Jeffrey H Rutherford

Practice Areas

Partner, White Collar Defense and Government Investigations

Career

KBK Partner Jeffrey H. Rutherford, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), is recognized as one of the region’s top criminal and civil defense attorneys. He is a Chambers-ranked attorney whose practice focuses on white collar criminal defense, complex civil litigation, and civil and criminal trial work.

Mr. Rutherford has represented individuals and entities in high-profile, high-stakes political corruption/public integrity, criminal antitrust, health care fraud, money laundering (AML)/Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), and civil and criminal False Claims Act (FCA) matters. Many of his clients are law firms and lawyers, who turn to him for representation in sensitive and confidential matters.

Mr. Rutherford also has represented individuals and entities in a wide array of other complex civil and white collar criminal litigation matters, including export control, trade (anti-dumping duty), tax, securities, procurement fraud, entertainment, theft of trade secrets, campaign finance, off-label marketing, cybercrimes, and environmental crimes. In addition, he has tackled matters involving conflicts of interest (Cal. Gov’t Code § 1090), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations and international extradition and Financial Institutions Reform, and Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) proceedings.

Among many notable successes, Mr. Rutherford was the lead trial lawyer in United States ex. rel. Hooper v. Lockheed Martin Corp. The complete defense verdict in that case – against potential damages of $1.2 billion – was recognized by the Daily Journal as one the Top Verdicts of the year. He has been ranked as one of California’s Top White Collar lawyers by Chambers USA and was recognized this year as a Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigator in America. Mr. Rutherford regularly ranks among the region’s top attorneys in white collar defense and government investigations in the prestigious Chambers & Partners attorney rankings.

Clients often praise his trial skills, with one telling Chambers that Mr. Rutherford is “able to distill a complex case and make it understandable for the jury. He communicates effortlessly with jurors and establishes an excellent rapport. He zealously prepares for trials and knows more about the case than anyone in the courtroom.” Another attorney described Mr. Rutherford as an “excellent trial attorney who can try any type of case, no matter how big or small.”

Professional Memberships

American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), Fellow

Chambers USA, Leading Lawyer in California Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations

Daily Journal, Top Verdicts of 2014

The Best Lawyers in America, White Collar Criminal Defense, 2014—present

Southern California Super Lawyer, 2007–present

Daily Journal, Top 20 Under 40, 2007

Pro Bono Advocacy Award, ACLU Foundation of Southern California, 1999

The President’s Pro Bono Service Award, State Bar of California, 1999

Cutthroat Lawyers Bar Association, President

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)

Past President, Federal Bar Association, Los Angeles

Past Member, Board of Directors, American Bar Association (ABA) White Collar Crime Committee, West Coast Regional Subcommittee

Publications

Federal Criminal Practice, Co-Author, James Publishing, 2016

Work Highlights

Many of Mr. Rutherford’s current and prior representations are highly confidential and cannot be listed. Those that can be listed include:

Representing a former high-level gaming executive in connection with a federal criminal prosecution for violation of the Bank Secrecy Act.

Representing a former executive of a publicly traded company in connection with ongoing investigations by both the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission into potential insider trading.

Represented a former high-ranking lawyer in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Offices in connection with a high-profile public corruption prosecution. Secured a probationary sentence.

Represented a high-level food executive accused of price-fixing. Secured a probationary sentence.

Represented several current and former executives and employees of one the nation’s largest banks in connection with various criminal, regulatory, and civil investigations of the bank’s sales practices.

Represented the former owner of an adult ‘home care’ company in connection with a financial elder abuse prosecution. Secured a highly favorable sentence.

Represented a former executive of a government contracting company in connection with a fraudulent bid on a substantial reconstruction contract in Afghanistan.

Represented a law firm and certain of its partners in connection with a potential advice of counsel defense by former executives of a firm client.

Represented a health plan in trial of two class actions alleging breach of fiduciary duty under ERISA.

Represented an individual accused of a conspiracy to distributed misbranded drugs.

Represented a former hospital owner in a long-running federal criminal prosecution involving allegations of kickbacks to physicians in exchange for surgeries, as well as payments to politicians in connection with the same scheme.

Represented an international aerospace corporation at trial in connection with a federal qui tam action. Obtained a complete defense verdict against a claim for damages in excess of $1 billion for alleged fraudulent billing and retaliatory discharge.

Represented an international seafood company executive at trial against criminal charges of importing and distributing mislabeled seafood products.

Represented the regulatory affairs director of a medical device company in connection with an off-label marketing investigation.

Represented and continues to represent various law firms and lawyers in connection with criminal grand jury investigations.

Represented and continues to represent various contracted city attorneys in connection with criminal grand jury and civil conflict of interest investigations.

Represented the founder and executive director of a high-performing charter school at trial and on appeal in a prosecution concerning charges of misappropriation of public funds, embezzlement, tax fraud, and conflict of interest.

Represented a bank director in connection with a civil Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) investigation of alleged Bank Secrecy Act and money laundering violations.

Represented at trial a bank manager against allegations of money laundering and bank fraud.

Represented a former KPMG partner in connection with various civil litigation matters regarding tax shelters.

Represented individuals and other entities in connection with investigations involving money laundering and violations of the Bank Secrecy Act.

Represented a tax preparer in a trial concerning charges of aiding and abetting tax fraud.

Represented the executive of an investment firm in connection with an investigation into the alleged of theft of trade secrets.

Represented a movie producer in connection with the prosecution of an investment fraud scheme.

Represented a high-profile public official and health care executive at trial against charges of bribery, conflict of interest, embezzlement, and tax fraud.

Represented an executive in connection with a Department of Justice (DOJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation of a medical device company for alleged Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations.

Represented the vice president of an investment advisory firm who was facing allegations of antitrust bid-rigging and fraud in connection with their bond investment work.

Represented multiple individuals in connection with a criminal antitrust investigation of price-fixing in the airline industry.

Represented a recycling company in connection with a criminal OSHA prosecution of a workplace fatality. Obtained a non-criminal disposition.

Represented a production manager in connection with a criminal OSHA prosecution of a workplace fatality. Obtained a misdemeanor disposition.

Represented a senior executive in a global criminal antitrust investigation regarding alleged collusion among Japanese auto parts manufacturers.

Represented a Mexican federal law enforcement officer in connection with a money laundering prosecution.

Represented a U.S. citizen in extradition proceedings involving allegations of attempted murder and assault charges in the Netherlands.

Represented a government contractor in False Claims Act litigation pertaining to a Veterans Affairs (VA) contract.

Represented multiple physicians in connection with DOJ investigations and prosecutions of health care fraud and violations of the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute.

Represented a physician in a prosecution for allegedly illegally prescribing medications.

Represented a health care executive in connection with litigation regarding allegations of federal health care fraud and public corruption investigations.

Represented an oil company and oil company executives in connection with a matter concerning allegations of environmental crimes.

Represented multiple other individuals against allegations of bank fraud, wire fraud, passing counterfeit instruments, money laundering, and narcotics distribution.