Edward B. Diskant

With a responsive, practical approach to clients’ most sensitive and complex issues, Ted is routinely hired to lead sensitive internal investigations and respond to government inquiries. He particularly focuses on matters involving the False Claims Act (FCA), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other anti-bribery laws, wire fraud, healthcare fraud, money laundering, and the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).

An experienced trial lawyer, Ted regularly takes complex civil and criminal cases to trial. He also frequently consults on compliance matters and helps clients design, implement, and audit compliance programs consistent with DOJ and other applicable guidance.

Prior to joining McDermott, Ted spent nine years at the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, most recently serving as chief of the Public Corruption Unit, supervising approximately 20 senior prosecutors and overseeing some of the office’s most sensitive and high-profile matters. He also led investigations and prosecutions of financial institutions related to BSA compliance, US sanctions, and AML requirements.

Ted co-founded the LGBT White-Collar Working Group and, as part of his pro-bono practice, serves on the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel for the Southern District of New York, representing defendants in federal criminal matters, appeals, and habeas proceedings.

Prior to the US Attorney’s Office, he clerked for the Hon. Debra Ann Livingston of the Second Circuit and the Hon. Sidney H. Stein of the Southern District of New York.

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• Represented leading global accounting firm in month-long arbitration brought by Claimants seeking hundreds of millions in damages from asserted accounting errors
• Oversaw investigation of international corporation for potential FCPA violations arising from efforts to bribe foreign government officials through international travel and hospitality programs*
• Led investigation and prosecution of Industrial Bank of Korea for criminal violations of the BSA stemming from nearly a billion dollars in sanctions-violative transactions*

*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott.

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