Stephen A Miller

Practice Areas

White Collar Defense and Investigations

Antitrust

Appellate and Supreme Court

Trade Regulations, Export Controls & Sanctions

Securities Litigation and SEC Enforcement

Sports & Gaming

Career

Following two judicial clerkships, including one on the Supreme Court of the United States (for Hon. Antonin Scalia), Stephen served nine years as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He handled wide-ranging international investigations as a prosecutor, conducting and supervising innovative investigations of violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and federal export regulations. Among other successes, Stephen investigated and prosecuted individuals who exported sensitive technology to Iran in violation of export controls, uncovered and prosecuted widespread fraud in the United Nations Oil-for-Food Program, and thwarted efforts by Hezbollah to obtain thousands of heat-seeking missiles and machine guns from sources inside the United States.

In addition to his unique investigative and trial experience, Stephen has exceptional abilities as an appellate lawyer. He has briefed and argued appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 2nd, 3rd, 7th, and Federal Circuits, and has also briefed matters in multiple state Supreme Courts and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association

Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Publications

US Supreme Court Confronts Federal Jurisdiction of Arbitration Awards

https://www.cozen.com/news-resources/publications/2022/us-supreme-court-confronts-federal-jurisdiction-of-arbitration-awards

Improving the NCAA’s Regulation of Payments to Athletes

https://www.cozen.com/news-resources/publications/2021/improving-the-ncaa-s-regulation-of-payments-to-athletes-

Supreme Court Ruling Fosters New Era of NCAA Amateurism

https://www.cozen.com/news-resources/publications/2021/supreme-court-ruling-fosters-new-era-of-ncaa-amateurism

US Supreme Court Poised to Revolutionize College Athletics

https://www.cozen.com/news-resources/publications/2021/us-supreme-court-poised-to-revolutionize-college-athletics

US Supreme Court Considers Religious-Freedom Case From Phila.

https://www.cozen.com/news-resources/publications/2021/us-supreme-court-considers-religious-freedom-case-from-phila-

High Court Considers Retroactive Application of Unanimous Jury Ruling

https://www.cozen.com/news-resources/publications/2021/high-court-considers-retroactive-application-of-unanimous-jury-ruling

High Court Examines Requirement of Political Party Affiliation for State Judges

https://www.cozen.com/news-resources/publications/2020/high-court-examines-requirement-of-political-party-affiliation-for-state-judges

Cozen O’Connor Negotiates Historic Settlement for Offshore Sports-Betting Company

https://www.cozen.com/news-resources/publications/2020/cozen-o-connor-negotiates-historic-settlement-for-offshore-sports-betting-company

U.S. Supreme Court Considers When Politics Becomes a Crime

https://www.cozen.com/news-resources/publications/2019/us-supreme-court-considers-when-politics-becomes-a-crime

Experience

Negotiated a settlement agreement with the potential to revolutionize the U.S. sports-betting market on behalf of Laura Varela and 5Dimes, a popular offshore sportsbook in Costa Rica. The U.S. Department of Justice had been investigating illegal gambling and money-laundering activity associated with 5Dimes and Ms. Varela’s husband at the time of his death in 2018. Our team negotiated an unprecedented resolution with prosecutors in the Philadelphia U.S. Attorney’s Office that resolved 5Dimes’s legal liability and that allowed Ms. Varela to reposition the sportsbook to enter the regulated U.S. sports-betting industry. Further, the Government expressly agreed to advise state regulators, banks, and investors about her extraordinary cooperation and impressive efforts to transform 5Dimes into a lawful, regulated company.

Advised gaming companies and coaches of professional sports teams on compliance issues and business opportunities for sports relating to the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Murphy v. NCAA (2018).

Represented former CEO of a publicly-traded health care company at sentencing. Our advocacy convinced the judge to sentence the client to 36 months in prison, where the court found the applicable sentencing guidelines range was 121-151 months imprisonment.

Represented an individual under criminal investigation by the Philadelphia U.S. Attorney’s Office for participation in a fraud conspiracy. Our advocacy convinced the U.S. Attorney to decline to prosecute our client entirely.

Conducted an internal investigation for The Wine Advocate, a pre-eminent and independent publisher of wine reviews and ratings, into allegations of impropriety by former associates.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Pennsylvania

New Jersey

Illinois

Work Highlights

As the co-chair of Cozen O'Connor White Collar Defense & Investigations practice group, Stephen uses his practical judgment and investigative expertise to advise companies and individuals confronting potential criminal exposure.

He works with clients to conduct internal investigations, implement compliance solutions, and navigate government investigations. Stephen is highly skilled at helping clients avoid criminal charges and litigation in the first place, but if it cannot be avoided, he draws on his notable litigation experience to defend his clients’ reputations and interests. Stephen has particular experience in the areas of international anti-corruption laws, export controls, the False Claims Act, and matters relating to sports and gaming regulation.

Awards

Education