George B. Donnini

• donnini@butzel.com
• P 313 225 7042
• F 313 225 7080
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George B. Donnini is a shareholder practicing in Butzel Long's Troy office. 

Mr. Donnini practices in the areas of white collar criminal defense, SEC civil enforcement actions, antitrust investigations, and also routinely conducts corporate internal investigations. Due to the expansive nature of fraud claims, he routinely counsels his clients through both criminal charges and civil liability/enforcement actions. Accordingly, Mr. Donnini must manage complex litigation involving multiple adversaries, multiple jurisdictions, and interrelated issues.

Mr. Donnini has experience in a broad array of criminal and civil cases, representing clients at both the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts across the country. He has varied and significant experience representing clients in criminal cases involving allegations of revenue recognition, securities, and tax fraud, theft of trade secrets, insider trading, stock options back-dating, health care, environmental and mortgage fraud. He also has conducted several internal investigations for both private and publicly traded companies. He aggressively, creatively, and successfully represents clients in a wide variety of federal and state criminal matters.

Before joining Butzel Long, Mr. Donnini served as a law clerk to The Honorable William H. Pauley III, United States District Court, S.D.N.Y., New York, New York (1998-1999). He also served as a Judge Advocate for the United States Marine Corps from 1999 to 2003. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 2003 after serving as counsel of record in numerous criminal trials.

Clerkships

Honorable William H. Pauley III, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

Admissions

Mr. Donnini is admitted to practice in Michigan (2003), New York (1998) and California (2000). He is also admitted before all U.S. District Courts in Michigan, the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd and 6th Circuits.

Affiliations

ABA, Criminal Justice Section, White Collar Crime Committee, Young Lawyers' Division; National Co-Chair (2006-2009)

ABA, Criminal Justice Section, White Collar Crime Committee; Midwest Regional Co-Chair (2005-Present)

ABA Criminal Justice Section, Book Board, Appointed Member (2008-Present)

Memberships

American Bar Association Sections of Litigation and Criminal Justice
Federal Bar Association
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Honors

Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2016 "Leader in the Law"

Up and Coming Michigan Lawyers, Michigan Lawyers Weekly (December 8, 2008)

Chambers USA, White Collar Litigation, 2021

The Best Lawyers in American, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2021-2022

DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, White-Collar Criminal Defense, 2011-2012, 2014, 2016-2020

Michigan Super Lawyers, Rising Star in Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2011-2012

Michigan Super Lawyers, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2013-Present

Representative Matters

The following matters are representative of his recent work:

Represented auto supplier in major US and foreign antitrust investigation

Represented multiple Corporations in federal antitrust investigation re highway contracts

Represented Company in federal antitrust investigation re transportation industry

Represented Corporation in federal antitrust civil class action re automotive products

Represent multiple employees/ executives/ officers in major US and international antitrust investigations

Conducted numerous internal investigations for public and private companies

Represented Tier 1 suppliers and companies in other industries in federal antitrust investigations

Represented Tier 1 supplier in parallel proceedings conducted by U.S. Attorney's Office (SDNY) and SEC

Represented numerous individual and corporate defendants facing federal criminal prosecution arising from allegations of wire and mail fraud, tax fraud, insider trading, healthcare fraud, environmental crimes, theft of trade secrets and drug conspiracy

Represented a registered representative in a selling away action

Represented the CFO of a public company in a significant SEC enforcement action alleging 10b-5 and 17(a) violations in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan

Represented a CFO of a non-profit hospital system in a joint DOJ and SEC investigation

Represented an attorney in connection with tax shelter investigation conducted by the DOJ Criminal Tax Division

Represented an attorney in criminal matter involving kickbacks on vendor contracts being funneled to corporate executives of public company

Represented a public company in an SEC investigation involving revenue recognition issues which, after significant document production and SEC depositions, culminated in a no action termination letter being issued by the SEC

Represented a witness involved in options back-dating investigation by the United States Attorneys' Office for the Northern District of California

Routinely represent individuals and companies subject to SEC subpoenas and investigations concerning alleged violations of securities laws with respect to a wide variety of financial transactions

Represented a book publisher and distributor in criminal investigation conducted by U.S. Postal Service

Represented executive of an environmental company charged with criminal violations of the Clean Water Act and related environmental statutes

Represented corporate manager in a significant criminal health care fraud case, which culminated in an acquittal of the firm's client, involving allegations of federal anti-kickback statute and Prescription Drug Marketing Act violations

Represented Director of Financial Accounting and Reporting of Tier I supplier in SEC Enforcement action alleging 10b-5, 13(b), 17(a) in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan

Representative Speaking Engagements

Moderator, Aggressive Use of the Rules of Evidence to Gain Tactical Advantage: Views From the Government, the Bench, and the Defense, ABA National Institute on White-Collar Crime (2006).

Panelist, Daubert: The Challenge in 2008 and Beyond, Federal Bar Association/ABA White Collar Crime Committee, Midwest Region.

Panelist, Corporate Fraud Investigations: Financial Fraud in Small Companies, Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (May 13, 2009)

Panelist, Taking Aim at Kickbacks, Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (May 18, 2010)

Firm Publications

Sentencing Advocacy For White Collar Defendants: Show Some Gall, December 21, 2007

Justice Department Approves New Guidelines For Charging Corporations With Crimes, August 30, 2008

External Publications

Call The Question: Is Capitol Hill A Warrant Free Zone Post-Rayburn? (Published in ABA White Collar Crime Institute Publication (March, 2008)