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Introduction
Scott Seitz is a litigator and member of the Government Investigations & White Collar Defense practice group, representing corporations, executives and professionals in government investigations and enforcement actions as well as related complex litigation.
My focus
I represent clients through all stages of government investigations and related litigation. I have experience in a variety of litigation matters in federal court. I assist with all phases of litigation, with a focus on drafting pleadings and dispositive motions, preparing witnesses and trial preparation.
Before joining the firm, I worked as an attorney for the National Security Agency and Special Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Maryland. Through these roles, I have both litigated cases, including trying cases to verdict, and investigated and remediated complex instances of non-compliance, particularly relating to information technology processes.
I also have extensive experience with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the National Defense Authorization Act and all aspects of the congressional oversight process, including preparing witnesses for contentious public testimony and responding to congressional requests for sensitive client information.
Representative experience
- Represented a coach in the “Varsity Blues“ matter, including developing strategy and drafting the sentencing memorandum. To date, one of only two defendants to avoid prison. United States v. John Vandemoer (D. Mass).
- Conducted a sprawling internal investigation for a large non-profit into alleged financial fraud by former senior executives. Represented the organization during subsequent investigations by federal overseers.
- Conducted an internal investigation into an alleged multi-million dollar financial fraud for a large tech company (market cap greater than $100 million). Advised the company on defensive posture and remediation. Led multiple attorney proffers to SDNY on client’s behalf. Company has avoided criminal charges.
- Represented multiple subjects who were intercepted on a federal wire in proffers before the Massachusetts United States Attorney’s Office in relation to their business activities and other statements made on the wire. Clients were not charged.
- Represented executives of a cannabis company in a federal investigation into alleged misconduct in the regulatory process. Clients avoided any criminal charges.
- Drafted all briefing for an appeal of a FINRA bar before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC ruled for our client and, in a rare move, remanded the proceeding to FINRA, which then declined to pursue the matter. In the Matter of the Application of Brendan D. Feitelberg, Admin. Proc. File No. 3-19214.
- Drafted multiple dispositive motions related to national opioid litigation.
Looking ahead
What do you see on the horizon?
Government agencies will no doubt continue to be very aggressive in investigating alleged infractions. Moreover, as all aspects of business, and indeed our daily lives, become entirely based on information technology and cyber processes, clients can expect the government to continue to search for new and novel ways to apply old laws, many of which were written before the invention of the internet, to new technology and practices. Having counsel with the ability to understand, explain and perhaps ultimately defend these practices will be critical to successfully navigating these investigations.
In the news
- The Boston Globe
Federal prosecutors seek to dismiss charges against MIT professor accused of concealing ties with China
The following article covers the federal government’s motion to dismiss charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher, and the team defending Dr. Chen also includes Boston GIWC partner Brian Kelly and associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif. In addition, GIWC associates Tom Barnico of Boston and Bobby McManigal of Washington, DC, Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes associate Henry Caldwell, and Boston GIWC paralegal Joelle MarkAnthony have done critical work on this matter.Jan 20, 2022 - The New York Times
US moves to drop case against MIT scientist accused of hiding China links
The following article covers the federal government’s motion to dismiss charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher, and the team defending Dr. Chen also includes Boston GIWC partner Brian Kelly and associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif. In addition, GIWC associates Tom Barnico of Boston and Bobby McManigal of Washington, DC, Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes associate Henry Caldwell, and Boston GIWC paralegal Joelle MarkAnthony have done critical work on this matter.Jan 20, 2022 - Associated Press
US drops case against MIT professor accused of ties to China
The following article covers a federal judge’s dismissal of all charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher. The team defending Chen also includes Boston GIWC partner Brian Kelly and associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif. In addition, GIWC associates Tom Barnico of Boston and Bobby McManigal of Washington, DC, Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes associate Henry Caldwell, and Boston GIWC paralegal Joelle MarkAnthony have done critical work on this matter.Jan 20, 2022 - The Washington Post
Charges dismissed against MIT professor accused of hiding research ties to China
The following article covers a federal judge’s dismissal of all charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher. The team defending Chen also includes Boston GIWC partner Brian Kelly and associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif. In addition, GIWC associates Tom Barnico of Boston and Bobby McManigal of Washington, DC, Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes associate Henry Caldwell, and Boston GIWC paralegal Joelle MarkAnthony have done critical work on this matter.Jan 20, 2022 - Law360
MIT professor defeats China-ties case as feds reverse course
The following article covers a federal judge’s dismissal of all charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher. The team defending Chen also includes Boston GIWC partner Brian Kelly and associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif. In addition, GIWC associates Tom Barnico of Boston and Bobby McManigal of Washington, DC, Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes associate Henry Caldwell, and Boston GIWC paralegal Joelle MarkAnthony have done critical work on this matter.Jan 20, 2022 - The Wall Street Journal
