David A. Moreno Jr.

Biography

David Moreno is an experienced first chair trial lawyer who represents clients in a wide range of areas, including complex civil and corporate litigation, white-collar defense, SEC investigations, and cross-border disputes. As lead counsel, David has tried well over 25 cases to verdict. He is a go-to strategic advisor to his clients with an intimate understanding of their business goals, direction, and structure, often advising them about wide-ranging opportunities and issues and the corresponding legal implications. David routinely provides counsel to executives and other high-profile individuals including politicians, athletes, entrepreneurs, and entertainers in high-stakes legal disputes and business transactions.

Commercial Litigation

David has represented companies in both state and federal court in business disputes, real estate disputes, product liability matters, and financial transactions across the country. He has advised financial service providers, professional sports teams, construction companies, tech companies, restaurant groups, member-led associations, and manufacturers in litigation.

White Collar Defense

David represents clients in white collar matters including cross-border issues, healthcare fraud, securities fraud, and other financial crimes. He also leads independent investigations on behalf of his clients.

Sports and Entertainment Industry

David has represented professional athletes and entertainers in contract negotiations and has served as primary outside counsel to many high-profile athletes. He has represented professional sports teams in the United States and abroad in disputes as well as business transactions. David is certified by the National Basketball Players Association and the National Football League Players Association as a contract advisor.

Reputation Management

David has also counseled C-suite executives, celebrities, athletes, ultra-high-net-worth individuals, and companies in complex crisis situations involving brand reputation. At his prior firm, he chaired the reputation management and brand protection practice.

Outside Counsel

David has served as primary outside counsel to several start-up companies in the tech, media, sports, and clean energy industries.

Manhattan DA’s Office

Earlier in his career, David served as an assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, where he prosecuted more than 1,200 criminal cases and tried 13 cases to verdict.

Outside the Firm

David enjoys helping entrepreneurs and has appeared on a Bloomberg TV and Apple TV show focused on entrepreneurship. Heis committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and has worked extensively to help create more equity in business, law, and sports.

Experience

In recent years, David has worked on the following matters:

  • Represented a physician in a federal healthcare fraud litigation.
  • Represent a private equity fund in a business dispute.
  • Represented several NCAA and NBA athletes in federal college basketball corruption litigation.
  • Represented a former NCAA athlete in a wrongful expulsion litigation.
  • Represented an MLB player in a successful high-profile arbitration with Major League Baseball.
  • Represented athletes in television appearance and licensing deals.
  • Led an internal investigation into workplace misconduct on behalf of a client company.
  • Advised a foreign diplomat in an international white collar criminal investigation.
  • Represented a recording label in artist deals and manufacturing, distribution, and promotion agreements.
  • Represented a cast member of a famous film in a dispute relating to improper use of his moniker and stage name.
  • Represented a blockchain subscription platform in securing service agreements with talent. Also established the platform’s terms and conditions, privacy policy, and beta testing agreements.
  • Represented a fashion designer and heiress in a criminal matter.
  • Represented an employee in a racial discrimination and wrongful termination litigation against a former employer, obtaining a favorable resolution.

News & Views

See all News and Views

Recognitions

  • 2023, “Rising Star,” listed by the New York Law Journal 
  • 2023, Top Lawyer Under 40, listed by the Hispanic National Bar Association
  • 2021, Sports & Entertainment Trailblazer, listed in the National Law Journal
  • 2018–2023, “Rising Star,” New York, listed in Super Lawyers
  • 2017, Top 100 for Criminal Defense, listed in The National Trial Lawyers
  • 2017, “Distinguished Lawyer,” listed in The Expert Network
  • 2016, Top 40 Under 40, listed in The National Black Lawyers
  • 2016, Top 10 Under 40 Criminal Defense Attorney, listed in The National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys

Affiliations

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Metropolitan Black Bar Association
  • National Bar Association
  • Hispanic National Bar Association
  • Sports Lawyers Association
  • Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association
Professional Activities

David is vice chair of the American Bar Association’s Sports Law Committee. He co-founded the Black In-House Counsel Sports General Counsel Roundtable, an organization focused on creating opportunities and equity for diverse attorneys in sports. David serves on the Dean’s Advisory Counsel for University of Miami School of Law. He is also an attorney mentor for the Judicial Internship Opportunity Program (2016–present), a mentor/volunteer speaker on domestic violence education at NYC public schools, and a volunteer coach for the Harlem Hoops Afterschool Basketball Program. David currently serves on the board of Magis America and KYDA. He was previously a board member for Many Hopes Charity (2016–2018) and served the Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation on their board and grants committee.

Credentials

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court - Western District of New York
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York

Education

  • University of Miami School of Law, JD
  • Long Island University, BA, cum laude