New federal prosecutor could intensify focus on white-collar crime.Career prosecutor Thomas O'Brien appears to be on track to become Los Angeles' top federal prosecutor, an appointment which, along with a bunch of new hires in the Los Angeles U.S. Attorney's Office, could result in more white collar criminal cases--and a boon to that defense bar. O'Brien, who has already begun the background check process, according to a source connected to the search process, would be in a key position to influence federal law enforcement efforts in the city, even if his appointment proves brief, coming in the closing years of the Bush Administration. And while there is no official statement regarding his priorities, it seems clear that O'Brien will have more resources and autonomy than his predecessor, given the fallout from the Bush Administration's firing of nine U.S. attorneys last year. The office will have nearly 30 new hires so far this year by next month, bringing the total headcount to nearly 240 attorneys. Under former U.S. Attorney Debra Wong Yang Debra W. Yang (楊黃金玉; pinyin: Yáng Huáng Jīnyù) was the United States Attorney for the Central District of California. She was appointed in May 2002 by President George W. , who was known for her close ties to Washington, D.C., budget restraints hampered the office's ability to fill vacancies. According to members of the white-collar criminal defense bar, one result of the office's weakened bench has been a decline in the number of complex white-collar crime white-collar crime, term coined by Edward Sutherland for nonviolent crimes committed by corporations or individuals such as office workers or sales personnel (see white-collar workers) in the course of their business activities. cases pursued. "Everyone feels like the big cases have dried up in the office and no one is happy about it," said Laurie Levenson, a law professor at Loyola Law School Loyola Law School is the law school of Loyola Marymount University, a private Jesuit school in Los Angeles, California. Loyola was established in 1920. Like Loyola University Chicago School of Law and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law (separate and unaffiliated and former prosecutor in the office. "The white-collar defense bar is wondering what they are going to do for a living." Of course, there are prominent exceptions. The office has been pursuing investigations of stock option backdating Predating a document or instrument prior to the date it was actually drawn. The negotiability of an instrument is not affected by the fact that it is backdated. by KB Home and other companies. It also is the focal point focal point n. See focus. for the investigation into possible wrongdoing wrong·do·er n. One who does wrong, especially morally or ethically. wrong  do by Milberg Weiss &
Bershad LLP LLP - Lower Layer Protocol , the prominent plaintiffs firm that specializes in corporate
class action lawsuits class action lawsuitA lawsuit in which one party or a limited number of parties sue on behalf of a larger group to which the parties belong. For example, investors may bring a class action lawsuit against a brokerage firm that has actively promoted a tax . Los Angeles is home to about 100 white collar criminal defense attorneys. O'Melveny & Myers LLP and Gibson Dram & Crutcher LLP have white collar criminal defense practices, as do such boutiques as Beck De Corso Daly Kreindler & Harris LLP and Lightfoot Vandevelde Sadowsky Crouchley Rutherford & Levine LLP. In response to the dearth of federal criminal cases, several firms have diversified to include state court public corruption cases, SEC investigations and internal corporate investigations. One lawyer said these diverse practices were not as common three years ago. "There is grumbling out there from some people saying 'I don't have much to do,'" said one white-collar criminal defense attorney. "We want (federal prosecutors) to bring lots of cases because we want to be busy." O'Brien, the presumptive nominee for the U.S. Attorney position and current head of the office's criminal division, declined to be interviewed. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of San Diego School of Law The University of San Diego School of Law, commonly referred to as USD Law, is a law school in San Diego, California. USD Law offers Juris Doctor degrees as well as LL.M. degrees in taxation law, international law, business and corporate law, and comparative law (for non-U. . He has been a deputy district attorney in both San Diego and Los Angeles. He joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles in 2000, and has previously served as chief of the civil rights division. By DREW COMBS Staff Reporter |
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