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Daniel Suleiman represents institutions and individuals in high-stakes white collar and litigation matters. He specializes in criminal and civil government investigations and litigation, internal investigations, U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations, Congressional investigations, and other matters involving significant criminal and civil risk. He has first-chaired trials in felony criminal cases and litigated matters in federal and state court. Mr. Suleiman also serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Aerospace, Defense, and National Security Industry Group.
From 2010-2013, Mr. Suleiman served as a senior official in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, including as Deputy Chief of Staff & Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General. In 2015, he was named one of Washington, DC's "40 most promising lawyers age 40 and under" by the National Law Journal.
Mr. Suleiman frequently serves as lead counsel for multi-national companies in complex criminal, civil, and internal investigations. For example, he served as co-lead counsel for airbag manufacturer Takata Corporation in connection with a federal criminal investigation that resulted in the company’s guilty plea to one count of wire fraud. Mr. Suleiman also served as lead counsel for Asiana Airlines in an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board into the crash of Asiana flight 214 at San Francisco International Airport. His work for Asiana was profiled in the National Law Journal’s September 1, 2014 feature story, "Navigating the NTSB’s Asiana Airlines Crash Investigation."
Mr. Suleiman also frequently represents individuals facing substantial criminal risk. For example, he served as lead counsel for a husband and wife nearing federal indictment on criminal tax fraud charges, for whom he won a full declination.
Mr. Suleiman maintains an active pro bono practice and serves on the Board of the Columbia Law School Alumni Association of Washington, DC. He is quoted frequently in the press and has published articles in the Wall Street Journal, Baltimore Sun, National Law Journal, Inside Counsel, and Law360.
- Lead counsel for global financial institution in U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation.
- Lead counsel for leading automotive supplier in fraud investigation by U.S. Department of Justice.
- Co-lead counsel for multiple government contractors in parallel criminal and civil investigations by U.S. Department of Justice.
- Co-lead counsel for airbag manufacturer Takata Corporation in connection with criminal investigation by U.S. Department of Justice.
- Lead counsel for Asiana Airlines in investigation by National Transportation Safety Board into crash of Asiana flight 214 at San Francisco International Airport.
- Lead counsel for individual in criminal investigation into binary options industry by U.S. Department of Justice.
- Lead counsel for husband and wife nearing indictment by U.S. Department of Justice on various criminal tax fraud charges.
- Lead counsel for former executive of Fortune 100 company in U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation.
Pro Bono
- First-chaired multiple felony jury trials in Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland; recently secured mistrial and subsequent dismissal of all charges in felony burglary trial.
- Lead counsel for former prosecutor in investigation by U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Professional Responsibility.
- Lead counsel for inmate challenging conditions of detention in Virginia corrections system. Won reinstatement of Section 1983 Complaint in the Fourth Circuit.
- Counsel to plaintiff in Wone v. Price, et al., a $20 million wrongful death suit arising out of the murder of Washington lawyer Robert Wone.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Board Member, Columbia Law School Alumni Association of Washington, DC
Previous Experience
Mr. Suleiman returned to Covington in July 2013 after serving as Deputy Chief of Staff & Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General overseeing the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Lanny A. Breuer. As the third-highest ranking Criminal Division official, Mr. Suleiman helped oversee approximately 600 lawyers and 1,000 employees, and manage an annual budget of approximately $600 million. He advised the Assistant Attorney General on a wide range of federal law enforcement priorities, with particular focus on U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and financial fraud enforcement. He also worked closely with other department leaders and committees on Capitol Hill, regularly briefing lawmakers on department initiatives in the areas of financial fraud enforcement, Medicare fraud enforcement, and other criminal law policy and prosecution issues. At the Justice Department, Mr. Suleiman co-led a criminal investigation of a major financial institution arising out of a Congressional report on the Wall Street financial crisis. He also gained extensive experience handling Congressional oversight investigations involving the U.S. Department of Justice, and successfully argued a criminal appeal in the D.C. Court of Appeals.
