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Mr. Gordon is the former United States Attorney for the Central District of California.  He was an Assistant United States Attorney in Los Angeles for 18 years, where he served as a supervisor for 14 of his 18 years in the U.S. Attorney's Office. Prior to being appointed U.S. Attorney in April 2001, Mr. Gordon served as Chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office.  In 2003, he was selected as Prosecutor of the Year by the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section, for his work as U.S. Attorney.

As a federal prosecutor, Mr. Gordon tried 45 defendants to verdict in more than 25 trials.  He briefed almost 90 cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and argued 25 of those appeals.  As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he won a U.S. Department of Justice Director's Award for Outstanding Service.   As U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles, Mr. Gordon supervised the investigation and prosecution of some of the most complex and significant white collar criminal cases in the country, including securities fraud, government fraud, and financial institution fraud matters. As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Gordon testified before the Senate on computer software piracy.

Since joining Quinn Emanuel in September 2002, Mr. Gordon has represented individuals and companies in civil cases involving interference with contract relations and prospective economic advantage, securities and investment fraud, loan and mortgage fraud, corporate self-governance, patent, copyright and trademark infringement, breach of contract, merger-related fraud, FDA fraud, unfair business practices, asset forfeiture, embezzlement, tax shelter violations, marital dissolution, and breach of fiduciary duty.  He has also represented individuals and companies in criminal investigations, indictments, and extraditions involving securities and investment fraud, bankruptcy fraud, tax evasion, telemarketing fraud, copyright infringement, import violations, loan and mortgage fraud, money laundering and structuring of financial transactions, embezzlement, and FDA fraud.

Mr. Gordon has never lost a jury trial.

Caruso Affiliated 

CNA
Intuit
Johnson & Johnson
Kaiser Permanente
Mattel
Wal-Mart

More than a week after trial began, after having no prior involvement in the case, assumed the role of lead trial counsel for Caruso Affiliated Holdings, a Southern California developer of "lifestyle" shopping centers, against General Growth Properties, the nation's then-second largest mall developer.  Client alleged interference with prospective business relations based on threats General Growth made against a prominent nationwide restaurant chain to discourage the chain from becoming an anchor tenant in Caruso Affiliated's new shopping center across the street from the super-regional mall in Glendale, California owned by General Growth.  Obtained jury verdict of $89 million, $15 million of which was punitive damages.

After having no prior involvement in the case, assumed the role of lead trial counsel for Dawn Arnall after she had testified for more than a day on hostile direct examination by counsel for Chabad of California, a charitable organization.  Chabad sued Ms. Arnall, claiming that her deceased husband, Roland Arnall, the founder of Ameriquest Mortgage Company, had pledged $18 million to the charity before he died of cancer in 2008.  The head of Chabad testified that Roland had promised the head Rabbi in 2004 to donate at least $18 million and then supposedly finalized the pledge on the day in 2008 when Roland was diagnosed with cancer.  Among other things, cross-examined Chabad’s head Rabbi who was the eyewitness to the alleged pledges, directly examined the defendant, and presented the defense closing argument.  Won complete defense judgment in bench trial.

Represented Cal-Litho Arts, a Los Angeles-based printing company, in trial against former chief salesman, the competing printing company the former salesman joined, and Consolidated Graphics, the nationwide conglomerate that owned the competing printing company.  Entered case shortly before trial began.  Our client alleged breach of fiduciary duty, interference with prospective economic relations, and misappropriation of trade secrets arising out of former salesman's alleged solicitation of business for future employer and misappropriation of customer-related information.  Won against all defendants on all causes of action.  Obtained jury verdict of $13.8 million, $8.1 million of which was punitive damages.  Also obtained an award of $3 million of attorney’s fees and $700,000 in costs, for a total judgment of $17.5 million.

Represented Coastal Delivery Corporation in a breach of contract case involving an oral agreement providing for small trucking company to be exclusive trucker for transportation of ocean containers selected for U.S. Customs Service contraband searches. Retained shortly before retrial. Obtained a jury verdict of $2.7 million and final judgment of $3.1 million.

Represented International House of Pancakes, Inc. in case brought by a former waitress, alleging claims of sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful discharge against the owner-manager of the franchise restaurant, and against IHOP as the franchisor. Stepped into case shortly before trial and obtained a defense verdict.

Represented KSL La Costa Resort Corporation in a wrongful discharge case. Plaintiff, the membership director at La Costa, asserted KSL discharged him for complaining about an allegedly fraudulent golf membership conversion plan implemented at La Costa after KSL acquired the resort. Obtained a directed verdict for KSL La Costa Resort Corporation at the close of evidence.

Represented 1GlobalPlace, an internet start-up company, in a successful arbitration against Verisign, a major internet services company, concerning the contractual interpretation of an “earnout” provision in the merger agreement under which Verisign acquired 1GlobalPlace.

Represented an individual in a federal criminal investigation of alleged securities/investment fraud matter following a lengthy criminal investigation of alleged fraud in connection with the issuance of securities and the acquisition of an entertainment company in a transaction valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Obtained non-prosecution of the client.

Represented a corporate client in federal criminal investigation of alleged telemarketing fraud matter following a lengthy criminal investigation into alleged fraud in connection with credit card telemarketing practices. Obtained non-prosecution of the client.

Represented Korean nationals in a forfeiture action brought by the U.S. government. Obtained a dismissal with prejudice as to approximately $1.5 million in cash and property in case of first impression based on procedural challenge to government's delayed filing of the complaint against assets allegedly derived from Korean securities fraud and embezzlement scheme. Also obtained a preliminary injunction against the government's freezing of separate Swiss bank accounts based on constitutional and procedural challenges to the government's freeze request under Swiss-U.S. Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.

Represented the CEO of California's largest bail bond company on 369 felony charges of using and paying unlicensed jail inmates to refer other inmates to his company for bail bonds, in violation of California Insurance Code and insurance regulations. In a separate matter, represented the CEO against charges of false document preparation. Obtained misdemeanors only/no jail time resolution of the 369-count case. Obtained a dismissal of the false document case.

Represented an executive vice president of a Fortune 100 company who was charged federally with insider trading. Obtained sentence of probation conditioned on performance of modest community service obligation.

Represented business owner and business on federal charges of illegal importation and false statements on customs forms. Obtained misdemeanor resolution/probationary sentence for business owner.
 

Represented individual charged with counterfeiting approximately $2 million worth of Microsoft and Intuit software and burglary involving alleged witness intimidation/retaliation. Obtained dismissal of burglary charge at preliminary hearing. Obtained a sentence of probation on counterfeiting charge.