
David Stier
PartnerA trusted strategist at the forefront of global enforcement and financial crime prevention, David Stier co-leads the firm’s dynamic anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) task force. David has significant experience guiding multi-national financial services, manufacturing, global trade, and technology clients through high-stakes cross-border investigations and compliance challenges.
With over 20 years of government and private practice experience—including senior roles at the US Treasury Department and as a Department of Justice (DOJ) financial fraud and AML prosecutor—David delivers practical, risk-based solutions that help clients anticipate and mitigate regulatory and other threats around the world.
He is a recognized thought leader, frequent speaker, and author on AML/CFT and sanctions issues and serves as Vice Chair of the American Bar Association’s Banking Law Committee’s AML/CFT group.
EXPERIENCE
- Global Compliance Leadership: Led the design and rollout of risk-based compliance programs for multinational corporations, delivering tailored policies, comprehensive risk assessments, and targeted training on AML, CFT, sanctions, export controls, anti-bribery (including FCPA), anti-fraud, and customs regulations across diverse jurisdictions
- Blockchain and Technology Advisory: Guided top blockchain and technology firms in building robust AML/CFT and sanctions controls, addressing risks in digital and on-chain environments, and fostering proactive collaboration with law enforcement to counter emerging threats
- Regulatory Defense for Financial Institutions: Defending major global banks in complex federal litigation, focusing on the effectiveness of AML and sanctions compliance systems and meeting evolving CFT regulatory standards
- Crisis and Risk Management: Developing innovative risk management strategies for US and Latin American financial institutions and other corporations in response to new regulatory actions targeting illicit finance, including US government foreign terrorist organization (FTO) and transnational criminal organization (TCO) designations and the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) orders
- International Training Initiatives: Creating bespoke CFT training for judicial and prosecutorial authorities in Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “gray listed” EMEA country, strengthening institutional capacity to detect and combat terrorist financing
- Complex Investigations and Reviews: Directed internal and government-facing investigations for clients in highly regulated sectors, and involving (among others) the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and FinCEN, the US Commerce Department’s Bureau Industry and Security (BIS), the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the US Department of Homeland Security, the DOJ, and the Mexico Attorney General’s Office (the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR))
- Achieved successful outcomes in multi-agency investigations, including favorable resolutions with OFAC for private equity and blockchain companies
- Providing strategic guidance for commodities, energy, and global manufacturing and shipping companies in connection with multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional national security and global trade control investigations in the US, Latin America, the EU, and Asia
AWARDS
The Legal 500 United States
- Recommended, Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Corporates, (2024)
- Recommended, Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Individuals, (2024)
Additional Recognitions
- US Attorney's Office (D. Del) Award for outstanding performance in the investigation and prosecution of a financial institution fraud case, (2019)
- FBI Director's commendation certificate for outstanding assistance in a joint investigative effort, (2019)
- Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) award of Excellence for Outstanding Investigation of a Failed TARP Financial Institution, (2019)
- US Attorney's Office (D. Del) Award for outstanding service in the investigation and prosecution of a financial institution fraud case, (2017)
- Treasury (SIGTARP) Award of Distinction for outstanding professionalism and teamwork in the successful investigation of accounting fraud at a TARP Bank, (2015)
- Treasury (SIGTARP) Award of Distinction for outstanding efforts in investigating the Public Private Investment Partnership (PPIP) program fraud, (2014)
- J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School
summa cum laude
Certificate in Business and Public Policy, The Wharton School - B.A., Psychology, University of Pennsylvania
summa cum laude
with distinction
Publications
- Co-author, "Fighting Fentanyl: OFAC and FinCEN trends in financial services and beyond," Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), ACAMS Today, September 12, 2025