December 18, 2020, Bloomberg Law
October 30, 2019, The Baltimore Sun
March 2021
As the legal, regulatory, and commercial implications of coronavirus COVID-19 continue to evolve, our lawyers and advisors are helping clients navigate the complex considerations that companies around the world are facing and develop plans and strategies in response. Reach out to our COVID-19 task force at COVID19@cov.com. Below is a compendium of resources ...
May 19, 2020, Law.com
Daniel Suleiman spoke with Law.com about the U.S. Treasury Secretary’s warning to companies improperly tapping into pandemic relief loans meant for struggling small businesses. Mr. Suleiman says, “There is a lot of public scrutiny on this program right now, in particular on public companies and others who accepted these loans. And that can sometimes drive ...
Companies Face Fraught Choice On PPP Return Deadline
May 18, 2020, Law360
Daniel Suleiman and Amanda Kramer spoke with Law360 about the safe harbor deadline established by the Small Business Administration for companies that may have improperly taken out loans through the Paycheck Protection Program. According to Mr. Suleiman, since SBA’s announcement that companies with substantial market value will not meet the required ...
March 31, 2020, Covington Alert
On March 30, 2020, the inspectors general of several major agencies selected the Department of Defense Inspector General, Glenn Fine, to lead a newly created federal oversight entity that will investigate waste, fraud, and abuse in connection with the massive new coronavirus economic relief legislation. The inspectors general were exercising new authority ...
November 6, 2019, Covington Alert
On November 5, 2019 the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the launch of the “Procurement Collusion Strike Force” (PCSF). The creation of the PCSF marks a significant development in the government procurement enforcement landscape. Creation of the PCSF prioritizes the DOJ’s focus on government procurement offenses. As part of that effort, DOJ has launched a ...
Q1 2019, Covington Alert
It was business as usual for FCPA enforcement in 2018. The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) collected a total of $1 billion from seventeen corporate defendants, including through their share of two high-value, multi-jurisdictional enforcement actions. DOJ also announced thirteen new FCPA prosecutions ...
Winter 2019, Covington Alert
It was business as usual for FCPA enforcement in 2018. The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) collected a total of $1 billion from seventeen corporate defendants, including through their share of two high-value, multi-jurisdictional enforcement actions. DOJ also announced thirteen new FCPA prosecutions ...
FCPA Flash - A Conversation with Daniel Suleiman
October 8, 2018, FCPA Flash
Daniel Suleiman sat down with the “FCPA Professor” for a podcast discussing the lifecycle of FCPA investigations and what companies need to know about them.
January 25, 2018, Covington Advisory
Our message this year is simple: FCPA enforcement is here to stay. Despite pre-election statements to the contrary, various senior officials in the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) have, over the past year, consistently reaffirmed DOJ’s and the SEC’s commitment to FCPA enforcement.
US Supreme Court to examine constitutionality of attorney conceding client’s guilt despite the accused’s objections
January 17, 2018, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Daniel Suleiman appeared on AirTalk with Larry Mantle to discuss McCoy v. Louisiana, a death penalty case that was argued at the Supreme Court.
November 26, 2017, The Baltimore Sun
October 26, 2016, Inside Counsel
February 26, 2016, The National Law Journal
January 10, 2016, The Wall Street Journal
Dan Suleiman is quoted in a Wall Street Journal article discussing whether Sean Penn and Kate del Castillo could face criminal liability after their recent meeting with the now-captured drug lord, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Suleiman said, “The main question to ask is: Did this person do anything that’s in furtherance of the criminal activity?
Covington Promotes Nine New Partners
October 1, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC, October 1, 2015 - Covington has elected nine of its lawyers to partnership. “We are delighted to welcome our new partners, who exemplify the spirit and substance of Covington,” said Timothy Hester, chair of the firm’s management committee. “This partnership class reflects our focus on the firm’s core practice strengths. We are confident that ...
