News

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13 Aug 2007

Department of Justice trial attorney Peter Zeidenberg joins DLA Piper’s Washington, DC office

Brings Two Decades of High-Profile Trial Experience; Adds Depth to Global Regulatory and White Collar Practice

Press Release

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(Washington, DC) – DLA Piper US LLP today announced that Peter Zeidenberg, a leading trial attorney, has joined the firm as a partner in the Washington, DC office. He comes to the firm from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) where he served as trial attorney in the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division.

In his capacity as Trial Attorney, Zeidenberg was engaged in the investigation and prosecution of local, state and federal public officials. His trial experience includes prosecution of some of the highest profile criminal cases handled by the DOJ.

“Peter’s substantial federal litigation background adds great depth to our strong Washington, DC Litigation and Regulatory practices,” said Francis B. Burch, Jr., Joint Chief Executive Officer of DLA Piper. “He is a distinguished prosecutor with extensive trial experience. Peter is highly respected for his investigative and prosecutorial skills, and will provide a tremendous resource to clients.”

Beyond white collar litigation, Zeidenberg’s investigative and trial skills will also be beneficial to the firm’s clients in a wide range of matters. His years of experience will be invaluable to corporate clients in need of advice and counseling regarding potential criminal issues. He has the necessary experience to handle large internal corporate investigations related to all aspects of regulatory crime. Companies faced with potential criminal exposure will have an advocate with the ability to persuasively present their arguments to the appropriate DOJ officials, and to represent them at trial if needed.

“Peter is an attorney of tremendous drive and intelligence, and we are delighted to welcome him to the firm,” said Ann Ford, Managing Partner of DLA Piper’s Washington, DC office. “He is respected and admired for his determination, his team-building and his litigation successes, and he has a sensitive understanding of the complexities and nuances of the civil, regulatory and criminal exposure that corporations and financial institutions may face.”

Leading Litigation Capabilities

DLA Piper’s Global Litigation practice includes more than 1,400 dispute resolutions lawyers worldwide. Attorneys represent clients in complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes in numerous areas, including: antitrust, banking and financial services, class action, construction, corporate and securities, defense, employment, energy, fraud and asset recovery, government investigations, insolvency, insurance and reinsurance, intellectual property, international arbitration, international trade and transport (including aviation and marine), IT, marine, media, product liability, professional liability, real estate, regulation, tax, telecommunications and white collar.

Businesses in the United States, and throughout the world, operate in an increasingly aggressive enforcement environment. Government prosecutors and regulators are more active in seeking criminal sanctions for violations of laws regulating business activities. Pre-empting as well as responding effectively to such challenges requires experience with every nuance of white collar crime.

The White Collar practice group of DLA Piper is one of the most experienced and well respected in the country. The practice includes a former Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Tax Division of the US Department of Justice, a former US Attorney for the District of Columbia, a former Assistant Chief Litigation Counsel of the Enforcement Division of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and a number of lawyers who served as Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Department of Justice trial attorneys.

About Peter Zeidenberg

Peter Zeidenberg has spent the past 22 years as a prosecutor, the last 17 at the Department of Justice.

In 2001, Zeidenberg moved to the Public Integrity section of the Department of Justice, where he was responsible for investigating and prosecuting allegations of corruption involving public officials. While at Public Integrity, he tried the case of United States v. David Safavian, in which the former Chief of Staff of the General Services Administration was convicted of obstruction of justice and making false statements to the United States Senate. In addition, Zeidenberg was a deputy special counsel involved in the investigation and prosecution of Scooter Libby. Zeidenberg gave the government’s closing argument and handled direct examinations on behalf of the government witnesses in the Libby case.

From 1991 to 2001, he worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Columbia, where he spent the majority of his time prosecuting violent crimes. Zeidenberg won conviction in 16 of the 18 first-degree murder cases he tried. In addition, he won life sentences for all six defendants he prosecuted in a nine-month long RICO prosecution of a murderous drug-gang in United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Zeidenberg has first-chaired approximately 100 jury trials.

Zeidenberg started his career at the Middlesex County District Attorney’s office in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In his five years there, he prosecuted more than 50 jury trials.

A Barrister in the Edward Bennett Williams Inn of Court, Zeidenberg received a J.D. from Boston College Law School and a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin.