Overview
Avi Weitzman is co-chair of the Complex Litigation and Arbitration practice and a partner in the Investigations and White Collar Defense practice at Paul Hastings, based in the firm’s New York office. Avi has successfully served as lead trial counsel in some of the country’s highest-profile white collar and civil trials, both while an assistant United States attorney in the Southern District of New York and in private practice since then.
Avi is an experienced and sought-after litigator and trial lawyer, who has participated in and led nearly twenty trials and arbitrations over his 25+ year career. Clients, colleagues and adversaries have described him as a “smart, tenacious” and “quick-witted litigator,” with “an unparalleled dedication to figuring out every angle that he can present for clients” because he “leaves no stone unturned.” Avi has been singled out by Chambers (among may other major legal publications) for his “first-rate legal skills,” “keen judgment” and “dedication” to his clients.
Avi was co-lead trial counsel in the high profile, 10-week trial of New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez, charged in an 18-count indictment by the U.S. Attorney’s Office (SDNY) with public corruption and obstruction of justice offenses. This was an unprecedented case in which the government, for the first time ever, charged a member of Congress with acting as an agent of a foreign country (Egypt) in violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Commentators noted Avi’s creative and forceful representation of Sen. Menendez, with the New York Times noting that Avi’s opening jury address “shook the courtroom awake.”
Avi was also lead trial counsel in the six-year defense of Kaleil Isaza Tuzman, a former CEO of a public company charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office (SDNY) and SEC with accounting fraud and market manipulation. After his two-month trial, the government sought a 20+ year prison sentence. With a tenacious defense, which the court described as a “scorched earth strategy [that] ... truly left no stone unturned,” Avi persuaded the court to impose a sentence of no time in prison, a request the legal press described as “bold” and “audacious.”
Avi also obtained a complete defense victory, with a rare pretrial dismissal, of a federal indictment filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office (SDNY) against his client, the founder of a publicly traded pharmaceutical company, charged with insider trading for allegedly tipping friends and family in advance of a $3.5 billion tender offer.
In addition, Avi has had leading roles in a number of high-profile civil trials and matters. Most recently, he represented Incyte, a global biopharmaceutical company, in its $1 billion royalty dispute with Novartis over the blockbuster pharmaceutical product Jakafi — which resolved favorably on the eve of trial. He is also been involved in several high-profile founders’ disputes. Previously, Avi represented Chevron Corporation in a two-month federal RICO trial barring the enforcement of a $9 billion Ecuadorian judgment that The American Lawyer called “The Case of the Century”; represented the Office of the Governor of New Jersey in an independent investigation of the “Bridgegate” matter; and represented VOOM HD Holdings in its multibillion dollar trial against DISH Network, which resulted in a mid-trial settlement valued at well over $1 billion. Avi has also represented a large media company in a defamation lawsuit, and both financial institutions and media companies in employment disputes.
From 2005 to 2012, Avi served as an assistant United States attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he tried twelve federal criminal jury trials to verdict. As a member of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force, Avi investigated and prosecuted a wide range of federal securities fraud offenses and coordinated parallel civil proceedings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Avi was a member of the team that led the government’s investigation dubbed “Operation Perfect Hedge,” which resulted in the conviction of over 60 individuals for insider trading offenses. He played a leading role in many of the government’s highest-profile insider-trading cases, including having successfully defended the government’s use of wiretaps in the Raj Rajaratnam case, serving as lead counsel in the first “expert network” insider trading trial (United States v. Winifred Jiau) and having led the government’s investigation of SAC Capital portfolio manager Mat Martoma, which resulted in the largest single-trade insider trading scheme ever charged. For his work on the Rajaratnam case, Avi received the attorney general’s Distinguished Service Award in 2012.
Avi has an active pro bono practice. Among other things, Avi filed Supreme Court amicus briefs in recent Second Amendment cases, including representing 139 Democratic members of the House of Representatives in N.Y. State Rifle & Pistol Association v. City of New York, and members of the business community in N.Y. State Rifle Association v. Bruen. These amicus briefs challenged petitioners’ efforts in these cases to expand the Second Amendment to include a purported right to carry firearms outside the home and to require more lax concealed carry laws.
