Daniel Ruzumna is a Partner in Patterson Belknap’s Litigation department and Co-Chair of its White-Collar Defense and Investigations group. His extensive trial experience has earned him a “Litigation Star” for New York recognition by Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC’s Benchmark Litigation, where a peer described him as “phenomenal” and “always prepared, zealous and careful, just a terrific trial lawyer.” He has been recognized by Chambers USA in the area of Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Investigations. The guide notes that Dan “earns praise for his ability to handle both criminal and civil disputes.” Clients describe him as “an excellent strategist who thinks steps ahead” and "a brilliant trial lawyer." He “is pleasure to work with and is adept at handling complex government investigations.” Dan is “incredibly smart, attentive and always thinks outside the box.” In recognition of his long history of excellence as a trial lawyer, Dan was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2021.
Dan's practice focuses on the areas of white-collar criminal defense and related regulatory proceedings, internal investigations, asset forfeiture proceedings, and complex financial litigation. He has represented corporations and individuals in many recent high-profile criminal and regulatory investigations involving alleged violations of the securities laws, antitrust laws, tax laws, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Dan regularly conducts confidential investigations on behalf of clients, including a professional sports league, higher education institutions, financial firms, and life sciences companies. He has also represented clients in high stakes appeals and arbitrations. Dan also handles high end art-related matters, including litigation, arbitration, and investigations.
Dan is a frequent commentator on issues of criminal law, U.S. economic sanctions, and asset forfeiture, and is often interviewed for television and newspaper stories on white collar criminal issues. He has appeared on Bloomberg Television and an affiliate of CNBC to discuss the insider trading laws and prosecutions involving alleged violations of the securities laws. Dan also served as counsel to the Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Crimes Committee of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), with a focus on anti-corruption compliance issues, for over a decade.
Before joining Patterson Belknap in 2005, Dan spent six years working at the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, where he last served as Acting Chief of the Major Crimes Unit, a unit of more than 20 federal prosecutors dedicated to investigating and prosecuting economic crimes and financial frauds. As a federal prosecutor, Dan investigated and prosecuted white collar criminal cases involving bank fraud, mail and wire fraud, health care fraud, securities fraud, criminal tax violations, and money laundering. He also prosecuted organized crime and handled civil and criminal asset forfeiture actions. In 2004, Dan received the Department of Justice's highest honor, the John Marshall Award for Asset Forfeiture, and acted as a lecturer and instructor of trial advocacy at the Department’s National Advocacy Center.
After graduation from law school, Dan served as a Law Clerk to the late Hon. Jay C. Waldman, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Dan then spent almost four years in private practice in Washington, D.C., before becoming a federal prosecutor.
