Brad Gershel focuses his practice on advising corporate and individual clients in white collar civil and criminal matters, including government investigations, internal investigations and regulatory compliance. He regularly appears in New York state and federal courts, and has handled criminal and regulatory investigations concerning, for example, alleged violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, wire fraud and mail fraud, money laundering, the federal securities laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and misconduct surrounding government contract procurement.
In addition, Brad is a frequent contributor to Money Laundering Watch, Ballard Spahr's blog focused exclusively on money laundering issues, and a member of the firm's Virtual Currency Team.
Brad began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County, New York.
Experience
Representative Matters
- A senior executive of a local District Attorney’s office in a five-week federal criminal trial, arising out of an alleged conspiracy to tamper with witnesses and obstruct an official proceeding
- A former federation president of FIFA charged with a conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, wire fraud, and money laundering, in a six-week federal criminal trial
- Secured a favorable resolution for a leading celebrity and health & fitness media publisher in a Department of Justice ("DOJ") investigation of possible campaign finance violations in connection with the 2016 U.S. presidential election
Professional Highlights
Professional Activities
Federal Bar Council, Member, Committee on Sentencing and Alternatives to Incarceration
New York City Bar Association, Member, Criminal Advocacy Committee
Recognition & Accomplishments
Chambers USA, "Associates to Watch," Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations (New York), 2021-2024
The Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch," – Criminal Defense: White-Collar (New York), 2021-2025
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, "President's Commendation," 2021
Publications
Co-author, "1980s Sentencing Reform and Its Impact on Federal Plea Bargaining and the Trial Penalty," Federal Sentencing Reporter, Vol. 31, No. 4-5, April/June 2019
Author, "Ballard Spahr Discusses SEC Case Against Clearing Broker Under Bank Secrecy Act," Columbia Law School's Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation, January 2019
Co-author, "The Growing Risk of Providing Oral Summaries: Preserving Privilege in the Wake of SEC v. Herrera and the Government's Increasing Leverage to Obtain Such Disclosures," Business Crimes Bulletin, May 2018
Credentials
Education
Emory University School of Law (J.D. 2013)
Michigan State University (B.A. 2010)
Admissions
New York
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit