Zweiback, Fiset & Zalduendo LLP

Managing Partner: Rachel Fiset

Number of partners: 4

Total Number of Attorneys: 10

Offices: Los Angeles, CA; Washington D.C.

Firm Overview

Zweiback, Fiset & Zalduendo is a top women-owned law firm known for managing cases strategically and efficiently to reach a swift resolution. The firm relies on decades of experience gained at the nation’s top “Big Law” firms, the Department of Justice, and federal judicial clerkships to tackle the complex challenges of government and internal investigations. Their attorneys defend clients accused of healthcare fraud, political corruption, FCPA violations, bribery, environmental violations, import/export violations, money laundering, copyright infringement, and theft of trade secrets. They successfully defend clients in investigations, prosecutions, and lawsuits brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), District Attorneys, State Attorneys General, and other government agencies.

Main Areas of Practice

• Complex Civil Litigation
• White Collar Criminal Defense and Government Investigations
• Intellectual Property Litigation
• International Arbitration
• Internal Investigations
• Mass Torts
• Catastrophic Injury
• Trial Practice
• Civil and Criminal Appeals

Trial and Motion Highlights from the Past 24 Months

SEC v. Terraform Labs PTE, Ltd. and Do Hyeong Kwon (No. 23-cv-1346-JSR)

ZFZ Law represented the key SEC whistleblower in a $40 billion cryptocurrency case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. After a two-week trial, the SEC won a jury trial, resulting in a $4.6 billion verdict against Terraform Labs PTE Ltd. and Do Kwon, finding them liable for defrauding investors in a cryptocurrency scheme. ZFZ’s client, the former Chief Product Officer of a large international cryptocurrency company, gave damning testimony that highlighted the fraud and was fundamental to the SEC’s case which is regarded as one of the most high-profile SEC enforcement actions in the country.

United States v. Winkelbauer et al., (No. 1:23-cr-00133), Southern District of New York

In a wide-ranging federal criminal action indicting 10 individuals in the Southern District of New York relating to alleged kickbacks involving one of the largest cargo airlines companies in the world, ZFZ Law is currently defending Skye Xu, the owner of a cargo airline and logistics company in Southern California, against criminal charges of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Honest Services Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Conspiracy to Commit Laundering.

Sarah Ray, et al vs. Southern California Edison(Case No.: 25STCV01794)

ZFZ Law represents plaintiffs affected by the Eaton Canyon Fire in Los Angeles County in a lawsuit against Southern California Edison.

Moog, Inc. v Skyryse Inc., et al., (Case No. 2:22-cv-09094-GW-MAR)

Recently, ZFZ Law successfully settled a multi-million-dollar dispute on behalf of its client, a senior software engineer accused of stealing trade secrets relating to flight control systems allegedly valued at over $ 100 million.

In re Chiquita Canyon Landfill Litigation (Case No. 2:23-cv-08380-MEMF-MAR)

ZFZ Law represents dozens of plaintiffs in a mass tort action against the owners and managers of the second-largest landfill in Los Angeles County, which has committed multiple regulatory violations and is alleged to be emitting toxic waste, causing significant odor and health issues, among other things, throughout Santa Clarita.ZFZ Law represents its clients in litigation, as well as assists them with various issues related to regulatory and law enforcement agency investigations, including investigating continued violations related to landfill operations.

United States ex. rel Relator LLC v. iLink Employers Company et al. No. 5:22-cv-01004 (C.D. Cal.).

ZFZ Law defended Gabriel Ayala, ILink Business Management, Inc., and iLInk Employers Company against a False Claims Act action commenced in 2022, alleging that the defendants violated the False Claims Act in obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, resulting in over $20 million in damages.ZFZ Law represented her clients through an investigation resulting in the government declining to intervene in the action. ZFZ Law then successfully had the case dismissed against all defendants.

Wu, et al. v. Remington Chase, et al.

ZFZ Law currently represents victims of a quarter billion-dollar Ponzi scheme who were defrauded of over $50 million and $12 million of real property and has thus far achieved a preliminary injunction forbidding the alleged title holders from disbursing or otherwise using her clients’ stolen property. The case is scheduled to go to trial in the Fall of 2025.

United States of America et al v. Baxter et al (Case# 3:23-cv-00336-WHO)

ZFZ represents Santa Lucia Preserve Company, the management company for a gated community and private club in Carmel, California, in a False Claims Act lawsuit brought by a Relator alleging violations relating to funds accepted under the federal government’s PPP Covid relief efforts. Ms. Fiset and her team were successful in achieving a declination to intervene after an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s office. The case was recently unsealed.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), U.S. Attorney Investigations

ZFZ represents the founder and CFO of a gold broker and precious metal investment firm in a Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) investigation and multiple state and federal investigations into potential issues with mismanagement of investor funds and delivery of precious metals.The matter has attracted extensive news coverage throughout Southern California and has resulted in numerous civil lawsuits naming our client as a defendant.

Awards and Recognition

• Best Law Firm, U.S. News and World Report (2020-2025)
• Best Lawyer, U.S. News and World Report (2015-2025)
• Top Boutique Law Firm in California, Daily Journal (2019 & 2022)
• Top White Collar Lawyer, Daily Journal (2023-2024)
• Top Women Attorneys, Daily Journal (2023-2025)
• Women of Influence: Attorney, Los Angeles Business Journal (2022-2025)
• Top Litigation Attorney, Super Lawyers (2021-2024)

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Zweiback, Fiset & Zalduendo was founded with the mission of advancing women and increasing diversity in the legal profession and its partners are active members and committee chairs for the National Association for Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) and the Women's White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA). ZFZ’s partners also sat on the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) and the Steering Committee for "Just the Beginning", a non-profit organization that supports and encourages students of color to pursue careers and leadership opportunities in the law. ZFZ has been recognized by Chambers USA, U.S. News & World Report, The Daily Journal, and the Los Angeles Business Journal for its outstanding work in litigation and its commitment to diversity in the law.