Counsel for NSYNC
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York; Second Circuit
Mr. Waxman represented the internationally known pop group NSYNC in a breach-of-contract and fraud action filed in New York federal court by the producer of an IMAX film based on the group’s No Strings Attached tour. The producer alleged that the members breached their obligations to support and promote the film through promotional appearances and media interviews. The matter required interpreting complex entertainment and talent agreements and the scope of contractual promotional obligations. The federal trial court in Manhattan dismissed the case before trial, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal.
Counsel for Chinese Conglomerate
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Mr. Waxman represented a Chinese conglomerate in a breach-of-contract action against JPMorgan Chase in Manhattan. The dispute was governed by the International Swap and Derivatives Association (“ISDA”) Master Agreement and required interpreting ISDA’s valuation provisions, including the timing of market quotations after termination. The federal trial judge denied JPMorgan’s attempt to dismiss the case, and the case ended in a favorable settlement for his client.
Member of Counsel Team for Air Transport Association
Federal Administrative Litigation
Mr. Waxman was part of a team of attorneys representing the Air Transport Association in a challenge to the Federal Aviation Administration’s approval of $1.2 billion in Passenger Facility Charges to finance an 8-mile light-rail system connecting JFK International Airport to the New York City subway and the Long Island Rail Road. Through the team’s efforts, the court required the FAA to follow the proper administrative procedures in deciding how to fund construction of the project.
Member of Counsel Team for Nuclear Utilities and States
Federal Litigation Against the U.S. Department of Energy
Mr. Waxman was part of a team of attorneys representing a group of nuclear utilities and states against the U.S. Department of Energy for failing to take and store the utilities’ spent nuclear fuel by a Congressionally mandated deadline. Through the team’s efforts, the federal government was ordered to pay the utilities’ costs for continuing to store the spent fuel.
Counsel for State Officials
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; Michigan Supreme Court
Mr. Waxman represented two senior Michigan state government officials in the criminal Flint water case, which arose from the deaths of multiple Flint residents who contracted Legionnaires’ disease after consuming water from the Flint River. Through his efforts, one senior official was never charged, and the criminal case against the other was dismissed before trial. The Michigan Supreme Court affirmed that dismissal.
Counsel for Former Social Security Administration Employee
U.S. Senate and House Subcommittee Investigations
Mr. Waxman represented a former Social Security Administration employee during Senate and House subcommittee investigations into allegations that the Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”) misappropriated and misused Americans’ data in an effort to establish that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.
Mr. Waxman represented an alleged “bag man” in the global bribery case dubbed the “World’s Biggest Bribe Scandal,” involving the Monaco-based company Unaoil. His client was alleged to have delivered $20 million in payments from an Australian company to an Iraqi government official in connection with the award of an oil-pipeline contract valued at approximately $1.4 billion. His client was never charged.
Counsel for Former Stratton Oakmont Employee
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Mr. Waxman represented a former employee of Stratton Oakmont, the brokerage made infamous by The Wolf of Wall Street. The employee was charged in Manhattan with securities fraud for a similar penny-stock “pump-and-dump” scheme involving the Walsh Manning and Foster Jeffries brokerage firms.
Counsel for State Senator
U.S. Department of Justice and FBI Investigation
Mr. Waxman represented a state senator investigated by the Department of Justice and the FBI for allegedly steering government contracts to an associate in exchange for payment. No charges were filed against the state senator.
Mr. Waxman represented an investment adviser that managed more than $600 million in strip malls across the United States and was criminally and civilly charged in parallel DOJ and SEC proceedings with defrauding investors and with a market-manipulation scheme involving WeWork stock.
Counsel for Government Contractor
Federal Government Investigation
Mr. Waxman represented a government contractor with billions of dollars in annual revenue in a government investigation into allegations that the company submitted inaccurate or misleading information about its compliance with federal small-business contracting requirements. Through his efforts, the scope of the investigation was minimized and the company avoided “bet-the-company” risks.
Counsel for U.S.-Based General Contractor
Internal Investigation
Mr. Waxman represented a U.S.-based general contractor with approximately $4 billion in annual revenue in an internal investigation into the embezzlement of more than $1.5 million by an employee. The employee used a sophisticated accounting scheme to divert company funds to pay for personal goods and services in connection with a major microchip manufacturing facility the company was constructing in the Middle East.
Counsel for Investment Adviser
Internal Investigation
Mr. Waxman represented an investment adviser with billions of dollars under management in an internal investigation into an employee alleged to have embezzled investor funds. Through his efforts, the investigation determined that the employee stole more than $2 million to pay for a wide array of personal goods and services.
Counsel for Ammunition Supplier
DOJ Investigation
Mr. Waxman represented an ammunition supplier facing allegations of revenue-recognition fraud. The matter required detailed analysis of complex accounting practices, the underlying commercial transactions and government contracts. Through his efforts, the client was never charged with criminal wrongdoing and minimized its civil exposure.
Counsel for Medicaid Billing Company
DOJ/FBI Investigation
Mr. Waxman represented a Medicaid billing company in a DOJ/FBI investigation into allegations that it submitted phantom bills and used other allegedly fraudulent billing practices in connection with its special-education reimbursement services. Through his efforts, the company was never charged.
Counsel for Hospitality Company
Internal Investigation
Prosecutor (AUSA)
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
Mr. Waxman prosecuted and obtained a guilty plea from a Tallahassee, Florida resident who orchestrated a $120 million online-advertising Ponzi scheme.
Prosecutor (AUSA)
U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
Mr. Waxman prosecuted and obtained a guilty plea from a former professional boxer who embezzled $200,000 from a youth boxing center he founded and spent the money on personal goods and services, including lavish trips, gambling binges and concerts.
Lead Counsel
U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
Mr. Waxman was lead counsel in a four-month-long trial of the Delafield Mob, whose members were charged with 6 murders and 22 attempted murders, including the murder of an innocent bystander who was shot and killed while standing with her two children in front of her house during a drive-by shooting. The jury returned guilty verdicts against all of the gang members, including the gang leader, who received a 109-year prison sentence.
Court Receiver
Montgomery County Circuit Court, Maryland
A Montgomery County Circuit Court judge appointed Mr. Waxman to take control of the Maryland Parents & Teachers Association’s (“PTA”) finances and operations after allegations that the organization’s president was embezzling money. After a comprehensive internal investigation, Mr. Waxman found that the president had embezzled more than $900,000 in member dues, federal Covid relief funds, and private contributions, using the money to pay for a wide array of personal goods and services, including lavish trips, gambling binges and Voodoo spells.
These are matters Seth Waxman handled. They are not a promise about outcomes in any future matter, and they are not a complete list of his work, much of which is confidential. Some matters are described generally to protect client confidentiality.
See also: Seth B. Waxman · Business Litigation · White-Collar Defense · Court-Appointed Receiverships. Call (301) 479-8960 or use the contact page.
District of Columbia; Maryland (Bar No. 2607271016); New York (admitted 2005)
Admitted and appears in federal district courts, including on pro hac vice admission. Federal court attorney directories record such admissions; his appears in the Western District of Texas directory under bar number 456156, listed there during his tenure at Dickinson Wright.
University of Virginia School of Law — Virginia Law Review
Florida State University, B.S.
The Best Lawyers in America — White-Collar Criminal Defense and Commercial Litigation, listed since 2019
Bar number 456156 appears as a DDC bar number in his signature block on the ECF No. 57 filing above. Confirm current admission status with the relevant bar.
