Aaron M. Danzig

Partner

Direct: 404.873.8504
Fax: 404.873.8505
Atlanta
171 17th Street NW
Suite 2100
Atlanta, Georgia 30363

Biography

Aaron is a partner and chair of the Government Investigations practice and member of the Hospitals & Health Systems industry team. He is a litigator with significant trial experience in white-collar criminal defense and business and intellectual property litigation. He also represents clients in internal corporate investigations, corporate compliance, and governance matters. Aaron defends individuals and public and private companies involved in criminal investigations as witnesses, subjects, targets, or defendants. Clients trust Aaron to protect their interests when facing the threat of a government investigation involving antitrust and insider trading accusations. He is deeply experienced in protecting clients from allegations of fraud involving banking, healthcare, securities, and mail/wire matters. Most specifically, with the government’s intensified focus on healthcare fraud, Aaron represents healthcare providers and government contractors in many False Claims Act cases.

With vast experience dealing with investigations and prosecutions, Aaron takes the lead in actions brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the nation, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, and various state Medicaid Fraud Control Units, among other investigative agencies. Aaron was also retained as an expert on Georgia trade secrets law and federal discovery issues in a case before the High Court of Justice in London, England.

In the early years of his career, Aaron was an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia in Atlanta. As a federal prosecutor, he investigated and prosecuted both domestic and international white-collar criminal fraud cases. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Aaron was a public school teacher in Louisiana, where he also coached a state-championship high school wrestling team.

Experience

  • Represented COO of large private company in 5-week federal trial against criminal charges alleging a $600 million fraud scheme involving the sale of Iraqi currency.

  • Represented a national nursing home chain in False Claims Act case alleging that two national nursing home chains and their principals conspired to solicit a $50 million kickback from a large national pharmaceutical supply company in exchange for continuing to provide pharmacy services to the homes, obtaining a favorable settlement after filing motion to dismiss.

  • Represented a Fortune 100 company in $100+ million False Claims Act investigation related to contracts for the provision of goods to the U.S. Military, obtaining a favorable settlement after internal investigation and presentation to government.

  • Successfully represented former Chairman and CEO of public healthcare company in a civil lawsuit brought by the SEC alleging the client disclosed material inside information to someone outside the company who then traded securities based on that information. SEC dismissed case with prejudice after losing multiple pre-trial motions.

  • Represented a large refrigeration warehouse company in EPA criminal investigation regarding ammonia releases at refrigeration facility. Investigation closed with no charges filed or any adverse action taken by the government against the company.

  • Represented owner and senior executive of a refrigeration hardware company in criminal antitrust investigation alleging customer allocation in violation of the Sherman Act. No charges were filed against the firm’s client.

  • Represented multi-state hospice company in False Claims Act case. Settled after mediation.

  • Represented CEO of public company in SEC insider trading investigation. Investigation closed with SEC declining any enforcement proceeding.

  • Represented one of the largest specialty medical practices in the Southeast in investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office alleging improper modifier 25 billing. Civil case settled for approximately one-third of the government’s demand.

  • Represented a group of employees in criminal antitrust investigation of auto parts suppliers being conducted by the Department of Justice and European Commission.

  • Represented owner and president of a multi-location Georgia bank in an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FDIC, and Federal Reserve related to certain loans and use of brokered deposits. No charges were filed.

  • Represented owner of MRI/CT scan centers in parallel civil and criminal investigations alleging improper billing and upcoding. The government declined to file criminal charges. Although the government demanded over $5 million to settle the case, we successfully settled for a nominal sum.

  • Represented a shipping manager at peanut plant in an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and FDA related to salmonella outbreak. Client was not charged.

  • Represented former AmLaw 100 lawyer charged with embezzling over $500,000 from firm clients.

  • Represented a former chief lending officer for a publicly traded Georgia bank in a criminal investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office related to potential bank fraud and insider trading.  Successfully resolved related FDIC civil suit.

  • Represented a cigarette broker in an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and ATF alleging diversion of millions of dollars of cigarettes to avoid various federal and state taxes. Client was not charged.

  • Represented human resources manager at Georgia poultry company in an investigation into the company’s alleged hiring of hundreds of workers without proper documentation. Client was not charged.

  • Represented executive of small public company in criminal investigation related to alleged diversion of infusion drugs. Investigation closed with no charges filed.

  • Represented former CEO and Treasurer of national, publicly traded nursing home chain in parallel civil and criminal anti-kickback and false claims investigations. No charges or lawsuits were filed against client.

  • Represent Florida Psychiatric hospital in parallel civil and criminal investigations by the Department of Justice related to alleged violations of the Anti-Kickback Statue.

  • Represent cardiology practice in Department of Justice investigation related to implantation of cardiac stents.

  • Represented executive of publicly-traded managed care company in internal investigation related to anti-kickback statue violations.  Executive cleared of wrongdoing.

  • Represented major regional hospital in nationwide Department of Justice investigation related to implantable cardiac defibrillators.

  • Represented national pediatric care provider in joint state and federal False Claims Act investigation related to documentation of care provided and reverse false claims allegations.

  • Represented two large publicly traded nursing home companies in Department of Justice investigation of reimbursements for therapy provided at nursing homes.

  • Represented the president of an herbal supplement/nutraceuticals company in U.S. Attorney’s Office criminal investigation regarding potentially adulterated and misbranded nutraceuticals. Investigation closed with no charges filed.

  • Retained by Clayton County Board of Commissioners to conduct internal investigation of county’s Finance Department.

Credentials

  • Georgetown University Law Center, Juris Doctor,
    magna cum laude
    • Order of the Coif
  • Harvard University, Bachelor of Arts,
    cum laude
  • State of Georgia 1997
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia 1997
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit 1997
  • Superior Courts of Georgia 1997
  • Georgia Court of Appeals 1997
  • Supreme Court of Georgia 1997
    • Leadership Atlanta, Class of 2015
    • Our House, Inc., Board of Directors, Chairman
    • State Bar of Georgia, Section of Health Law, Board
    • American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Section of Criminal Justice, and Section of Healthcare

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers in America®, Criminal Defense: White Collar Law, Qui Tam Law, 2013-24
    • “Lawyer of the Year,” Best Lawyers in America®, Qui Tam Law, 2022, 2024
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers, Litigation: White-Collar & Gov. Investigations, 2021-23
  • Georgia Super Lawyers, 2011-22
  • BTI Client Service All-Stars, 2016
  • “Legal Elite,” Georgia Trend, Criminal Law, 2009-11
  • “Rising Star,” Georgia Super Lawyers, Criminal Defense, 2009-10
  • “Rising Star,” Georgia Super Lawyers, Criminal Prosecution, 2005-06

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