David Lazarus

Practice Areas

- Government Enforcement & White Collar Defense

- Health Care & Life Sciences

- Health Care

- Health Care Litigation

- Biopharma & Medical Device

- Business & Commercial Disputes

- Litigation & Trial

- Privacy & Security

- Restitution, Asset Forfeiture and Financial Penalties

Career

Dave is a nationally-recognized former federal prosecutor and high-profile trial lawyer, with more than 17 years of experience in high-stakes legal proceedings. He aggressively represents organizations and individuals in a wide variety of government and internal investigations, hearings, administrative actions, trials, and enforcement proceedings brought by federal and state government agencies, including in the health care and life sciences industries, export control and sanctions, and financial services industries.

Dave is resident in the Boston office and is also a member of our offices in Southwest Florida (Naples/Fort Myers) and in New York.

Prior to joining Verrill, Dave spent more than 16 years as a prosecutor and trial lawyer, including nearly a decade with the Department of Justice in both Massachusetts and Florida as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal and Civil Divisions. In Boston, Dave held a senior leadership role and investigated and prosecuted some of the largest and most-complex health care and white-collar cases in the country, including those relating to pharmaceuticals and opioids, pharmacies, charitable co-pay foundations, hospitals, physician practices (small and large), government and commercial insurers, payment and reimbursement, durable medical equipment manufacture and supply, and telemedicine. Among his many significant trials, Dave was one of the lead trial lawyers on the 53-day racketeering trial of the billionaire founder of opioid manufacturer Insys Therapeutics, Inc.

Dave also has significant experience with COVID-19 government funding, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), the Main Street Lending Program, and Provider Relief Funds (PRF). Dave has represented individuals under criminal investigation by the federal government in connection with the application for, receipt, and disposition of COVID-19 related funds. Dave has also advised corporations in connection with this emergency funding in both the civil and criminal contexts.

Dave also delivers deep experience and knowledge in criminal and civil asset forfeiture, restitution, money laundering, public corruption, and high-stakes financial penalties, including the pre-trial restraint and seizure of assets, such as complex assets and cryptocurrency. Dave also has experience in cybersecurity and privacy, including business email compromise matters, and received specialized training from the Department’s Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section. He has experience with both the SEC and CFTC, including in matters involving alleged market manipulation and insider trading. He also has experience defending against state Attorney General consumer protection and Massachusetts Chapter 93A actions.

A dynamic public speaker, Dave is regularly sought out to teach and speak on matters related to health care regulation and enforcement, and government investigations and has taught more than 2,000 federal and state health care enforcement agents and prosecutors how to conduct parallel investigations and health care fraud enforcement. Dave has also appeared on television shows including 60 Minutes on CBS, Alex Gibney’s Crime of the Century on HBO, and American Greed on CNBC. Dave has published articles in Law360, the New York Law Journal, and Compliance Today.

Dave is recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business under Healthcare in Massachusetts.

Dave began his legal career prosecuting violent crime and homicide cases in New York City.

Professional Memberships

-American Health Lawyers Association

- Health Care Compliance Association

- Boston Bar Association

- Collier County Bar Association

- Lee County Bar Association

- Federal Bar Association

- American Bar Association

- Former Member of the Advisory Council to the Hodges University Identity Fraud Institute, Naples, Florida

- Former Member of the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators (IAFCI)

Publications

- "The Impending Demise of the Intended Loss Doctrine in Federal Sentencing" - New York Law Journal

- "Telehealth compliance after the public health emergency" - Compliance Cosmos

- "What's Notable In DOJ's 1st Cyber-Fraud Initiative Settlement" - Law360

- "Early Asset Forfeiture Is Key Part Of Criminal Defense Plans" -Law360

- "How Growing Cyber Scrutiny Affects Corporate Compliance" - Law360

Alerts:

- "Connecticut’s new privacy law: What you need to know" - Verrill

- "Maine, New Hampshire, & Vermont Remain DOJ Health Care Enforcement Priorities: Targeted Federal Enforcement Presents Serious Risk" - Verrill

- "New DOJ Task Force Announced Will Impact Health Care Providers & Prescribers in Northern New England" - Verrill

Personal

Outside of the office, Dave enjoys skiing, coaching youth soccer and hockey, and spending time with his wife, three boys, and high-energy Vizsla.