Overview
Patrick Hein is a partner in Paul Hastings’ Securities Litigation practice and is based in the firm’s San Francisco office. Patrick’s significant trial victories as lead counsel, such as a recent jury verdict in a trademark infringement case in the Northern District of California, have earned him recognition as a top trial attorney, including The American Lawyer’s “Litigator of the Week.”
A seasoned former federal prosecutor, Patrick regularly represents and advises clients in some of their most significant matters, ranging from bet-the-company civil cases to highly sensitive white-collar investigations. His civil work includes securities, Lanham Act, antitrust, unfair competition and other commercial disputes in federal and state courts in California. Patrick also frequently conducts internal investigations for companies related to fraud, bribery and market manipulation claims and represents companies and individuals before the Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and other regulators.
Prior to returning to private practice in San Francisco, Patrick served for eight years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York (EDNY), including as deputy chief of the Business and Securities Fraud Section and as a senior member of the DOJ’s FIFA Corruption Task Force. During his time at the EDNY, Patrick investigated, prosecuted and tried a wide range of high-profile white-collar criminal matters, including the FIFA corruption case, securities fraud cases and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) cases.
Before joining the EDNY, Patrick clerked for U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz of the District of Maryland and practiced at another global law firm in San Francisco.
Accolades
- Litigator of the Week (August 2025)
- Prosecutor of the Year, Federal Law Enforcement Foundation (2019 and 2020)
Education
- University of California, Berkeley School of Law, J.D. (Member, California Law Review)
- Yale University, B.A. (magna cum laude)
Representations
- A media company in a Northern District of California action alleging trademark infringement and unfair competition, achieving jury trial victory as lead counsel.
- A global financial institution in a Central District of California federal securities fraud case related to pre-IPO investment in China-based grocery retailer, obtaining dismissal with prejudice.
- A multinational video game and digital entertainment company in a Northern District of California federal antitrust class action alleging monopolization and unfair competition related to changes in distribution strategy.
- A gaming and entertainment company in California state court action alleging unfair competition and false advertising.
- A global financial institution in California state court action alleging fraud in connection with $725 million loan to a renewable energy company, obtaining a favorable resolution.
- A global financial institution in connection with DOJ and SEC investigations.
- A technology company in connection with a DOJ investigation.
- A financial advisory firm executive in connection with an SEC investigation.
- A global financial institution in connection with a CFTC litigation.
- Technology companies in connection with internal FCPA investigations and compliance reviews.
- A special board committee of a pharmaceutical company in connection with an internal investigation related to shareholder demand.
EDNY Experience
- Obtained convictions after a nine-week trial of co-chief investment officers of Platinum Partners hedge fund for a scheme to defraud bondholders of $70 million.
- Obtained convictions of nine defendants, including a corporate executive after a five-week trial, for a $300 million market manipulation scheme.
- Investigated and prosecuted soccer officials and sports marketing and broadcasting companies and executives for wire fraud and money laundering in connection with the DOJ’s FIFA Task Force’s long-running prosecution of corruption in international soccer.
- Investigated and obtained corporate resolutions and guilty pleas from global shipping and oil and gas companies, which paid more than $700 million to resolve FCPA charges with the United States, Brazil and Singapore arising out of decade-long schemes to pay millions of dollars in bribes to government officials in Brazil.
- Obtained an insider-trading conviction of an investment advisor tipped off by a corporate lawyer client regarding a pending pharmaceutical company merger — a scheme that resulted in more than $400,000 in illegal profits.
- Led investigation of multimillion-dollar schemes to manipulate the price of cryptocurrencies using fake press releases and fraudulent online user accounts.
Pro Bono
- Represented indigent defendants in criminal wire fraud and identity theft cases in the Northern District of California and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Matters may have been handled prior to joining Paul Hastings.
Engagement & Publications
Speaking Engagements
- “DOJ’s Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policies,” to technology companies and global financial institutions, Presenter (2023-25)
- “Enforcement Trends in the US and the UK,” Moderator (2025)
Involvement
Professional and Community Involvement
- Former Deputy Chief, Business and Securities Fraud Section, Eastern District of New York
- Former Senior Member, Department of Justice’s FIFA Corruption Task Force