Nimrod (Nimi) Aviad is a partner in Crowell & Moring’s Los Angeles office, where he is a member of the White Collar Crime and Regulatory Enforcement Group and of the firm's Investigations Group.
Nimi's practice focuses on representing and counseling corporate and individual clients in white collar criminal defense, regulatory enforcement actions, grand jury investigations, internal corporate investigations, and in related complex civil litigation matters.
Nimi has represented individuals and corporations in the course of investigations and enforcement actions by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), state attorneys' general, and local California district attorneys, among other domestic and international enforcement bodies and regulators.
Nimi has represented clients in high-profile, high-stakes matters involving a wide range of business offenses, including public corruption and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations, market manipulation and other securities fraud, accounting fraud, procurement fraud, insider trading, and fraud relating to residential mortgage-backed securities. Nimi’s internal investigation work emphasizes FCPA and Anti-Money Laundering issues; he has tried cases in Federal and state courts, and investigated alleged misconduct throughout the United States, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. Nimi also has experience in handling federal and state government regulatory inquiries and enforcement actions targeting entities and individuals that invest in and incorporate blockchain technology, cryptocurrency, and other digital assets into their businesses.
Over the past ten years, Nimi has developed experience in matters associated with the “digital Fourth Amendment,” including the Stored Communications Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Nimi routinely writes and speaks about these issues, as well as briefs them to courts around the country, including the California Supreme Court.
Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, Nimi served as a law clerk to the Honorable Justice Ayala Procaccia of the Supreme Court of Israel. While in law school, he was student editor-in-chief of the Tel Aviv University Journal of Law, Society and Culture and the Tel Aviv University delegate to the International Criminal Court moot court competition.
Representative Matters
Representative Criminal Defense and Civil Enforcement Matters
- Defended the founder and executive director of a high-performing charter school against charges of misappropriation of public funds, embezzlement, tax fraud, and conflict of interest.
- Defended an investor against criminal insider trading charges and parallel enforcement action by the SEC.
- Defended a United States naturalized citizen in denaturalization proceedings based on alleged criminal conduct.
- Defended an investment bank managing director in an enforcement action brought by the Federal Reserve alleging corruption-based violations of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
- Defended a multinational geothermal energy company against allegations of False Claims Act violations.
- Represented shipping company and executives in connection with a criminal antitrust investigation of price-fixing in the Container shipping industry.
- Represented a pool of former bank employees in connection with multiple enforcement and related civil matters concerning the sale of Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities.
- Represented a Mexican-based logistics company in connection with a cross-border smuggling investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
- Represented bank executive in connection with an SEC investigation of market manipulation related to convertible bonds issuances.
- Represented cryptocurrency exchange executive in connection with parallel DOJ, CFTC, and New York Attorney General investigations of market manipulation and misrepresentations.
- Represented executive director of a charter school in connection with a California FPPC investigation of conflict of interest violations.
- Represented leading decentralized finance (DeFi) company in various civil and regulatory matters.
- Represented a real estate company utilizing artificial intelligence and blockchain technology as part of its business model in connection with an investigation by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.
- Represented leading cryptocurrency exchange in connection with an OFAC investigation of alleged US sanctions violations.
Representative Investigation Matters
- Internal investigation in Mexico on behalf of a Mexican subsidiary of a U.S. logistics company in connection with allegations of FCPA violations.
- Internal investigation in Argentina and related self-reporting to the SEC and DOJ on behalf of a global technology company in a matter involving allegations of FCPA violations.
- Internal Investigation in Japan on behalf of global technology company in connection with allegations of accounting fraud.
- Internal investigation in the middle east on behalf of a multinational conglomerate company in connection with allegations of US sanctions violations.
- Internal investigation in the United States on behalf of a prominent DeFi company in connection with allegations of misrepresentation and fraud.
Speeches & Presentations
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“Arbitration in Times of Conflict,” Tel Aviv Arbitration Week, Tel Aviv, Israel.
(March 3, 2023).
Speakers: Nimi Aviad, Lauren Blanchard, Mark Kass, Ian Laird, Stu Newberger, Uri Niv, Aryeh Portnoy, David Ramm, and Laurence Winston.
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"Nuts & Bolts of Investigations: Protecting Privilege," Lexology Webinar, 2022.
(May 19, 2022).
Speakers: Nimrod Haim Aviad, Thomas A. Hanusik, mMaarten Stassen and Laurence Winston.
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"Anti-Corruption & Sanctions Investigations," Investigations: Readiness and Response Webinar Series
(April 29, 2021).
