Profile
Todd Pickles is a litigator based in GT’s Sacramento, CA office who represents clients in white collar matters and investigations, as well as conducts independent investigations regarding potential violations of criminal and civil law, including California’s Political Reform Act. Todd also advocates for clients in a multitude of jurisdictions, including in federal court and before administrative agencies with respect to enforcement actions by government regulators and in federal and state court and arbitrations involving complex business litigation, including prosecuting and defending trade secret claims. Todd is a member of the firm’s Trial Practice Group and has been trial counsel in 19 jury trials and multiple bench trials, as well as has argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on numerous occasions.
Having served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, Todd brings a wealth of experience in investigating and prosecuting a wide range of crimes including securities fraud, investment fraud, bank fraud, health care fraud, and identity fraud, along with cases involving public corruption. Todd's previous roles included serving as the public corruption coordinator and the civil rights and hate crimes coordinator for the Eastern District of California. Leveraging his deep background, Todd frequently offers commentary to news media on ongoing criminal cases and related matters. Todd is a contributor to GT’s series of podcasts, including on the criminal law aspects of trade secret misappropriation and employment investigations, and regularly releases articles and alerts regarding legal developments in multiple areas of litigation including criminal enforcement and trade secrets.
Todd is also on the faculty at McGeorge School of Law as an adjunct professor teaching criminal procedure.
Concentrations
- White collar investigations
- Federal criminal law
- Fraud
- Trade secrets
- Complex business litigation
Capabilities
Experience
- United States v. Schena. Lead defense counsel, including four-week federal criminal health care fraud and securities fraud jury trial.
- Assisted a CA state agency with an independent investigation relating to compliance with California Political Reform Act.
- Coordinated independent investigation for corporate client of potential embezzlement that resulted in recovery of substantial assets for the company.
- United States v. Marier. Defense counsel in embezzlement and money-laundering case.
- United States v. Carpoff. Lead prosecutor in the investigation involving billion-dollar securities and tax fraud scheme involving solar credits.°
- United States v. Absi. Lead prosecutor in the investigation involving securities and accounting fraud.°
- United States v. Crosby Lead prosecutor in the investigation involving tribal embezzlement and tax evasion.°
- United States v. Martin. Lead prosecutor from indictment through trial which involved an international bribery scheme and public corruption.°
- United States v. Stratos. Lead prosecutor involved in the investigation, indictment, and trial which involved fraud schemes.°
- United States v. Turchin, et. al.. Lead prosecutor in an investigation and trial involving public corruption.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Pickles prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- Carlson v. Coldwell Solar, Inc. Lead trial counsel in three-week California state court trial involving numerous common law and statutory claims including trade secret misappropriation.
- Mitchell Repair Technology Company, LLC v. Autel US, Inc. Counsel for corporate defendant in trade secret misappropriation arbitration involving automotive diagnostic technology.
- PacTec Holdings LLC v. Fanli Inc., et al. Counsel for corporate defendant in trade secret misappropriation case involving e-commerce platform.
- United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California, 2007-2019
- Public Corruption Coordinator, 2017-2019
- Civil Rights and Hate Crimes Coordinator, 2015-2019
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Criminal Division, 2010-2019
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Civil Division, 2007-2010
Recognition & Leadership
- Recognized, Sacramento Magazine, "Top Lawyer," Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2021-2023
- Adjunct Professor, Criminal Procedure, McGeorge School of Law, 2020-Present
- Adjunct Professor of the Year, 2021
Credentials
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J.D., summa cum laude, University of San Francisco School of Law, 2001
- Editor-in-Chief, University of San Francisco Law Review
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B.A., International Relations, cum laude, Georgetown University, 1997
- Certificate in Russian and East European Studies
- Hon. Saundra Brown Armstrong, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, 2001-2002
- California