Thorough, intelligent, and a fierce advocate.” "Extremely experienced and successful trial lawyer." "He's very affable, a great lawyer and he has a nice, direct approach with clients. He's fantastic to have on a joint defense team in terms of collegiality and in terms of his attentiveness with issues.Chambers USA
Preston Burton
Partner
Biography
Preston Burton is a highly regarded trial lawyer with over three decades of criminal law experience, both as a defense attorney and as a federal prosecutor. He serves as co-leader of Orrick’s global White Collar, International Trade & Compliance practice.
Thorough, intelligent, and a fierce advocate.” "Extremely experienced and successful trial lawyer." "He's very affable, a great lawyer and he has a nice, direct approach with clients. He's fantastic to have on a joint defense team in terms of collegiality and in terms of his attentiveness with issues.Chambers USA
In The News
Legal 500 2022 recognizes 18 Buckley attorneys in five practice areas
“They treat their clients better than any other law firm I’ve experienced,” is what one respondent said about Buckley LLP to Legal 500, which ranked the firm as a top law firm in five categories and recognized 18 of its attorneys for its 2022 edition.
The publication recognized...
AnnouncementsBuckley recognized by Chambers USA for consumer financial services, white collar, and fintech practices
Chambers USA named Buckley LLP a nationwide Band 1 firm in all consumer finance categories in its 2022 rankings, recognizing six of its partners in those practices. The firm received top recognition in Consumer Finance Compliance, Consumer Finance Litigation, and Consumer Finance...
AnnouncementsLegal 500 2021 recognizes 17 Buckley attorneys in six practice areas
“While some firms will provide lengthy and expensive legal analysis, Buckley’s team relies on their depth and breadth of expertise to provide useful guidance from various team members quickly and efficiently,” a respondent told Legal 500, which ranked Buckley LLP as a top law firm and...
AnnouncementsBuckley recognized by Chambers USA for consumer financial services, white collar practices
Chambers USA named Buckley LLP a nationwide Band 1 firm in all consumer finance categories in its 2021 rankings, recognizing nine of its partners in those practices — more than any other firm in the country. The firm received top recognition in Consumer Finance Compliance, Consumer...
AnnouncementsLegal 500 2020 recognizes 21 Buckley attorneys in six practice areas
“Buckley attorneys are incredibly responsive while providing top quality legal services,” is how respondents described the firm in the 2020 edition of Legal 500, which ranked Buckley as a top law firm and recognized it in six categories:
- Corporate Investigations and White ...
Preston Burton quoted in NPR article, “Prosecutors move to drop their own case after evidence issue. The judge wants answers”
Preston Burton was quoted on June 12, 2020 in an NPR article, “Prosecutors move to drop their own case after evidence issue. The judge wants answers,” which discussed a case against businessman Ali Sadr Hashemi Nejad, and allegations that the government failed to hand over evidence favorable to the...
In The NewsPreston Burton quoted in Washington Post article, “Canadian court rules extradition case against Huawei executive Meng can proceed”
Preston Burton was quoted on May 27, 2020 in a Washington Post article, “Canadian court rules extradition case against Huawei executive Meng can proceed,” which discussed Huawei’s chief financial officer faces extradition to Canada in addition to the United States, after a court ruled that the...
In The NewsBuckley recognized by Chambers USA as a “top-notch” firm in financial services and white collar work
Buckley has once again received top recognition in financial services regulation, white collar crime/government investigations, and fintech from Chambers USA, which ranks the country’s leading firms and lawyers in a range of practice areas based on research and client interviews....
AnnouncementsPreston Burton quoted in American Banker article, “Will Congress's coronavirus response watchdog have any teeth?”
Preston Burton was quoted on April 22, 2020 in an American Banker article, “Will Congress's coronavirus response watchdog have any teeth?” which discussed the Congressional Oversight Commission and the areas the panel will lack enforcement authority. Burton noted, “The panel lacks subpoena...
In The NewsThe Legal 500 2019 recognizes 17 Buckley attorneys in five practice areas
The Legal 500 once again ranked Buckley as a top law firm and recognized it in five categories:
- Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense: Corporate – Tier 4
- Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense: Individuals – Tier 2 ...
Buckley recognized by Chambers USA as a “first-rate firm” in financial services; “crème de la crème” for White Collar practice
Buckley has once again received top recognition in financial services regulation and white collar crime/government investigations from Chambers USA, which ranks the country’s leading firms and lawyers in a range of practice areas based on research and client interviews.
In total...
AnnouncementsBenchmark recognizes Buckley Sandler litigation team; David Krakoff inducted into American College of Trial Lawyers
Benchmark Litigation has recognized Buckley Sandler as one of the nation’s top litigation law firms, awarding it a National Tier 1 ranking for its White Collar practice and deeming its District of Columbia litigation team “Highly Recommended” — Benchmark’s highest...
AnnouncementsJames A. Wolfe Litigation – News and Resources
A compilation of media coverage and developments:
In The News
Publications
"Some lies matter more than others: Why Congress should consider a 'false statement misdemeanor'" by Preston Burton, Paige Ammons, Bree Murphy, Jackson Hagen (Law.com)
The Department of Justice’s attempted abandonment of the Michael Flynn prosecution has sparked troubling and conflicting questions of political interference, prosecutorial indiscretion and judicial overreach. But a difficult question at the heart of the matter has gone begging: whether there are...