September 14, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC, September 14, 2015 - The National Law Journal has named Phyllis Jones and Daniel Suleiman among its “D.C. Rising Stars.” The list recognizes Washington, D.C.’s “40 most promising lawyers age 40 and under.” Ms. Jones focuses on complex legal issues facing clients in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Her wide-ranging litigation ...
Crash Leaves Lufthansa Wide Open to U.S. Litigation
March 26, 2015, The National Law Journal
Covington's Dan Suleiman, who was Asiana Airlines Inc.’s lead litigator in the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation of the July 2013 crash at San Francisco International Airport, is quoted: "The facts, once they’re clear, could support wrongful death or negligence claims but a settlement is the most likely outcome, said Daniel Suleiman, ...
March 24, 2015, Wall Street Journal
Covington's Dan Suleiman is mentioned in this article regarding the possibility of Amanda Knox being extradited to Italy: "According to Dan Suleiman, a lawyer at Covington & Burling LLP in Washington and former deputy chief of staff for the Justice Department’s criminal division, any Italian extradition request would be made in writing and filed as a formal ...
November 14, 2014, Law360
Covington's Daniel Suleiman authored this article on Matthew Martoma, former trader at SAC Capital Advisors LP who was sentenced to nine years in prison for insider trading: "Defendants convicted of violent crimes rarely have the luxury of avoiding incarceration after conviction. But it seemed possible that Martoma, who was convicted of selling shares in two ...
September 16, 2014, Law360
Covington's Daniel Suleiman has written this piece on Robert McDonnell, former Governor of Virginia, rejecting a plea deal that would have been prevented him from being charged altogether.
September 1, 2014, National Law Journal
Covington's Daniel Suleiman is featured in this article on Asiana Airlines Crash Investigation: NLJ: How did the NTSB investigation unfold? What happened first? SULEIMAN: In any NTSB investigation, the agency sends out what’s called a “go” team immediately after an incident, whether it’s a pipeline explosion or an airplane crash or a derailment. One of the ...
April 8, 2014, Compliance Week
Dan Suleiman was interviewed for this article.
March 25, 2014, Reuters
Daniel Suleiman, partner at Covington, is quoted in regards to charges of wire fraud against Toyota for concealing safety problems, which marked the first criminal case of its kind against an auto company: "Prosecutors can only be as successful as the facts allow, but the Toyota agreement puts companies on notice that when you have a problem, you need to deal ...
DOJ Gives States a Pass on Pot
September 3, 2013, The National Law Journal
Daniel Suleiman was interviewed for this article.
Senior DOJ Criminal Division Official Rejoins Covington
May 30, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC, May 30, 2013 — Daniel Suleiman, deputy chief of staff to the Assistant Attorney General overseeing the Justice Department’s criminal division, is returning to Covington & Burling effective July 1. Mr. Suleiman joins the firm’s Washington office as special counsel where he is expected to focus on defending individuals and corporations facing white ...
Keynote Address
Minneapolis, May 2013, Minnesota State Bar Association’s 37th Annual International Business Law Institute
Keynote Address
Stockholm, May 2012, American Chamber of Commerce in Sweden & New York State Bar Association International Section Conference on the FCPA and UK Bribery Act
- National Law Journal, "DC Rising Star" (2015)
- Washington DC Super Lawyers, Criminal Defense: White Collar "Rising Star" (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
COVID-19: Legal and Business Toolkit
We are helping clients around the world navigate this evolving, complex situation.
Practices
Education
Columbia Law School, J.D., 2004
- James Kent Scholar
- Class of 1912 Prize (in Contracts)
- Columbia Law Review, Articles Editor
Harvard University, A.B., 1999
- magna cum laude with high honors in social studies
- Harvard Crimson, Co-Editorial Chair
- Rolling Stone College Journalism Competition for Essays and Criticism, Winner