April 03, 2026|Firm News, Press
Buchalter is pleased to announce the continued expansion of its White Collar & Investigations and Litigation groups with the additions of David Menninger, Special Counsel in Buchalter’s Los Angeles office; Andrew C. Erskine, Special Counsel in the Chicago office; and Andrew Stebbins, Special Counsel in the Portland office.
The White Collar group’s co‑chairs, Ashwin Ram and Daniel C. Silva, are both seasoned former federal prosecutors who bring sophisticated prosecutorial insight and strategic leadership to the group. The practice is nationally recognized and anchored by former federal prosecutors, seasoned trial lawyers, and former regulators. The group now includes 34 attorneys nationwide and works closely with the firm’s State Attorneys General practice and its recently launched Crisis Management and Strategic Response group.
“These hires reflect our continued investment in building one of the strongest white collar teams in the country,” said Adam Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer of Buchalter. “The firm has assembled a deep, trial‑ready bench, and the addition of these lawyers further enhances our ability to handle the most sensitive and sophisticated matters our clients face.”
David Menninger is a former Deputy Federal Public Defender and federal judicial clerk at both the district and appellate levels who brings a calculated, insider’s perspective to complex, high‑stakes cases involving fraud, tax, money laundering, and immigration‑related charges. His record includes a high‑profile jury acquittal that garnered national media attention, a not guilty verdict in a category where such outcomes occur in only 0.03% of cases, and numerous pretrial dismissals of indictments, as well as post‑conviction work that compelled the government to vacate a wrongful murder conviction.
“Buchalter has built a national white collar platform that meets the challenges of modern enforcement,” said Menninger. “It’s the right place to help clients navigate parallel criminal, regulatory, and civil exposure.”
Andrew C. Erskine served for ten years as an Assistant United States Attorney in Chicago, rising to Section Chief, where he investigated and tried highly complex matters involving health care fraud, honest services fraud, investment schemes, bank fraud, insider trading, embezzlement, and financial‑services enforcement, including money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act violations, and sanctions. His experience includes the prosecution of a $44 million illegal cryptocurrency exchange, extensive coordination with DOJ leadership and federal enforcement agencies, parallel matters with the SEC and CFTC, and 11 federal jury trials, including a 2025 case in which two defendants waived closing arguments to prevent his rebuttal.
“This is a group that tries cases, wins hard fights, and knows how the government operates at every level,” said Erskine.
Andrew Stebbins represents individuals and institutional clients in high‑stakes criminal and regulatory enforcement matters, drawing on experience from leading national white collar litigation boutiques. His practice includes matters brought by the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and state attorneys general, as well as federal habeas corpus representations. A seasoned courtroom advocate, Stebbins has first‑chaired cases through trial, secured appellate reversals including a conviction carrying a 99‑year sentence, and resolved sensitive matters through strategic negotiation, providing clients with clear, candid guidance in the most challenging situations.
“I’m excited to join a firm with a deep bench of former prosecutors and renowned attorneys with a clear commitment to strategic, trial‑ready advocacy,” said Stebbins.
Launched in 2020, Buchalter’s White Collar & Investigations practice has expanded rapidly from its initial core into a robust national team as client demand for sophisticated defense and investigations counsel has continued to rise. The additions of Menninger, Erskine, and Stebbins mark the next phase of that growth, reflecting the firm’s focus on building depth across key markets and expanding its ability to handle increasingly complex enforcement actions, parallel proceedings, and high‑stakes disputes.
“Our clients nationwide expect a team that can go toe-to-toe with the government and opposing counsel at the highest level, and these additions deliver exactly that,” said Ram. “A former Chicago AUSA and two former Federal Public Defenders bring the kind of inside perspective — from both sides of the courtroom — that matters most when the government and adverse parties come knocking. All three have already hit the ground running and are working with me on some of our most high-profile engagements.”
“These additions underscore the momentum of our group and our focus on building a national practice that clients trust with their most serious matters,” added Silva. “We are continuing to expand thoughtfully, with lawyers who bring real courtroom experience and sound judgment.”
“We are thrilled to have these three talented lawyers join us as we continue to expand our white collar defense capabilities across the country,” added Bass.
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Buchalter is a full-service business law firm representing local, regional, national, and international clients in a multitude of practice areas and their subspecialties, among them: Bank and Finance, Corporate, Health Care, Litigation, Insolvency and Financial Law, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Real Estate, and Tax and Estate Planning. Buchalter has more than 600 attorneys with offices in California, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Washington.
