Criminal Defense: White-Collar Derivatives and Futures Law Qui Tam Law
Michael L. Spafford
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2008 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Michael Spafford is a partner in the Investigations and White Collar Defense practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Washington, DC office.
Mr. Spafford’s practice focuses on white-collar criminal defense, government investigations, regulatory enforcement, internal investigations, and related litigation. He has represented financial institutions, funds and other companies, as well as individual clients in numerous high-profile government investigations and parallel litigation involving alleged violations of the federal securities, commodities and banking laws, price fixing and collusion, fraud and manipulation, tax, accounting, trading offenses, and the False Claims Act. Mr. Spafford frequently represents clients before the DOJ, SEC, CFTC, FERC, FTC, and other federal and state government authorities.
Frequently recognized as a leading lawyer in White Collar Defense and Investigations, Mr. Spafford is ranked Band 1 by Chambers USA in Nationwide Derivatives Enforcement. Mr. Spafford currently serves as the Chair of the ABA Business Law Section Committee on Derivatives and Futures Law. He previously served as the Chair of the ABA Subcommittee on Innovative Digitized Products and Processes, including virtual currencies and block chain, and co-authored the ABA White Paper on Digital and Digitized Assets: Federal and State Jurisdictional Issues.
Overview
- Duke University, J.D., graduated 1983
- Duke University, graduated 1983
- New York, New York State Bar Association
- District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar
- ABA Criminal Litigation Committee Newsletter - Member of the Editorial Board
- ABA Committee on Futures and Derivatives - Vice Chair of Subcommittee on CFTC Enforcement
- New York, New York State Bar Association
- District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar
- ABA Criminal Litigation Committee Newsletter - Member of the Editorial Board
- ABA Committee on Futures and Derivatives - Vice Chair of Subcommittee on CFTC Enforcement
- Duke University, J.D., graduated 1983
- Duke University, graduated 1983
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Derivatives and Futures Law, Washington, D.C. (2021)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Derivatives and Futures Law
- Qui Tam Law
Special Focus:
- Government Investigations
- Litigation
News & Media
Case History
Cases
- In re Air Cargo Antitrust Investigation
Represent executive of an air cargo company in connection with DOJ criminal investigation of air cargo industry for alleged price fixing.
- PJM v. Accord Energy (FERC Dkt EL08-44); BJ Energy v. PJM (FERC Dkt EL08-49)
Represent lead trader at the Tower Companies in connection with PJM referral for alleged market manipulation of its power markets, and related litigation.
- US v Davidson (NDNY)
Represent IFCO officer Charles Davidson in connection with federal indictment alleging conspiracy to hire illegal aliens. This arises out of major federal investigation of IFCO for hiring 1177 allegedly illegal aliens.
- FERC Non-Public Investigation of Lake Erie Loop Flows
Represented a major institution in connection with FERC''s investigation of a referral by the N.Y. Independent Service Operator of alleged market manipulation of the NYISO power markets (FERC Docket ER08-1281-000).
- U.S. v. British Petroleum; U.S. v. Radley; U.S. v Abbott
Represent former BP trader Dennis Abbott in connection with high profile CFTC and DOJ investigations of BP''s propane trading.
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