Daniel D. Rubinstein

DANIEL RUBINSTEIN is global co-leader of Sidley’s White Collar Defense and Investigations practice, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, and a fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers. He is a trusted advocate, investigator, and advisor for Fortune 500 companies and executives alike in high-stakes litigation, sensitive internal investigations, and complex enforcement actions.

Dan is consistently recognized as a leading lawyer for white collar criminal matters, government investigations, and complex civil litigation. Chambers USA has ranked Dan for Band 1 (2024–2025) and Band 2 (2018–2023) Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations in Illinois. Clients in the 2025 edition of Chambers USA praise Dan for his skills as a trial lawyer, commenting that “he has incredible judgment and is extraordinarily responsive” and “provides an outstanding service.” Dan was named a “National Practice Area Star” and a “Litigation Star” for Securities and White-Collar Litigation in Benchmark Litigation (2023–2025). He has been recommended for Compliance and Investigations by Legal 500 Latin America (2024–2026). He also has been recognized by Who’s Who Legal.

Dan represents clients across a broad array of industries in complex civil, criminal, and regulatory enforcement matters. In particular, he has extensive experience in the financial services, healthcare, technology, consulting, and manufacturing sectors. He has handled a number of complex civil and criminal matters, including those involving enforcement actions brought by the Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other Federal Agencies and State Attorneys General. Dan is recognized as a “go-to” trial lawyer, and, in addition to successfully trying 21 jury cases to verdict in state and federal court, Dan has also successfully litigated and argued several appeals before Federal and State Appellate Courts, conducted more than 100 bench trials and contested evidentiary hearings in state and federal court, and directed more than 100 investigations.

Dan honed his litigation prowess as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in both the Central District of California and the Northern District of Illinois. He won numerous accolades for his trial work, including the DOJ’s “Director’s Award” for superior performance as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, the Chicago Crime Commission’s “Stars of Distinction Award” (twice), and honors from the FBI, DEA, and IRS. In that capacity, he investigated and prosecuted a wide range of federal criminal cases involving the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), complex corporate and securities fraud, money laundering, public corruption, terrorism financing, international drug trafficking, and gangs. He also previously served as a Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County, California, and as a law clerk for the Honorable Ernest C. Torres, U.S. District Judge for the District of Rhode Island.

Dan taught trial advocacy to other Assistant U.S. Attorneys from around the country at the DOJ’s National Advocacy Center, and he instructed prosecutors, federal agents, and police officers at various classes and seminars involving the investigation and prosecution of federal criminal offenses. Dan previously served as a lecturer in law at the University of Chicago Law School, where he taught “Federal Criminal Practice” from 2007–2014. Dan was on the varsity wrestling team as an undergrad at Brown University.

Significant Criminal Representations:

• Conducted an FCPA investigation on behalf of a privately held, independent global insurance brokerage in connection with investigations by the UK SFO and the DOJ. The SFO declined to prosecute, securing a deferred prosecution agreement from the DOJ. The agreement was a success for the client, resulting in a fine totaling less than 3% of the multimillion-dollar amount the DOJ suggested.
• Represented a senior executive of a large electric utilities company in a DOJ bribery investigation that was one of the most significant public corruption investigations in Illinois and received national media attention. No charges were filed against the executive.
• Represented a consulting company in a board investigation involving the departure of a senior executive.
• Represented a public company CEO in an SEC investigation involving trading-related issues resulting in closure with no enforcement action.
• Represented a leading global financial services firm and a senior trading supervisor as a victim witness in a criminal market manipulation jury trial.
• Represented a privately held health care company and two of its executives in a multi-million dollar federal criminal kickback matter. Following a lengthy investigation, the government extended non-prosecution agreements to the company’s executives.
• Secured a favorable resolution on behalf of a multinational corporation in conjunction with DOJ and SEC investigations regarding allegations of foreign bribery and FCPA violations.
• Represented a medical device manufacturer in connection with an investigation of potential criminal conduct by a former employee who attempted to steal key trade secrets for a product that was valued at over $200 million when leaving the company. Based on the evidence uncovered during an internal investigation, the matter was referred to federal law enforcement, and the former employee was subsequently indicted and convicted.
• Deputy Special Prosecutor who co-led the successful and highly publicized prosecution of the former Mayor of Chicago’s nephew, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The prosecution was closely followed by a number of media outlets and was described as a “stunning” and “remarkable” achievement.
• Represented multiple energy company executives in connection with government investigations and related litigation resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and oil spill.
• Represented a major automotive company executive in connection with a DOJ investigation and related regulatory matters and recall litigation. No charges were filed against the executive.
• Represented an executive with a European automobile manufacturer in connection with a criminal environmental investigation. No charges were filed against the executive.
• Represented a leading global financial institution in investigating and prosecuting the alleged misappropriation of trade secrets by two employees in the client's quantitative trading business. Following an internal investigation, both employees were subsequently indicated and convicted of federal criminal offenses.
• Represented two senior managers at a Japanese multinational company in a DOJ Antitrust Division criminal price-fixing investigation into automotive companies. Obtained immunity for both clients.
• Represented the former CEO of a public company in connection with a criminal matter involving finite transactions in the reinsurance industry, and obtained a deferred prosecution agreement in the criminal proceeding.
• Represented a major real estate developer convicted of bribing an elected official to establish new business. Faced with three years in prison, the developer was instead sentenced to home detention and probation.
• As local counsel, worked closely with primary counsel to represent a privately held company’s CFO, who was indicted on wire fraud. The case was dismissed after it resulted in a hung jury.
• Represented a Sundance Award-winning director and screenwriter facing federal criminal charges.
• Represented the CEO/chairman of a large, publicly traded online real estate company on federal criminal charges and related SEC and class actions.

Significant Civil Representations:

• Served as first chair for various explosion and fire cases, leading a team of lawyers and expert witnesses that resulted in a successful resolution of all matters.
• Successfully resolved a significant business dispute involving a private equity portfolio company after trying to verdict a two-week federal jury trial in the Northern District of Illinois.
• Secured a dismissal with prejudice of a class action lawsuit alleging that a beverage maker misled customers by labeling its products as “handmade.”
• Successfully resolved securities litigation filed by multiple plaintiffs against a global consulting firm related to financial consulting work it did for a large, privately held corporation. The plaintiffs, who purchased notes in the privately held corporation, alleged that our client intentionally or negligently misrepresented the privately held corporation’s EBITDA.
• Secured two significant preliminary injunctions for the portfolio company of a large private equity fund following a successful internal investigation into potential misconduct by a recently terminated employee. The investigation uncovered an ongoing, multi-year scheme between that engineer and two of the portfolio company’s former owners to develop competing products.
• Secured a key win following a bench trial on behalf of a metal processing client, defeating the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)’s efforts to require mandatory recognition and bargaining with the United Steelworkers Union (USW) and disclosure of confidential company financial records.
• Secured a multi-million-dollar judgment on behalf of a transportation company in “busted-deal” litigation alleging that a seller had falsified records to drive up the price of an acquisition; the defendant voluntarily dismissed its claims.
• Represented the world’s second-largest domain name registrar in an action alleging violation of the plaintiff’s intellectual property and privacy. Obtained summary judgment in favor of the registrar on all nine of the plaintiff’s claims.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

Dan has served on the boards of numerous organizations, including CARPLS legal aid service, which provides legal assistance to low income residents of Cook County, and the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago, which strengthens American democracy by providing elementary and secondary students with hands-on learning about the Constitution to prepare them for informed civic engagement. Dan also previously served on the board of the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation, which provides high school scholarship assistance and educational support to Chicago students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.