Counsel at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Dylan Aste, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, represents corporations and individuals in complex commercial litigation, government investigations and white collar defense, and has recovered approximately $500 million over the course of his career.
As a former federal prosecutor, Dylan has extensive experience handling complex, nationwide federal matters from investigation through trial. Dylan’s wealth of investigation and litigation experience includes matters of health care fraud, procurement and government contract fraud, opioid and prescription drug offenses, loan fraud, cryptocurrency and digital assets, civil rights and cross-border actions. With over a decade of experience investigating and litigating False Claims Act and Controlled Substances Act cases on behalf of the government, Dylan assists clients facing government investigations and enforcement actions.
Dylan is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, sharing his experience on False Claims Act, Controlled Substances Act and other topics.
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
San Diego, California
Dylan represents corporations and individuals in complex commercial litigation, government investigations and white collar defense, and has recovered approximately $500 million over the course of his career.
University of San Diego School of Law
San Diego, California
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
San Diego, California
Federal Bar Association, San Diego Chapter
San Diego, California
Immediate Past President: Jan 2023 - Dec 2023
Board of Directors: Jan 2020 - Dec 2023
President: Jan 2022 - Dec 2022
President-Elect: Jan 2021 - Dec 2021
Chair, Special Events: Jan 2020 - Dec 2020
U.S. Attorney’s Office
(appointed)California Central District
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
San Diego, California
U.S. Attorney’s Office
(appointed)California Central District
Law Office of Manuel de la Cerra
University of San Diego School of Law
San Diego, California
February 2026
As an AUSA, co-led $350 million multidistrict resolution with national pharmacy chain due to alleged False Claims Act and Controlled Substances Act violations. Served on lead prosecution team that obtained $39.5 million multidistrict resolution with Fortune 500 medical device company due to alleged False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute violations. Led investigation that resulted in $20 million settlement with subsidiary of Fortune 500 health care company for alleged diversion of prescription drugs and controlled substances.
Southern District of California
May 2025
Rising Star Recent Alumni Award
August 2021
San Diego Metro
April 2020
Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society
April 2023
National Federal Bar Association
March 2023
Pillsbury Client Alert
May 2025
CoauthorIn a memorandum issued by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on May 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the creation of the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, a new enforcement effort that uses the federal False Claims Act (FCA) to pursue investigations and prosecutions of recipients of federal funding—including institutions of higher education, research centers and federal contractors—who allegedly falsely certify their compliance with federal civil rights laws. The FCA is known as the government’s “primary weapon against fraud, waste, and abuse,” because FCA violations can yield treble damages plus five-figure penalties for each false claim.
pillsburylaw.com
May 2025
On May 12, 2025, the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice issued a Memorandum outlining its new approach to white-collar criminal enforcement under the second Trump administration. Observing that “overbroad and unchecked corporate and white-collar enforcement burdens U.S. business and harms U.S. interests,” the Memorandum represents a notable shift in the Department’s tone.
DOJ Journal of Federal Law and Practice
March 2024
Coauthor
Pillsbury — San Diego
June 2025
The event will be presented by our Government Contracts, Litigation and Employment lawyers. We will cover issues and trends affecting companies that currently operate in or aim to enter the public sector.
Federal Bar Association — Washington, DC
February 2025
Join Dylan Aste as he joins a panel discussion on “Damage Modeling” at the 2025 Qui Tam Conference. This panel, involving speakers from the government, defense bar and relator’s counsel, will be discussing various approaches to damage models that can be applied in different FCA contexts, as well as evolving case law and department practice with respect to financial modeling—from cases involving defense procurement to health care Anti-Kickback Statute cases. Attendees will learn about various models from large cases and be able to ask the attendees about best practices for defending/challenging these models.
Webinar
February 2025
The DOJ continues to bring significant enforcement actions under its Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative. In 2024, the DOJ announced its largest number of settlements to date. As it increases its Civil Cyber-Fraud prosecutions and uses the False Claims Act to bring actions on cyber matters involving government contracts, the DOJ has used the risk of the treble damages to obtain significant case resolutions.
Orange County Bar Association — California
January 2025
This seminar will explore trends and hot topics in health care litigation, enforcement and compliance. Featuring former and current federal government attorneys specializing in civil and criminal health care matters, the program will address topics including anti-kickback enforcement, False Claims Act litigation, current enforcement priorities, and issues specific to the addition treatment industry. The seminar will also address best practices in responding to a government investigation, including regarding DOJ corporate cooperation policies. The program will be designed for attorneys specializing in health care law, business litigation, white-collar defense and regulatory compliance.
West Coast Government Contracts Summit
June 2025
Panelist