Four Decades for Justice
David M. Stuart retired from Cravath’s Litigation Department in December 2023. As a partner, he represented public and private companies, executives and board members in their most sensitive and complex civil, criminal and internal investigations and related securities and derivative litigation. His matters involved allegations of accounting fraud, foreign corruption, insider trading, market manipulation, money laundering, trade sanctions, illicit cyber activity and sexual harassment.
While an active Litigation partner, Mr. Stuart founded and oversaw Cravath’s Incarcerated Survivors’ Initiative (“ISI”). As the Firm’s Special Pro Bono Counsel from December 2022 through December 2023 he supervised a team of litigators who provide pro bono counsel to incarcerated survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence, including while imprisoned, in matters that include resentencing, parole and civil rights violations. The ISI received Sanctuary for Families’ 2022 Above & Beyond Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Advocacy, the Legal Aid Society’s 2021 Pro Bono Publico Award and earned Standout recognition in the Responsible Business category from Financial Times’ North America Innovative Lawyers in 2022.
From 2000 to 2006, Mr. Stuart served in the Division of Enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where he supervised a team in the Financial Fraud Task Force and coordinated multinational investigations with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice, and multiple international regulators and law enforcement agencies.
Mr. Stuart was born in Dearborn, Michigan. He received a B.A. with high honors in 1990 from Wesleyan University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D. in 1995 from New York University School of Law. After graduating from law school, Mr. Stuart served as a law clerk to Hon. John Gleeson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He is currently earning his Masters of Divinity at Yale Divinity School.
While an active Litigation partner, Mr. Stuart founded and oversaw Cravath’s Incarcerated Survivors’ Initiative (“ISI”). As the Firm’s Special Pro Bono Counsel from December 2022 through December 2023 he supervised a team of litigators who provide pro bono counsel to incarcerated survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence, including while imprisoned, in matters that include resentencing, parole and civil rights violations. The ISI received Sanctuary for Families’ 2022 Above & Beyond Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Advocacy, the Legal Aid Society’s 2021 Pro Bono Publico Award and earned Standout recognition in the Responsible Business category from Financial Times’ North America Innovative Lawyers in 2022.
From 2000 to 2006, Mr. Stuart served in the Division of Enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where he supervised a team in the Financial Fraud Task Force and coordinated multinational investigations with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice, and multiple international regulators and law enforcement agencies.
Mr. Stuart was born in Dearborn, Michigan. He received a B.A. with high honors in 1990 from Wesleyan University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D. in 1995 from New York University School of Law. After graduating from law school, Mr. Stuart served as a law clerk to Hon. John Gleeson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He is currently earning his Masters of Divinity at Yale Divinity School.
Deals & Cases
June 14, 2023
On March 29, 2023, the New York County Criminal Court granted Cravath’s motion to resentence pro bono client Tania Rodas under the Domestic Violence Survivors Act (“DVSJA”), securing her release. Ms. Rodas had been incarcerated since May 2017. She was originally sentenced in July 2019, pursuant to a plea agreement, to a 10‑year determinate sentence plus five years’ post‑release supervision, for first-degree manslaughter after killing her domestic partner, who had subjected her to a severe pattern of domestic abuse for over 11 years.
Deals & Cases
August 03, 2022
In 2022, Cravath secured the release from prison of two pro bono clients, Thomas “Tommy” Burns and Donna Arroyo, who had each been incarcerated for more than 25 years after having survived years of extreme domestic violence. Cravath worked closely on its representation of Tommy Burns with Brooklyn Law School’s Criminal Defense and Advocacy Clinic and the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk, and on its representation of Donna Arroyo with Sanctuary for Families.
Deals & Cases
December 05, 2018
On October 4, 2018, the SEC closed its investigation of Cravath client Insys Therapeutics without any enforcement action against the company. The investigation related to Insys’ financial restatement and disclosures, sales and marketing practices and compliance program.
Deals & Cases
April 07, 2018
On March 26, 2018, Cravath client Akorn, Inc. (“Akorn”), a U.S.-based manufacturer and marketer of prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, reached a settlement in a civil action brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The complaint alleged financial reporting, books and records, and internal accounting controls violations in connection with Akorn’s accounting restatements for the fiscal year 2014. Akorn cooperated with the SEC and, pursuant to the settlement, did not admit or deny the SEC's allegations or pay any financial sanction.
Deals & Cases
September 25, 2017
Cravath Leads FCPA Resolution with DOJ and SEC; Coordinates with International Counsel Team to Conclude Investigations Worldwide
Accolades
January 09, 2023
On December 16, 2022, Global Investigations Review (“GIR”) published a profile of Cravath’s investigations practice in connection with the Firm’s inclusion in the “GIR 100”, a global guide to the world’s leading cross‑border investigations practices. The profile highlights the Firm’s experience with cross‑border cases, including recent representation of multi‑national pharmaceutical company Novartis and Swedish telecoms company Telia. GIR described Cravath partners Rachel G. Skaistis, John D. Buretta, Benjamin Gruenstein, David M. Stuart and Evan Norris as “top‑tier lawyers” in the space and noted the success of partners John W. White, Evan R. Chesler and Peter T. Barbur on client matters including FCPA, SEC and criminal investigations.