US drops case against MIT professor accused of hiding China ties
The following article covers a federal judge’s dismissal of all charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher. The team defending Chen also includes Boston GIWC partner Brian Kelly and associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif. In addition, GIWC associates Tom Barnico of Boston and Bobby McManigal of Washington, DC, Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes associate Henry Caldwell, and Boston GIWC paralegal Joelle MarkAnthony have done critical work on this matter.Jan 20, 2022 - South China Morning Post
US to end case against Gang Chen, MIT scientist accused of hiding ties to China
The following article covers reports that federal prosecutors have recommended dropping criminal charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partners Brian Kelly and Rob Fisher, and the team defending Mr. Chen also includes Boston GIWC associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif.Jan 15, 2022 - Reuters
U.S. prosecutors recommend dropping China charges against MIT professor: source
The following article covers reports that federal prosecutors have recommended dropping criminal charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partners Brian Kelly and Rob Fisher, and the team defending Mr. Chen also includes Boston GIWC associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif.Jan 14, 2022 - Law360
Feds recommend dropping MIT Professor's China ties case
The following article covers reports that federal prosecutors have recommended dropping criminal charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partners Brian Kelly and Rob Fisher, and the team defending Mr. Chen also includes Boston GIWC associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif.Jan 14, 2022 - The Washington Post
In high-profile case against MIT's Gang Chen, prosecutors seeking to drop charges
The following article covers reports that federal prosecutors have recommended dropping criminal charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partners Brian Kelly and Rob Fisher, and the team defending Mr. Chen also includes Boston GIWC associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif.Jan 14, 2022 - The Wall Street Journal
Prosecutors recommend dropping case over china ties against MIT scientist
The following article covers reports that federal prosecutors have recommended dropping criminal charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partners Brian Kelly and Rob Fisher, and the team defending Mr. Chen also includes Boston GIWC associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif.Jan 14, 2022 - Law360
Eaze exec tells jury he helped fool banks on pot biz billing
This article, on the trial of two men accused of tricking banks into approving marijuana-related transactions for delivery service Eaze Technologies, covers Tuesday’s testimony by an Eaze executive under an immunity agreement. The story mentions Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher and associate Scott Seitz for representing the Eaze executive in the case, which could have profound consequences for the U.S. marijuana industry.March 2, 2021 - Law360
Indicted MIT professor wants feds sanctioned for press remarks
This article covers a motion to sanction the Boston U.S. Attorney for making misleading statements to the press, in violation of local rules, in the case of an MIT professor facing fraud charges for not disclosing information from various entities in China when applying for a Department of Energy grant. The story mentions Boston partners Rob Fisher and Brian Kelly, and associates Brianna Nassif and Scott Seitz, all of the Government Investigations & White Collar Defense group, for representing the MIT professor.Feb 4, 2021 - Law360
MIT Profs Back Colleague Facing 'Flawed' Fraud Charges
This article covers a letter signed by more than 100 MIT faculty members in support of MIT professor Gang Chen, who faces fraud charges for not disclosing information from various entities in China when applying for a U.S. Department of Energy grant. The letter calls the investigation of Prof. Chen “deeply flawed“ with &ldquomisleading“ assertions in the charges. The article mentions Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partners Rob Fisher and Brian Kelly, and associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif for representing Prof. Chen.Jan 22, 2021 - Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
SEC: Actual Notice Is Needed to Bar Broker
This article covers the work of Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher and associate Scott Seitz in getting the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to drop a lifetime ban for their client, after convincing the SEC that further proceedings were required. The story quotes both Rob and Scott.Sep 24, 2020 - Law360
2nd Circ.'s Seminal Rejection of FCPA Conviction Challenge
New York City partner Isabelle De Smedt (CORP), Manchester partner Mark Knights (GIWC), Boston counsel Robert Fisher (GIWC), Manchester associate Michael Strauss (CDPG) and Boston associate Scott Seitz (GIWC) authored this column about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit’s recent decision regarding the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act’s anti-bribery provisions and what the decision means for companies needing to comply with the law.Aug 28, 2019 - CBS News
Why attorney for ex-Stanford coach who got no prison time in college scandal isn't surprised
Boston Government Investigations and White Collar Defense counsel Rob Fisher appeared on CBS This Morning to discuss a major win for his client, former Stanford sailing coach John Vandemoer.June 13, 2019
Admitted to practice
Massachusetts
Education
Harvard Law School, J.D.
Auburn University, B.A., summa cum laude
Recognition
- Scott was named to the 2023 list of “Ones to Watch” by The Best Lawyers in America© for Criminal Defense: White-Collar in Boston, MA.
Insights And Happenings
View AllProfessionals in the Practice Area
View AllRobert Fisher
Partner / Practice Group Leader, Government Investigations & White Collar Defense- Boston
- Office:617.345.1335
- rfisher@nixonpeabody.com
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Hannah Bornstein
Partner / Deputy Practice Group Leader, Government Investigations & White Collar Defense- Boston
- Office:617.345.1217
- hbornstein@nixonpeabody.com
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