Presenters: Nimrod Haim Aviad, Thomas A. Hanusik, Michelle J. Linderman, Warrington Parker, and Robert Clifton Burns.
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"Nuts & Bolts of Investigations: Protecting Privilege," Investigations: Readiness and Response Webinar Series
(April 27, 2021).
Presenters: Nimrod Haim Aviad, Kelly T. Currie, Rebecca Monck Ricigliano, Maarten Stassen, and Laurence Winston.
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"Protecting Your Business from Zoom-Bombs and Other Videoconferencing Privacy Concerns, Including Preservation and Potential Subpoenas," myLawCLE Webinar
(May 12, 2020).
Presenter: Nimrod Haim Aviad.
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"From ESI to Evidence: Document Preservation, Collection and Analysis," Crowell & Moring's Investigations Workshop 2019, Washington, DC
(May 8, 2019).
Moderator: Stephen M. Byers; Speakers: John E. Davis, Tiffany Wynn, and Nimrod Haim Aviad.
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"Investigations 201: From ESI to Evidence - Document Preservation, Collection, and Analysis," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(June 28, 2018).
Presenters: Stephen M. Byers, Nimrod Haim Aviad, and Dalal Hasan.
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"Fourth Amendment Issues in Criminal Investigations," Electronic Information in Criminal Investigations & Prosecutions 2015, New York, NY
(November 4, 2015).
Presenter: Nimi Aviad.
Publications
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"Gap Year: COVID-19's Impact on White-Collar Crime Enforcement and Defense," Criminal Justice, Vol. 35, No. 3
(Fall 2020).
Authors: Thomas A. Hanusik, Daniel L. Zelenko, Nimrod Haim Aviad, and Laura Schwartz.
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"Anticipate Gov't Subpoenas Of Your Zoom Recordings," Law360
(April 23, 2020).
Authors: Daniel L. Zelenko, Nimi Haim Aviad, John E. Davis, Rukiya Mohamed and Bridget Carr.
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"The Rise of Insider Trading as a Title 18 Offense," The Review of Securities & Commodities Regulation, Vol. 53, No. 5
(March 11, 2020).
Authors: Thomas A. Hanusik, Rebecca Monck Ricigliano, and Nimrod Haim Aviad.
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"Government Contracts Bullet Points: Federal Guidance," Westlaw
(December 16, 2019).
Authors: Rebecca Monck Ricigliano, David B. Robbins, Nimrod Haim Aviad, Richard Stella and Gabrielle Trujillo.
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"How FinCEN's New Global Investigation Division Changes The Department Enforcement Landscape," Westlaw Journal White-Collar Crime
(October 25, 2019).
Authors: Carlton Greene, Rebecca Monck Ricigliano, Nicole Sayegh Succar, and Nimi Haim Aviad.
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"Navigating Cross-Border Criminal Enforcement and 'Allen'" The National Law Journal
(December 29, 2017).
Authors: Paul Rosen, Nimrod Haim Aviad and Danielle Rowan.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"Empowering Chief Compliance Officers? Certifications are Now Required under DOJ Resolution Policy,"
Whistleblowing – A Guide to Compliance
(June 24, 2022).
Contacts: Thomas A. Hanusik, Nimrod Haim Aviad, Rebecca Lennon Baskin
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"DOJ’s Revised Prosecutorial Guidelines: The “Ethical” Hacker Exemption,"
Privacy Law Alert
(June 3, 2022).
Contacts: Nimrod Haim Aviad, Stephen M. Byers, Matthew B. Welling, Evan D. Wolff, Alexander Urbelis, Anand Sithian
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"SEC Announces 2022 Examination Priorities,"
Financial Services Alert
(April 1, 2022).
Contacts: Carlton Greene, Anand Sithian, Irina Pisareva, Richard J. Lee, Nimrod Haim Aviad, Caroline E. Brown, Alexander Urbelis
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"Texas Court Dismisses DOJ’s FCPA and Money Laundering Claims Finding DOJ’s Agency Theory of Liability Unconstitutional,"
White Collar Alert
(November 17, 2021).
Contacts: Thomas A. Hanusik, Warrington Parker, Nimrod Haim Aviad
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"Supreme Court Resolves Circuit Split over Scope of Computer Fraud and Abuse Act,"
Privacy Law Alert
(June 4, 2021).
Contacts: Nimrod Haim Aviad, Stephen M. Byers, Mark A. Klapow, Anne Elise Herold Li, Raija Horstman
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"SEC's Focus On DeFi Is Made Clear Through Its Suit Against LBRY, Inc.,"
White Collar Alert
(April 5, 2021).