Activities & Publications
December 30, 2022
Cravath partners John D. Buretta and David M. Stuart and practice area attorney Lindsay J. Timlin served as co‑editors of Global Investigation Review’s second edition of the “Guide to International Enforcement of the Securities Laws.” John, Dave and Lindsay co‑authored the introduction to the guide as well as a chapter entitled “Basic Anatomy of Enforcement Investigations in the United States.”
Accolades
November 14, 2022
On November 2, 2022, Sanctuary for Families announced Cravath as a recipient of its 2022 Above & Beyond Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Advocacy. Cravath’s Incarcerated Survivors’ Initiative, led by partner David M. Stuart, assists incarcerated survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence, including on matters related to resentencing, parole and civil rights violations, and in partnership with legal and social services organizations. Dave and associate L. Angel Valle were recognized for their work as part of this initiative, assisting a survivor of gender‑based violence secure parole. As Sanctuary for Families noted in a feature article around the award, when the survivor, “Monica,” was “granted parole and released after nearly 25 years of incarceration, ‘Team Monica,’ as she had taken to calling the pair of attorneys, drove up to meet her with supplies and to take her for her first meal outside prison in over two decades.”
Activities & Publications
April 25, 2022
On April 21, 2022, Cravath partner David M. Stuart spoke at the “Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and International Anti-Corruption Developments” program held by Practising Law Institute in New York from April 20-21, 2022. Entitled “FCPA Whistleblowers – Perspectives from the Defense and Plaintiffs,” Dave’s session explored the motivations and reasons behind whistleblowing, common issues related to anonymity, retaliation and reporting and potential future trends for whistleblowers.
Activities & Publications
June 11, 2021
On June 10, 2021, Cravath prepared for its clients a memo entitled “White House Open Letter Warns Companies of Ransomware Threat,“ which examined the open letter issued by the National Security Council’s top cyber official in connection with the recent spate of ransomware attacks impacting U.S. and global businesses. The open letter strongly urges companies to adopt the same set of defensive measures detailed in the President’s May 12 Executive Order focused on improving the cybersecurity of federal agencies and contractors.
David M. Stuart retired from Cravath’s Litigation Department in December 2023. As a partner, he represented public and private companies, executives and board members in their most sensitive and complex civil, criminal and internal investigations and related securities and derivative litigation. His matters involved allegations of accounting fraud, foreign corruption, insider trading, market manipulation, money laundering, trade sanctions, illicit cyber activity and sexual harassment.
While an active Litigation partner, Mr. Stuart founded and oversaw Cravath’s Incarcerated Survivors’ Initiative (“ISI”). As the Firm’s Special Pro Bono Counsel from December 2022 through December 2023 he supervised a team of litigators who provide pro bono counsel to incarcerated survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence, including while imprisoned, in matters that include resentencing, parole and civil rights violations. The ISI received Sanctuary for Families’ 2022 Above & Beyond Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Advocacy, the Legal Aid Society’s 2021 Pro Bono Publico Award and earned Standout recognition in the Responsible Business category from Financial Times’ North America Innovative Lawyers in 2022.
From 2000 to 2006, Mr. Stuart served in the Division of Enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where he supervised a team in the Financial Fraud Task Force and coordinated multinational investigations with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice, and multiple international regulators and law enforcement agencies.
Mr. Stuart was born in Dearborn, Michigan. He received a B.A. with high honors in 1990 from Wesleyan University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D. in 1995 from New York University School of Law. After graduating from law school, Mr. Stuart served as a law clerk to Hon. John Gleeson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He is currently earning his Masters of Divinity at Yale Divinity School.
While an active Litigation partner, Mr. Stuart founded and oversaw Cravath’s Incarcerated Survivors’ Initiative (“ISI”). As the Firm’s Special Pro Bono Counsel from December 2022 through December 2023 he supervised a team of litigators who provide pro bono counsel to incarcerated survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence, including while imprisoned, in matters that include resentencing, parole and civil rights violations. The ISI received Sanctuary for Families’ 2022 Above & Beyond Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Advocacy, the Legal Aid Society’s 2021 Pro Bono Publico Award and earned Standout recognition in the Responsible Business category from Financial Times’ North America Innovative Lawyers in 2022.
From 2000 to 2006, Mr. Stuart served in the Division of Enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where he supervised a team in the Financial Fraud Task Force and coordinated multinational investigations with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice, and multiple international regulators and law enforcement agencies.
