Adam C. Ford

Practice Areas

White Collar Criminal Defense

Defamation & Reputation Management

Regulatory Enforcement Defense

Complex Commercial & Securities Litigation

Sanctions-Related Advocacy

Asset Forfeiture

Foreign Agent Registration

Digital Asset Litigation

Career

Past Employment Positions:

Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel, LLP

Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, Iason & Anello, P.C.

Magistrate Judge A. Simon Chrein, United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, Clerk, 2002 to 2003

Federal Public Defender, Newark, New Jersey

Professional Memberships

New York State Bar Association

New York City Bar Association

Publications

https://www.fordobrien.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1403994/2020/08/SEC-Enforcement-Actions-After-Kokesh.pdf

Expert in these Jurisdictions

New York

New Jersey

U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York

U.S. District Court Southern District of New York

U.S. District Court District of New Jersey

U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan

U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit

Supreme Court of the United States of America

Experience

Adam C. Ford is a nationally recognized trial lawyer and Founding Partner of Ford O’Brien Landy LLP. He focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, government and regulatory investigations, securities matters, complex commercial litigation, and high-stakes civil disputes. He represents executives, financial professionals, corporations, and individuals in federal and state courts throughout the United States and internationally.

Mr. Ford has extensive trial experience and has served as lead counsel in numerous federal jury trials involving securities fraud, insider trading, investment adviser fraud, and other complex criminal and regulatory matters. His notable successes include securing a complete acquittal for the former CFO of Platinum Partners after a nine-week federal trial and obtaining dismissal of a federal indictment involving an alleged $17 million securities fraud scheme.

In addition to his white collar practice, he handles complex commercial litigation, civil forfeiture matters, and high-profile disputes that attract significant media attention. He is known for developing creative litigation strategies and providing aggressive representation in matters involving substantial financial, reputational, and legal risk.

Prior to founding the firm, Mr. Ford practiced at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP and Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello P.C., and served as a Trial Attorney with the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Newark, New Jersey. He also clerked for the Honorable A. Simon Chrein of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Mr. Ford has been recognized by Chambers & Partners, Lawdragon, Super Lawyers, and other leading legal publications for his accomplishments in white collar defense, government investigations, and complex litigation.

Work Highlights

Federal Criminal Trials

United States v. Manuel Chang (E.D.N.Y.) — Lead defense counsel for the former Minister of Finance of the Republic of Mozambique, charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and FCPA violations in connection with the "tuna bonds" scandal — one of the largest FCPA prosecutions in history. Tried over four weeks before a federal jury in Brooklyn.

United States v. Brijesh Goel (S.D.N.Y.) — Lead defense counsel for a Goldman Sachs Managing Director charged with insider trading and securities fraud arising from the alleged misuse of confidential information regarding mergers and acquisitions.

United States v. SanFilippo (Platinum Partners) (E.D.N.Y.) — Obtained a full acquittal on all five felony counts — including securities fraud, investment adviser fraud, and conspiracy — for the former CFO of Platinum Partners after a nine-week federal jury trial. SanFilippo walked out of the courtroom a free man.

Civil Forfeiture & International Matters

Motor Yacht Amadea Forfeiture (S.D.N.Y.) — Lead counsel in the civil forfeiture proceeding involving the $300 million superyacht Amadea, seized by the Department of Justice as part of its enforcement actions against sanctioned Russian interests. One of the most closely watched forfeiture cases in the country.

VTB Bank — MH17 Litigation — Represents VTB Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in Russia, in connection with civil litigation arising from the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine.

Beirut Port Explosion Litigation — Represents plaintiffs, victims, and survivors of the August 2020 explosion at the Port of Beirut in litigation against a U.S.-Norwegian company alleged to have facilitated the transport of ammonium nitrate to the port as part of a bribery scheme involving Hezbollah.

Regulatory Enforcement & SEC Matters

Currently represents numerous individuals and companies under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with securities fraud, insider trading, and market manipulation inquiries.

Obtained reversal by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals of more than $7 million in disgorgement awards imposed against the CEO of a public company in an SEC enforcement action alleging misappropriation of funds raised through private offerings.

Successfully negotiated the withdrawal of all SEC claims for disgorgement and civil penalties in an enforcement action alleging a $20 million securities fraud.

Obtained dismissal of a federal indictment charging a $17 million pump-and-dump scheme.

Represents the CEO of a public company in SEC civil litigation involving allegations of a $27 million pump-and-dump scheme.

Represents individuals in three separate civil litigations alleging violations of the short-swing profit rule under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Investigations & Advisory

Extensive experience representing defendants in both state and federal courts in every phase of white collar prosecutions and regulatory enforcement actions, from investigation through appeal, in matters involving allegations of securities fraud, wire and mail fraud, accounting fraud, money laundering, FCPA and OFAC violations, insider trading, obstruction of justice, false statements, food and drug misbranding, and tax offenses.

Has guided clients through regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings involving complex and novel theories instituted by the SEC, FINRA, CFTC, Department of Justice, various Attorneys General offices, District Attorneys offices, the Federal Reserve Board, and state tax departments.

Extensive experience conducting internal investigations on behalf of corporations and institutions, including a comprehensive review of disclosures made regarding Puerto Rico municipal bond holdings in the lead-up to Puerto Rico's financial crisis.

Successfully persuaded the New Jersey Attorney General's Office to decline all charges against a large financial advisory firm following a two-year investigation into the sufficiency of its disclosures of Puerto Rico municipal bond holdings.

Defamation & Reputation Management

Lead trial counsel in the nationally covered defamation action on behalf of Dr. William Husel — a physician falsely accused of murdering twenty-five patients — against the hospital system and executives whose conduct gave rise to the false murder allegations. Dr. Husel had previously been acquitted of all criminal charges.

Has prosecuted and defended high-profile defamation claims on behalf of individuals and professionals whose reputations have been damaged by false public statements, institutional misconduct, and bad-faith disinformation campaigns, including litigation against prolific short sellers whose campaigns of disinformation caused significant harm to clients' businesses and reputations.

Education

Awards