Articles"CARES Act puts inspectors general back in the spotlight" by Daniel R. Alonso, Preston Burton, & Meredith Leeson (New York Law Journal)
Federal Inspectors General—the nation’s watchdogs over government agencies and government programs—are back in the news. First, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act , received close attention not only for its $2 trillion infusion of taxpayer dollars into the U.S. economy, but also...
Articles"CARES congressional oversight: Scope and structure" by Preston Burton (Bloomberg Law)
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, signed in March 2020, enacted an unprecedented level of emergency government spending to provide public health relief and stabilize an economy damaged by the pandemic, and included oversight provisions to monitor how the $2 trillion is spent...
Articles"Less isn’t always more: 1001(a)(1) Concealment charges in voluntary disclosure submissions" by Paige Ammons and Preston Burton (Business Crimes Bulletin)
In any investigation where a client is deposed or interviewed by a government agent, experienced lawyers should be wary of potential false statement liability under 18 U.S.C. §1001, and likely will have advised their clients of the paramount need to be truthful. Voluntary communications, initiated...
Articles"Coercive process for material witnesses needs reform" by Preston Burton and Paige Ammons (Law360)
The material witness statute confers incredible power on the government to obtain the arrest and detention of a witness — even though that person is not accused of having committed any crime — simply by showing the court that the person is purportedly “material in a criminal proceeding” and that it...
Articles"Congressional subpoenas, special prosecutors, and the Capitol jail—Let the games begin" by Preston Burton and Paige Ammons (Bloomberg Law)
President Donald Trump has been predictably defiant in responding to the suggestion that House Democrats will unleash their newly won subpoena powers to investigate him, his administration, or his companies, warning that he is prepared to assume a “war-like posture” and that the Democrats “can play...
Articles"Can you comment when SARs come up?" by Preston Burton (Banking Exchange)
Recent news related to the investigation of Russian influence in the U.S. political process has drawn the public’s attention to the Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) system and raised questions about its integrity. Financial institutions, among others, are required to file SARs with the Treasury...
ArticlesPreston Burton, Bree Murphy, and Leslie L. Meredith Authored a Business Crimes Bulletin Article, "The Arrival of Justice Gorsuch May Bring Opportunity to Reform the Collective Entity Doctrine"
A little over 100 years ago, the Supreme Court declined to extend the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination to corporations responding to grand jury subpoenas for documents, establishing what has been termed the “collective entity doctrine.” Hale v. Henkel, 201 U.S. 43, 74-76 (1906...
Articles
Awards and Recognitions
Awards & Recognitions
- Best Lawyers 2023: Criminal Defense - General Practice, Criminal Defense - White-Collar
- Chambers USA 2022: Band 2, District of Columbia Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
- Legal 500 2022: Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense
- Best Lawyers 2022: Criminal Defense - General Practice, Criminal Defense - White-Collar
- Chambers USA 2021: Band 2, District of Columbia Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
- Legal 500 2021: Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense
- Best Lawyers 2021: Criminal Defense - General Practice, Criminal Defense - White-Collar
- Chambers USA 2020: Band 2, District of Columbia Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
- Legal 500 2020: Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense
- Best Lawyers 2020: Criminal Defense - General Practice, Criminal Defense - White-Collar
- Chambers USA 2019: Band 2, District of Columbia Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
- Benchmark Litigation 2019: White Collar Crime, Securities
- Legal 500 2019: Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense
- Best Lawyers 2019: Criminal Defense - General Practice, Criminal Defense - White-Collar
- Chambers USA 2018: Band 2, District of Columbia Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
- Legal 500 2018: Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense
- Best Lawyers 2018: Criminal Defense - General Practice, Criminal Defense - White-Collar
- Legal 500 2017: Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense
- Chambers USA 2017: Band 2, District of Columbia Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
- Best Lawyers 2017: Criminal Defense - General Practice, Criminal Defense - White-Collar
- Benchmark Litigation 2017: National Litigation Star - White Collar Crime
- Benchmark Litigation 2017: Local Litigation Star - White Collar Crime, Securities
- Chambers USA 2016: Band 2, District of Columbia Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
- Who's Who Legal: Business Crime Defense 2016
Practice Areas
- Appellate
- Complex Civil Litigation
- Congressional Investigations
- Enforcement Actions & Investigations
- Environmental Enforcement & Litigation
- False Claims Act & FIRREA
- Federal Trade Commission
- Foreign Corrupt Practices Act & Anti-Corruption
- Inspector General Investigations
- Internal Investigations
- Securities Enforcement
- Whistleblower
- White Collar
Education
- J.D., University of Virginia
- A.B., Duke University (magna cum laude)
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
Government Service
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Columbia
- Law Clerk, Hon. Boyce F. Martin, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
Memberships & Involvements
- Member, Alexandria Bar Association
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, American Board of Criminal Lawyers
- Member, The Barristers
- Member, The Lawyers' Club