Avi has been recognized by most leading trade publications for his skills in both white-collar defense and commercial litigation. He is individually ranked by Chambers USA for New York White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (2023-present) and is recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® as a leading lawyer in the area of Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Benchmark Litigation as a “Litigation Star” in New York; and Lawdragon 500 as a Global Leader in Crisis Management. He is also one of the few New York lawyers to be ranked by InsiderNJ in the top 50 of New Jersey’s “Legal Power List” (2024, 2025).
Accolades
- Chambers USA, Litigation: White Collar-Crime & Government Investigations (2023-present)
- Legal 500, Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Individuals
- Legal 500, General Commercial Disputes
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Leading Lawyer: White Collar Criminal Defense
- Lawdragon 500, Global Leader in Crisis Management
- Insider NJ, Legal Power List (2024, 2025)
- Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Star (2022, 2025)
- Law360, Rising Star: White Collar Criminal Defense (2013)
- New York Law Journal, Rising Star: White Collar (2014)
Education
- Harvard University, J.D., 1999
- University of Kentucky, B. A., 1996
Representations
Representative Experience in White Collar and Regulatory Matters
Public Corruption: Represented Sen. Robert Menendez in 10-week jury trial in SDNY on federal criminal charges of public corruption and obstruction of justice offenses, including an unprecedented charge that Sen. Menendez acted as an agent of a foreign country (Egypt) in violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
Public Corruption: Obtained declination in South Carolina Attorney General investigation of David Tepper into allegations of misuse of municipal funds in connection with construction of training center for Carolina Panthers.
Securities Fraud: Represented large international mining company in SEC enforcement action filed in SDNY charging it with securities fraud in connection with a $3.5 billion impairment of coal assets in Mozambique.
Securities Fraud: Represented multi-billion-dollar public company in parallel DOJ (SDNY) and SEC investigations into restatement resulting from impairment, resulting in declination of criminal charges.
Gambling: Represented Molly Bloom, whom newspapers called the “Poker Princess,” in a RICO action in the SDNY involving allegations of illegal poker games. Case was made into movie “Molly’s Game,” starring Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba.
Securities Fraud: Lead trial counsel in two-month criminal trial representing Kaleil Isaza Tuzman, former CEO of KIT Digital, charged by U.S. Attorney’s Office (SDNY) with market manipulation and accounting fraud. Obtained a sentence of time served despite trial conviction and the government’s request for a 20+ year prison sentence.
Insider Trading: Successfully obtained pretrial dismissal of federal criminal indictment filed by U.S. Attorney’s Office (SDNY) of founder of Auspex Pharmaceuticals charged with insider trading for allegedly tipping friends and family in advance of $3.5 billion tender offer, as well as declination of any re-indictment.
Insider Trading: Represented investment banker in insider trading investigation by U.S. Attorney’s Office (N.D. Ill.) and SEC, resulting in non-custodial sentence of probation.
False Claims Act: Represented large biotech company in investigation by U.S. Attorney’s Office (SDNY) for alleged violations of the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute.
False Claims Act: Successfully represented private club in investigation by U.S. Attorney’s Office (N.D. Cal)
False Claims Act: Successfully represented the President of a health care company in Qui Tam lawsuit alleging violations of the state and federal False Claims Act; representation resulted in government declination and voluntary dismissal of claims against client.
FCPA: Represented former CEO of large pharmaceutical company in an investigation by the DOJ and SEC into alleged bribes in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Public Corruption: Represented the Office of the Governor of the State of New Jersey in internal investigation related to the allegations concerning the George Washington Bridge toll lane realignment in September 2013 and the allegations raised by Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer concerning Superstorm Sandy aid allocations, which, after a two-month investigation, resulted in a comprehensive and exhaustive 340-page internal investigation report.
Public Corruption: Represented large software provider in investigation by Ohio county prosecutors into alleged public corruption.
Public Corruption: Obtained non-prosecution agreement for CEO of a publicly traded environmental company in connection with public corruption and securities fraud investigations; favorably resolved parallel SEC enforcement action.
