Kan M. Nawaday

Partner
Kan Nawaday

Kan Nawaday is a seasoned trial, investigations, and criminal defense lawyer. A former Southern District of New York federal prosecutor, Kan zealously defends clients facing federal and state criminal and civil enforcement actions. He draws on his experience of having led more than 100 investigations, involving corruption and financial fraud; campaign finance fraud; bank, tax, and healthcare fraud; and money laundering.

Kan has tried 15 federal jury trials, and briefed and argued many federal appeals. National television news outlets often call upon Kan as a legal commentator – he has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, Bloomberg TV, and Vice News. Kan has also been quoted in newsprint publications, such as the New York Times. At Venable, Kan has conducted sensitive internal investigations, and has defended and advised clients in cases involving the federal and state False Claims Act, criminal antitrust, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, campaign finance fraud, art fraud, wire fraud, healthcare fraud, and sexual assault and harassment.

Experience

Government Experience

  • Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York

Representative Matters

Representative Matters at Venable

  • Defended a nonprofit organization against allegations of mishandling of a sexual harassment investigation, resulting in an appellate defense verdict before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Defended a multi-billion-dollar company in parallel state and federal False Claims Act investigations
  • Represented a witness in a state attorney general grand jury proceeding
  • Represented employees of a company in a federal criminal investigation

Representative Matters Prior to Joining Venable

  • Led the prosecution and trial of a union president and a hedge fund founder in an approximately $20 million bribery scheme
  • Led the prosecution and trial of a construction company and its CEO for fraud related to the more than $500 million construction of the World Trade Center Freedom Tower and Transportation Hub in New York City
  • Led the prosecution of the CEO of a national ticket brokerage company for operating an approximately $70 million Ponzi scheme
  • Led the prosecution of a medical doctor and two nurses for running a healthcare fraud scheme that defrauded Medicare of approximately $9 million
  • Led the prosecution of an attorney for participating in a multi-million-dollar bank fraud scheme involving numerous mortgages and properties
  • Led the investigation of a campaign finance fraud scheme related to the campaign of a high-level public official
 

Insights

Credentials
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Education

  • J.D. magna cum laude Cornell Law School 2003
    • Editor-in-Chief, Cornell Law Review
  • M.A. French Language Middlebury College 2000
  • B.A. Comparative Literature Yale University 1996

Bar Admissions

  • New York

Clerk Experience

  • Honorable Richard J. