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Patrick Hein

Partner

Email

patrick.hein@aoshearman.com

Phone

+1 415 616 1218

Offices

San Francisco

Links

LinkedIn

V-CARD
A former federal prosecutor and experienced trial lawyer, Patrick focuses on representing corporations, financial institutions, board members, and executives in civil and criminal regulatory matters, internal investigations, and litigation in federal and state courts.

Patrick has extensive experience investigating and litigating matters involving allegations of corruption, including FCPA violations; financial fraud, including securities fraud, insider trading, and cryptocurrency fraud; and anticompetitive conduct, including price fixing and monopolization. He has represented companies and individuals in investigations led by the U.S. Department of Justice, the SEC, and the CFTC, and in complex civil and antitrust litigation in federal and state courts in California. Patrick has also advised boards of directors and special committees overseeing government and internal investigations, as well as on governance and compliance.

Prior to returning to private practice in San Francisco, Patrick served for eight years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York, including most recently as Deputy Chief of the Business and Securities Fraud Section and as a senior member of the Department of Justice’s FIFA Corruption Task Force. During his time at the EDNY, Patrick investigated, prosecuted, and tried a wide range of high-profile white collar criminal matters, including the FIFA corruption case, FCPA cases, and securities fraud cases.

Before joining the EDNY, Patrick clerked for U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz of the District of Maryland and practiced at another global law firm in San Francisco.

Experience

Representative matters

White Collar Criminal Defense, Regulatory Enforcement, and Internal Investigations

Global financial institution in connection with DOJ and SEC investigations.

Technology company in connection with DOJ investigation.

Sales manager of Japanese company in DOJ criminal prosecution.

Financial advisory firm executive in connection with SEC investigation.

Technology companies in connection with internal FCPA investigations and compliance reviews.

Special board committee of pharmaceutical company in connection with internal investigation related to shareholder demand.

 

Securities, Complex Commercial, and Antitrust Litigation

Obtained favorable resolution for global financial institution in California state court action alleging fraud in connection with $725 million loan to renewable energy company.

Obtained dismissal with prejudice for global financial institution in federal securities fraud case related to pre-IPO investment in China-based grocery retailer.

Multinational video game and digital entertainment company in federal antitrust class action alleging monopolization and unfair competition related to changes in distribution strategy.

Chief Executive Officer of investment fund in complex commercial dispute.

 

Federal White Collar Criminal Prosecution Experience at EDNY

International Corruption and the FCPA

Investigated and prosecuted soccer officials and sports marketing and broadcasting companies and executives for wire fraud and money laundering in connection with the Department of Justice’s FIFA Task Force’s long-running prosecution of corruption in international soccer.

Investigated and obtained corporate resolutions and guilty pleas from global shipping and oil and gas companies, which paid more than $700 million to resolve FCPA charges with the United States, Brazil, and Singapore arising out of decade-long schemes to pay millions of dollars in bribes to government officials in Brazil.

 

Securities Fraud, Market Manipulation, and Insider Trading

Obtained convictions after nine-week trial of co-Chief Investment Officers of Platinum Partners hedge fund for scheme to defraud bondholders of $70 million.

Obtained convictions of nine defendants, including corporate executive after five-week trial, for $300 million market manipulation scheme.

Obtained insider trading conviction of investment advisor tipped off by corporate lawyer client regarding a pending pharmaceutical company merger, which scheme resulted in more than $400,000 in illegal profits.

Cryptocurrency Fraud

Led investigation of multimillion-dollar schemes to manipulate the price of cryptocurrencies using fake press releases and fraudulent online user accounts.

Led investigation of multimillion-dollar cyber romance scams laundering proceeds through cryptocurrency exchange.

Pro bono

Represented indigent defendants in criminal wire fraud and identity theft cases in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Speaking Engagements

  • Presented to technology companies and global financial institutions on DOJ’s revised corporate criminal enforcement policies.

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Member, German American Chamber of Commerce

Awards

  • Prosecutor of the Year, Federal Law Enforcement Foundation, 2019 and 2020

Qualifications

Admissions

California, 2007
District of Columbia, 2022

Courts

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States District Court for the Northern District of California
United States District Court for the Central District of California

Academic

B.A., Yale University, magna cum laude, 2001
J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 2007
Member, California Law Review

Languages

English, German
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.