Contact: Nimrod Haim Aviad
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"SFO Investigation Powers Over Foreign Companies Limited by U.K. Supreme Court Decision,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(March 3, 2021).
Contacts: Nimrod Haim Aviad, Laurence Winston
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"Congress Passes the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, Significant Changes to the Bank Secrecy Act Ahead,"
International Trade Bulletin
(January 19, 2021).
Contacts: Carlton Greene, Caroline E. Brown, Nimrod Haim Aviad, Kelly T. Currie, Rebecca Monck Ricigliano, Nicole Sayegh Succar
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"FCPA Guidance Update: DOJ and SEC Release Second Edition of Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act,"
White Collar Alert
(July 9, 2020).
Contacts: Thomas A. Hanusik, Kelly T. Currie, Derek A. Hahn, Nimrod Haim Aviad, Arlen Pyenson
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"Supreme Court Upholds SEC's Ability to Seek Disgorgement, With Limits,"
White Collar Alert
(June 24, 2020).
Contacts: Daniel L. Zelenko, Thomas A. Hanusik, Nimrod Haim Aviad, Danielle Giffuni
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"Second Circuit Confirms Easier Path to Insider Trading Convictions,"
White Collar Alert
(January 7, 2020).
Contacts: Rebecca Monck Ricigliano, Daniel L. Zelenko, Lisa Nicole Umans, Nimrod Haim Aviad, Thomas A. Hanusik
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"DOJ Further Encourages Swift Self-Reporting with Changes to Corporate Enforcement Policy,"
White Collar Alert
(December 2, 2019).
Contacts: Thomas A. Hanusik, Derek A. Hahn, Nimrod Haim Aviad
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"Federal Guidance,"
White Collar Alert
(October 17, 2019).
Contacts: Nimrod Haim Aviad, Rebecca Monck Ricigliano, Richard Stella
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"The Month in International Trade – September 2018,"
International Trade Bulletin
(October 4, 2018).
Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Edward Goetz, John B. Brew, Evan Yu, Robert Holleyman, Aaron Marx, Carlton Greene, Scott Lessne, Nimrod Haim Aviad, Emmanuel Plasschaert, Frederik Van Remoortel
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"FinCEN Grants Rollover and Renewal Exception to Beneficial Ownership Requirement,"
International Trade Bulletin
(September 24, 2018).
Contacts: Nimrod Haim Aviad, Carlton Greene, Scott Lessne
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"Time is not on the SEC's Side: EDNY Issues New Statute of Limitations Ruling in the Wake of Kokesh,"
White Collar Alert
(July 17, 2018).
Contacts: Thomas A. Hanusik, Rebecca Monck Ricigliano, Daniel L. Zelenko, Nimrod Haim Aviad
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"Relying On 'Seismic Shifts In Digital Technology,' Supreme Court Requires Probable Cause For Historical Cellphone-Location Data,"
White Collar Alert
(June 25, 2018).
Contacts: Nimrod Haim Aviad, Rebecca Monck Ricigliano, Christopher D. Garcia
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"By Appointment Only: Supreme Court Holds that SEC Administrative Law Judges are Officers Subject to the Appointment Clause of the Constitution; Opens Door to Similar Challenges Across the Federal Executive,"
White Collar Alert
(June 25, 2018).
Contacts: Nimrod Haim Aviad, Daniel L. Zelenko
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"DOJ Asks Supreme Court to Resolve Split Over Its Ability to Compel Foreign Records,"
White Collar Alert
(August 21, 2017).
Contacts: Nimrod Haim Aviad, Christopher D. Garcia
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"Supreme Court Rules SEC Disgorgement Is a Penalty Subject to Five-Year Statute of Limitations,"
White Collar Alert
(June 6, 2017).
Contacts: Thomas A. Hanusik, Daniel L. Zelenko, Nimrod Haim Aviad, Tiffany Wynn
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"The Gift of Giving: Supreme Court Upholds Conviction in Salman Insider Trading Case,"
White Collar Alert
(December 8, 2016).
Contacts: Thomas A. Hanusik, Daniel L. Zelenko, Nimrod Haim Aviad
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"Where Fraud Leads, We Will Follow: DOJ to Heighten Focus on Corporate Health Care Fraud, Health Care Executives, and Adequacy of Compliance,"
White Collar Alert
(April 19, 2016).
Contacts: David W. O'Brien, John T. Brennan Jr., Troy A. Barsky, Stephen M. Byers, Kelly T. Currie, Nimrod Haim Aviad, Laura Schwartz
Press Coverage
Firm News & Announcements