Hiral D. Mehta

Hiral D. Mehta is a seasoned trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor with more than a decade of government experience, including serving as Chief of the Business & Securities Fraud Section in the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. He represents clients in high-stakes criminal and regulatory investigations and complex commercial and securities civil litigation, leveraging his deep understanding of government operations to help clients navigate crises efficiently and effectively.

Drawing on his background as a former prosecutor, Hiral brings extensive trial experience, having tried over a dozen federal trials—including several complex white-collar trials—and having led and overseen hundreds of investigations of individuals and institutions focused on securities and commodities fraud, insider trading, market manipulation, accounting fraud, investment advisor fraud, health care fraud, sanctions enforcement, export control violations, tax evasion, bribery, FCPA, and fraud involving digital assets. 

He co-founded the District's Bank Integrity Task Force, charged with investigating individuals and corporations for laundering money through the US banking system and enforcing anti-money laundering controls under the Bank Secrecy Act. Hiral also worked closely with senior officers of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

In private practice, Hiral represents clients in commercial and securities litigation matters, focusing on trials, hearings, and arbitrations, conducts internal investigations, represents companies and executives in regulatory inquiries, and assists clients dealing with subpoenas and enforcement actions from state and federal authorities. Hiral also advises clients on due diligence and risk assessments for investments, mergers, and acquisitions, with a focus on anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and regulatory compliance. 

Prior to serving as a federal prosecutor, Hiral practiced for several years at a large international law firm in New York, where he represented multinational banks, private equity firms, asset managers, and broker-dealers in commercial and securities litigation and conducted due diligence for complex transactions, and was a law clerk for the Honorable Jennifer Walker Elrod, Chief Judge of the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

United States Department of Justice

• Led the prosecution in the month-long trial of the former finance minister of Mozambique, securing a conviction on wire fraud and money laundering charges in connection with a fraud scheme involving $2 billion in bonds sold to international investors.
• A member of the team that investigated and convicted Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, one of the world’s largest drug kingpins, after a three-month long trial; briefed the appeal and conducted oral argument before the Second Circuit, which affirmed the defendant’s conviction.
• Led the investigation of a multinational financial services corporation in connection with a tax avoidance scheme, securing a $230 million corporate resolution for wire fraud conspiracy.
• Co-led the investigation and prosecution of a major defense contractor for FCPA and export control violations in connection with payments to foreign officials; securing a deferred prosecution agreement in a $1 billion coordinated resolution with monitorship.
• Led the investigation into a fraud scheme involving $1 billion in loans issued by a multinational bank, secured a guilty plea by the bank’s subsidiary to wire fraud, and obtained a deferred prosecution agreement in a $747 million global resolution in parallel with UK and other European authorities, securing the convictions of three bankers on wire fraud and money laundering charges.
• Led the investigation and prosecution of one of the world’s largest distributors of adult content on money laundering charges, resulting in a corporate resolution and the appointment of a court-ordered monitor.
• Oversaw the FCPA prosecution of a multinational commodities trading firm in connection with a scheme to bribe foreign officials of an Ecuadorian state-owned oil company in exchange for contracts, resulting in a guilty plea and an approximately $660 million penalty and fine.

• Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service, the highest award conferred by the Department of Justice
• Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service
• Federal Law Enforcement Foundation’s True American Hero Award
• Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s National Award
• Burton Award of Legal Achievement for Excellence in Legal Writing
• A “Rising Star of the Courtroom: 15 Great Litigators of the Future” – Business Insider

• Cornell Law School, JD, cum laude
  Senior Editor, Cornell Law Review; Moot Court Board; Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Winner, Northeast; Dean’s List
• Northwestern University, BS
  Associated Student Government, Judicial Board; Deswarte Foundation Scholar

• New York

• Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, New York, Adjunct Professor of Law, 2022 to 2024, Courses taught: Trial Advocacy & Criminal Prosecution Clinic
• Federal Bar Council, Member, Federal Criminal Practice Committee
• South Asian Bar Association of New York, Member
• Northwestern Alumni Association, Member