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Todd A. Pickles represents clients in white collar matters and investigations, as well as conducting independent investigations regarding potential violations of criminal and civil law and relating to California’s Political Reform Act. Todd also represents clients in federal and state court with respect to trade secret misappropriation and other business litigation, as well as with litigation with respect to employment, tort, and environmental claims. Todd has participated in 18 jury trials and argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on multiple occasions.

As a former assistant United States attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, Todd’s experience includes investigations and prosecutions related to securities fraud, investment fraud, bank fraud, health care fraud, and identity fraud. Given this experience, Todd regularly provides commentary to news media concerning on-going criminal matters.

Todd is also a contributor to GT’s series of podcasts, including on the criminal law aspects of trade secret misappropriation and employment investigations, and regularly releases articles and alerts regarding legal developments in multiple areas of litigation including criminal enforcement and trade secrets.

Todd previously served as the civil rights and hate crimes coordinator as well as the public corruption coordinator for the Eastern District of California.

Todd is also on the faculty at McGeorge School of Law as an adjunct professor teaching criminal procedure.

Concentrations

  • White collar investigations
  • Federal criminal law
  • Fraud
  • Trade secrets

Capabilities

Experience

  • Lead trial counsel in three-week California state court trial involving numerous common law and statutory claims including trade secret misappropriation.
  • Assisted a CA state agency with an independent investigation. Provided a detailed report of our findings and recommendations to the state agency.
  • Coordinated independent investigation for corporate client of potential embezzlement that resulted in recovery of substantial assets for the company.
  • Represented defendant in embezzlement and money-laundering case.
  • Counsel for corporate defendant in trade secret misappropriation case involving automated driving technology.
  • United States v. Carpoff, 2:20-cr-17 JAM. Lead counsel in the investigation involving billion-dollar securities and tax fraud scheme involving solar credits. °
  • United States v. Absi, 2:16-cr-027 MCE. Lead counsel in the investigation involving securities and accounting fraud.°
  • United States v. Carpenter, 2:14-cr-309 GEB. Lead counsel in the investigation of a multi-million-dollar investment fraud scheme.°
  • United States v. Crosby, 2:17-cr-006 MCE. Lead counsel in the investigation involving tribal embezzlement and tax evasion.°
  • United States v. Dubinsky, 2:11-cr-328 WBS. Lead prosecutor in a series of related cases and trials involving a large-scale mortgage fraud scheme°.
  • United States v. Martin, 2:15-cr-235 TLN. Lead counsel from indictment through trial which involved an international bribery scheme and public corruption.°
  • United States v. Stratos, 2:11-cr-537 TLN. Lead prosecutor involved in the investigation, indictment, and trial which involved fraud schemes.°
  • United States v. Turchin, et. al. 2:15-cr-161 GEB. Lead counsel in an investigation and trial involving public corruption.°

°The above representations were handled by Mr. Pickles prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

  • United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California, 2007-2018
    • Public Corruption Coordinator, 2017-2018
    • Civil Rights and Hate Crimes Coordinator, 2015-2018
    • Assistant U.S. Attorney, Criminal Division, 2010-2018
    • Assistant U.S. Attorney, Civil Division, 2007-2010

Recognition & Leadership

  • Recognized, Sacramento Magazine, "Top Lawyer," Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2021
  • Adjunct Professor, Criminal Procedure, McGeorge School of Law, 2020

Credentials

Education
  • J.D., summa cum laude, University of San Francisco School of Law, 2001
    • Editor-in-Chief, University of San Francisco Law Review
  • B.A., International Relations, cum laude, Georgetown University, 1997
    • Certificate in Russian and East European Studies
Clerkships
  • Hon. Saundra Brown Armstrong, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, 2001-2002
Admissions
  • California