Mr. Stuart was born in Dearborn, Michigan. He received a B.A. with high honors in 1990 from Wesleyan University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D. in 1995 from New York University School of Law. After graduating from law school, Mr. Stuart served as a law clerk to Hon. John Gleeson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He is currently earning his Masters of Divinity at Yale Divinity School.
Deals & Cases
June 14, 2023
On March 29, 2023, the New York County Criminal Court granted Cravath’s motion to resentence pro bono client Tania Rodas under the Domestic Violence Survivors Act (“DVSJA”), securing her release. Ms. Rodas had been incarcerated since May 2017. She was originally sentenced in July 2019, pursuant to a plea agreement, to a 10‑year determinate sentence plus five years’ post‑release supervision, for first-degree manslaughter after killing her domestic partner, who had subjected her to a severe pattern of domestic abuse for over 11 years.
Deals & Cases
August 03, 2022
In 2022, Cravath secured the release from prison of two pro bono clients, Thomas “Tommy” Burns and Donna Arroyo, who had each been incarcerated for more than 25 years after having survived years of extreme domestic violence. Cravath worked closely on its representation of Tommy Burns with Brooklyn Law School’s Criminal Defense and Advocacy Clinic and the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk, and on its representation of Donna Arroyo with Sanctuary for Families.
Deals & Cases
December 05, 2018
On October 4, 2018, the SEC closed its investigation of Cravath client Insys Therapeutics without any enforcement action against the company. The investigation related to Insys’ financial restatement and disclosures, sales and marketing practices and compliance program.
Deals & Cases
April 07, 2018
On March 26, 2018, Cravath client Akorn, Inc. (“Akorn”), a U.S.-based manufacturer and marketer of prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, reached a settlement in a civil action brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The complaint alleged financial reporting, books and records, and internal accounting controls violations in connection with Akorn’s accounting restatements for the fiscal year 2014. Akorn cooperated with the SEC and, pursuant to the settlement, did not admit or deny the SEC's allegations or pay any financial sanction.
Deals & Cases
September 25, 2017
Cravath Leads FCPA Resolution with DOJ and SEC; Coordinates with International Counsel Team to Conclude Investigations Worldwide
Accolades
January 09, 2023
On December 16, 2022, Global Investigations Review (“GIR”) published a profile of Cravath’s investigations practice in connection with the Firm’s inclusion in the “GIR 100”, a global guide to the world’s leading cross‑border investigations practices. The profile highlights the Firm’s experience with cross‑border cases, including recent representation of multi‑national pharmaceutical company Novartis and Swedish telecoms company Telia. GIR described Cravath partners Rachel G. Skaistis, John D. Buretta, Benjamin Gruenstein, David M. Stuart and Evan Norris as “top‑tier lawyers” in the space and noted the success of partners John W. White, Evan R. Chesler and Peter T. Barbur on client matters including FCPA, SEC and criminal investigations.
Activities & Publications
December 30, 2022
Cravath partners John D. Buretta and David M. Stuart and practice area attorney Lindsay J. Timlin served as co‑editors of Global Investigation Review’s second edition of the “Guide to International Enforcement of the Securities Laws.” John, Dave and Lindsay co‑authored the introduction to the guide as well as a chapter entitled “Basic Anatomy of Enforcement Investigations in the United States.”
Accolades
November 14, 2022
On November 2, 2022, Sanctuary for Families announced Cravath as a recipient of its 2022 Above & Beyond Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Advocacy. Cravath’s Incarcerated Survivors’ Initiative, led by partner David M. Stuart, assists incarcerated survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence, including on matters related to resentencing, parole and civil rights violations, and in partnership with legal and social services organizations. Dave and associate L. Angel Valle were recognized for their work as part of this initiative, assisting a survivor of gender‑based violence secure parole. As Sanctuary for Families noted in a feature article around the award, when the survivor, “Monica,” was “granted parole and released after nearly 25 years of incarceration, ‘Team Monica,’ as she had taken to calling the pair of attorneys, drove up to meet her with supplies and to take her for her first meal outside prison in over two decades.”
Activities & Publications
April 25, 2022
On April 21, 2022, Cravath partner David M. Stuart spoke at the “Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and International Anti-Corruption Developments” program held by Practising Law Institute in New York from April 20-21, 2022. Entitled “FCPA Whistleblowers – Perspectives from the Defense and Plaintiffs,” Dave’s session explored the motivations and reasons behind whistleblowing, common issues related to anonymity, retaliation and reporting and potential future trends for whistleblowers.
Activities & Publications
June 11, 2021
On June 10, 2021, Cravath prepared for its clients a memo entitled “White House Open Letter Warns Companies of Ransomware Threat,“ which examined the open letter issued by the National Security Council’s top cyber official in connection with the recent spate of ransomware attacks impacting U.S. and global businesses. The open letter strongly urges companies to adopt the same set of defensive measures detailed in the President’s May 12 Executive Order focused on improving the cybersecurity of federal agencies and contractors.
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