Dean Paik

Dean is a Partner in the Investigations & White Collar Defense and Litigation practice groups, with decades of experience in government and private practice. He represents companies and individuals in high-stakes civil and white-collar criminal matters, including investigations and proceedings brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, State and Federal Inspectors General, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other regulators and enforcement agencies. Known for his integrity and judgment, Dean is a skilled negotiator who secures practical and favorable resolutions for his clients. When trial is unavoidable, he draws on his extensive courtroom experience, having tried more than 40 cases to verdict or judgment.

Dean spent more than ten years in senior roles at the U.S. Department of Justice, including as Special Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General of the Tax Division in Washington, D.C. In that role, he oversaw civil and criminal tax matters involving financial fraud, enforcement of foreign banking laws, asset forfeiture, and led interagency task forces on complex enforcement initiatives. He also served as a trial attorney in the DOJ’s Tax Division and later as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Hawaii, where he prosecuted financial and environmental crimes, including the first federal environmental criminal trial in Hawaii.

In private practice, Dean advises clients on civil and criminal tax proceedings—including matters involving unreported foreign assets and accounts—as well as regulatory and litigation issues related to digital currencies. He also handles a broad range of commercial disputes, such as copyright infringement, contract and business tort claims, and insurance coverage matters.

Beyond his client work, Dean has served as faculty for trial advocacy programs at Stanford and the University of San Francisco Schools of Law, as a mediator and Early Neutral Evaluator for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, and as an active leader in professional bar associations. He is a past president of the Korean American Bar Association of Northern California, a former co-chair of the Judiciary Committee of the Asian American Bar Association, and has been recognized as a Northern California “Super Lawyer.”

Representative Experience

• Representation of individual in investigation, prosecution and 4-week trial by U.S. Attorney’s Office of fraud in connection with cryptocurrency non-recourse loans;
• Representation of foreign national in investigation by U.S. Attorney’s Office for violations of the criminal tax laws arising from operation of high-end retail outlets;
• Counsel for U.S. digital currency dealer in connection with a John Doe summons issued by the U.S. Department of Justice and Internal Revenue Service;
• Representation of individuals in connection with IRS investigation for failure to report gains on cryptocurrency;
• Representation of construction contractor in connection with qui tam suit and investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Transportation and California State Attorney General’s Office of allegations of false claims violations;
• 4-week trial, successful appeal, retrial and second successful appeal of federal criminal charges arising from international smuggling ring of endangered and protected exotic reptiles (United States v. Lewis, 349 F.3d 1116 (9^th 2003); United States v. Lewis; 518 F.3d 1171 (9^th Cir. 2008); United States v. Lewis; 611 F.3d 1172 (9^th Cir. 2010)).
• Representation of Korean former employee of one of the largest manufacturers of semiconductors in the wireless communications industry against claims of trade secrets misappropriation of cellular telephone chip technology;
• Representation of Southeast Asia overseas sales representative of airport security machines in federal securities fraud investigations by U.S. Department of Justice and SEC involving violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act;
• Representation of company and CEO on charges by U.S. Department of Justice of making false statement to the Export-Import Bank in connection with loans to businesses in the Philippines;
• Representation of owner of fine wine and beverages business in investigation and prosecution by U.S. Attorney’s Office of alleged Ponzi-like activities;
• Representation of engineering company in investigation by U.S. Attorney’s Office of alleged false statements in connection with outfall reconstruction project;
• Representation of technology company in investigation by NASA Inspector General’s Office of false statements and false claims in connection with government contracts;
• Representation of former executive of electronics components manufacturer in investigation by U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division of allegations of price fixing and other collusive actions;
• Representation of a venture capitalist in connection with investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of insider trading in various technology companies;
• Representation of individuals in connection with investigations by U.S. Attorney’s Office and Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General of false federal reimbursement billing.