David Restaino

Practice Areas

David has three decades of experience representing clients in regulatory compliance and complex commercial litigation matters, including environmental and health care disputes, before multiple federal and state courts and agencies.

David regularly addresses questions of compliance, including investigations and ensuing litigation for his clients. He is particularly aware of, and sensitive to, his clients’ legal business concerns and provides legal advice to them on developing, implementing and operating targeted compliance and business programs to prevent, detect and remedy legal and regulatory violations. David has extensive trial experience, having tried cases for plaintiffs and defendants involving complex regulatory and commercial disputes.

David is well respected in the environmental bar. He helps manufacturers, redevelopers and other corporations, individuals and financial institutions comply with the ever-changing regulations concerning contaminated sites, air emissions, hazardous and solid waste, water quality and land use. He evaluates the compliance and liability that may affect business transactions and has represented numerous clients in complex litigation, including alternative avenues of dispute resolution and structuring creative settlements. David also advises the energy industry on developing environmentally sound operations. He is past chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association's (NJSBA) Environmental Law Section.

David is also well versed in a multitude of subjects, including the anti-kickback law, False Claims Act, SEC whistleblower rewards program and a variety of other fraud and abuse laws governing the health care and pharmaceutical industries.

David’s strong insurance background is an asset to clients as they attempt to navigate the coverage issues hiding behind each compliance issue, within every transaction agreement and underlying every litigation.

Career

David served as a Deputy Attorney General (DAG) and was responsible for enforcing laws in trial, appellate and administrative forums on behalf of the State of New Jersey. As a DAG, David also pursued violators of a host of state statutes, litigated citizens’ suits in federal and state courts, handled election law disputes and prosecuted criminal and quasi-criminal enforcement actions. David’s responsibilities also included training government inspectors on the proper, and legal, methods for accomplishing their goals.

David previously worked for firms in Princeton and Chicago. Among other things, he litigated alleged violations of SEC rules as well as insurance cases, including the valuation of goods-in-transit covered by the Interstate Commerce Act. David was also involved with significant litigation, transactional and compliance matters concerning state and federal environmental protection laws and commercial matters having significant bankruptcy implications.

Personal

University of Virginia School of Law (J.D., 1990) | Ithaca College (B.S., 1987).

Professional Memberships

New Jersey State Bar Association | Air and Waste Management Association | Somerset County Bar Association | Water Environment Federation | New Jersey State Bar Association, Renewable Energy, Cleantech & Climate Change Committee | American Bar Association

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Bar Admissions: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois.