal Bar Association/ABA White Collar Crime Committee, Midwest Region.
Panelist, Corporate Fraud Investigations: Financial Fraud in Small Companies, Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (May 13, 2009)
Panelist, Taking Aim at Kickbacks, Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (May 18, 2010)