Providence, RI. Nixon Peabody LLP is pleased to announce that Zachary A. Cunha, former United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, has joined the law firm as partner in the Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice.
Zach’s arrival to Nixon Peabody caps a 20-year career with the US Department of Justice (DOJ). As US Attorney, Zach led and managed a staff of federal prosecutors handling all criminal and civil litigation in Rhode Island, including violent crime, cybercrime, civil rights, and opioids. He oversaw and expanded a robust criminal and civil white-collar and healthcare fraud practice, including cases brought under the False Claims Act, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the Controlled Substances Act. He also previously worked in the US Attorney’s Offices for Massachusetts and the Eastern District of New York.
Based on his distinguished service with the DOJ and nearly a quarter-century of litigation experience, Zach brings a unique blend of experience to clients facing high-stakes government investigations, enforcement actions, and complex litigation matters. He has deep experience handling and supervising criminal and civil matters and investigations across multiple industries, including healthcare, defense, and construction contracting matters, as well as grand jury investigations, agency administrative inquiries, and civil investigative demands, among others. He also has extensive direct experience handling challenges to federal agency action, notably under the Administrative Procedure Act.
“Zach has had a stellar reputation among his peers and across the federal bench during his career in public service,” said Nixon Peabody partner Robert Fisher, leader of the firm’s Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice, which includes several former federal and state prosecutors. “His combination of leadership and managing investigations and cases ranging from civil RICO to civil and criminal government procurement, regulatory challenges, healthcare, and countless other types of federal litigation and enforcement distinguish Zach from many other attorneys shifting from the DOJ to private practice. We’re thrilled to welcome Zach to the firm and our practice.”
During his tenure as US Attorney, Zach was named to the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, where he served alongside a small group of colleagues from across the nation who advised the DOJ’s senior leadership on policy matters. He also co-chaired the Steering Committee of the DOJ’s Opioid Epidemic Civil Litigation Task Force, where he helped devise and advance the DOJ’s strategy in multiple cases under the False Claims Act and Controlled Substances Act. Before being named US Attorney, Zach served as a member of the prosecution team that recovered the largest healthcare fraud recovery in US history at that time, and was recognized with the DOJ’s highest honor, the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service.
“Zach is unique in our market as someone who can handle a wide range of government and civil investigations and civil enforcement actions,” said Armando Batastini, managing partner of Nixon Peabody’s Providence office. “He will be an immediate asset in our office, and his practice will benefit from our firm’s national platform.”
Zach earned his JD from George Washington University Law School and his bachelor’s degree from Brown University.