- Co-author, "Congress Crypto Movement Could Bring CFTC 'Clarity' At Last," Law360, July 15, 2025
- Co-author, "Anti-Money Laundering and Bank Secrecy Act," Banking [on] Blockchain: A Legal and Regulatory Primer, American Bar Association (ABA), June 2024
- Co-editor and Co-author, Banking [on] Blockchain: A Legal and Regulatory Primer – 2nd Edition, American Bar Association (ABA) (forthcoming)
- Co-author, "The Role of Banks in Countering Domestic Violent Extremism," Oxford University Press (forthcoming)
Seminars
- Panelist: "Sanctions & AML Enforcement: When Does FinCEN or OFAC Step In?" Puerto Rico Financial Services Forum, San Juan, Puerto Rico, November 18, 2025
- Instructor: "Criminal and Civil Consequences: What OFAC Enforcement Looks Like Today," Americas Credit Unions – Bank Secrecy Act Re-certification Court, Denver, Colorado, November 4, 2025
- Speaker: "AML in Canada and the U.S.A: Tracking the Impact of Recent Reforms, Enforcement Priorities, and What’s Next," DLA Piper Canada Corporate Crime, Compliance and Investigations Webinar, October 22, 2025
- Speaker: "Facing the New Reality: Cartel Designation, Terrorism Sanctions, and Risk Management Strategies for Latin American Businesses," DLA Piper Webinar, October 14, 2025
- Panelist: "Geopolitics Meets Compliance: From China to Latin America – Practical Recommendations for Surviving U.S. Enforcement Pressures," Asociación de Bancos de México, Forum on the Preventing and Combatting Financial Crime, Mexico City, Mexico, October 9, 2025
- Panelist: "The Sanctions Landscape - Intersection between AML and sanctions," and Opening Remarks for the 1ST SANCTIONS FORUM IN PUERTO RICO, Asociación de Bancos de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, September 12, 2025
- Panelist: "The GENIUS Act and Stablecoins – A Look Ahead!" Practicing Law Institute (90 minute CLE), filmed August 2025
- Panelist: "Cartels, Cash and Corruption: Managing the New U.S. Enforcement Priorities and Related Risk Across Mexico and the Americas," April 3, 2025, Mexico City, Mexico
- Panelist: "Designation of Transnational Criminal Organizations and Cartels: Implications for the Financial Services Sector in Mexico," Webinar for Bolsa Institucional de Valores S.A. de C.V. (BIVA) and member companies, March 26, 2025, Mexico City, Mexico
- Panelist: "The Impact of Designating Cartels as Terrorist Organizations," AML Partnership Forum (Law Enforcement/Private Sector Partnership), March 21, 2025, Washington, D.C.
- Panelist: "Designation of Transnational Criminal Organizations and Cartels; Implications for the Mexican Financial Services Sector," February-March 2025 (multiple presentations to financial institutions)
- Panelist: "Anti-Money Laundering Under a New U.S. Administration: Policy Shifts and Market Impact," 21st Annual Puerto Rico Anti-Money Laundering Symposium, February 21, 2025, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Moderator & Panelist: "Navigating DOJ, FinCEN and Other Whistleblower Programs - Implications for BSA Compliance and Enforcement," ABA Banking Law Committee, January 10, 2025, Washington, D.C.
Media Mentions
- Quoted, "AML rule: Prepare, just in case," Regulatory Compliance Watch, July 18, 2025
Prior Experience
- Successfully led teams, including at key stages of high-profile cases, defended investigations against legal challenges and skillfully assessing, negotiated through, and litigated complicated discovery and other issues, including during trial
- Served as the Justice Department's MLARS criminal discovery coordinator, liaising with Criminal Division leadership, and providing guidance to the Section's more than 40 prosecutors
- Supervised compliance with a corporate resolution between the Justice Department and multi-national financial institution involving BSA and foreign bribery-related violations
- Served as SIGTARP's Assistant Chief Investigative Counsel helping to develop and execute the agency's strategy for combatting TARP fraud, managing investigative teams, and coordinating with law enforcement and financial regulators nationwide
- Testified in and prepared an analysis of financial records for a federal wire fraud trial under Federal Rule of Evidence 1006
- Co-founded and managed a proactive intellectual property enforcement Initiative and led office-wide change in related investigations
- Law clerk to the Honorable John M. Walker, Jr., Chief Judge for the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, (2003 – 2004 term)
Additional Certifications
- Professional Certificates, Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain Technology, Berkeley (edX) Computer Science Course, December 2022
- Certificate, Executive Leadership, Cornell University (eCornell), March 2016
Memberships and Affiliations
- Vice Chair, Banking Law Committee, Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering Subcommittee, American Bar Association