Public Corruption: Represented the Select Committee in its impeachment investigation of former Governor John Rowland, which resulted in a historic Connecticut Supreme Court ruling and subsequent resignation of Governor Rowland.
Gambling: Successfully represented Draft Kings in criminal and regulatory investigations, as well as civil enforcement actions brought by Attorneys General in New York and other states to enjoin ongoing operations.
Gambling/Forfeiture: Successfully represented founder of online poker company in forfeiture proceedings with the Department of Justice (SDNY), and co-founder of company in criminal proceedings that resulted in non-incarceratory sentence.
Representative Experience in Complex Commercial and Civil Disputes Investment Adviser
Patent Royalties Dispute: Co-lead trial counsel representing Incyte, a biotpharmaceutical company, in a $1 billion royalty dispute with Novartis over the blockbuster pharmaceutical product Jakafi, which resulted in a favorable settlement on the eve of the three-week SDNY trial.
Founder’s Dispute: Represent the co-founder of Stability AI, one of the hottest and most prospective generative AI companies in the world, in a co-founder dispute alleging breach of fiduciary duty and other claims pending in Delaware Chancery Court.
Founder’s Dispute: Successfully defended Square and its two co-founders, Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey, in connection with patent infringement, trade secret, fraud and joint venture claims brought by an individual alleging a breach of an alleged oral joint venture agreement to form the innovative company, Square, Inc.
Investment Adviser Fraud: Represented investment fund in putative class action lawsuit brought by investors alleging unlawful squeeze out; obtained dismissal of class action claims and centerpiece breach of contract claim.
Investment Adviser Fraud: Represented plaintiffs in investor fraud lawsuit filed in Central District of California; obtained preliminary injunction against investor adviser that resulted in favorable settlement
RICO: Represented New York’s largest liquor distributor in its RICO lawsuit against a Maryland liquor distributor arising out of a bootlegging scheme.
Employment Litigation: Lead counsel representing major financial institution in multiple FINRA arbitrations and lawsuits, including a whistleblower lawsuit alleging violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley and Americans with Disabilities Acts.
Employment Litigation: Defended Amazon.com in employee lawsuit seeking injunction based on COVID-19-related safety concerns; obtained denial of injunction and dismissal of lawsuit.
Employment Litigation: Lead counsel representing major media entity in lawsuit alleging gender discrimination and retaliation claims.
Employment Litigation: Represented music label CEO in lawsuit alleging tortious interference and breach of employment contract.
Defamation: Represented major media entity in defamation lawsuit filed by former anchor who had been terminated as a result of #MeToo allegations against the anchor.
Defamation: Successfully obtained dismissal of defamation lawsuit against anonymous blogger.
Defamation: Represented hedge fund owner Louis Bacon in federal and state lawsuits arising out of smear campaign by Peter Nygaard. Successfully pursued discovery in the United States through 28U.S.C. § 1782 from videographer; successfully moved to dismiss retaliatory California state lawsuit under California’s anti-SLAPP statute; and successfully moved to dismiss all retaliatory counterclaims filed against Mr. Bacon in New York state court.
Regulatory Challenge: Represented waste disposal company in its high-profile lawsuit against regulatory agency that improperly suspended company’s license.
Breach of Contract-Media: Represented plaintiff (owned by Cablevision and AMC Networks) in breach of contract trial against DISH Network that resulted in a favorable mid-trial settlement valued at over $1 billion
Breach of Contract: Represented Chobani founder in $1 billion lawsuit brought by his ex-wife seeking ownership of the company.
Lanham Act: Member of the trial team that obtained a preliminary injunction on behalf of Schick Manufacturing, following a one-week evidentiary hearing, in its false advertising and Lanham Act claims against The Gillette Company over the advertising of Gillette’s M3 Power Razor.
International Arbitration: Member of team representing lead claimant First Eagle SoGen Funds in an international arbitration against the Bank for International Settlements, in which an arbitral panel in the Hague awarded private shareholders approximately $500million in damages for inadequate squeeze-out of shareholders.
Engagement & Publications
- “Wall Street Sweep: Handling Personal Devices, Ephemeral Messaging and Privacy Rights,” New York Law Journal, November 10, 2022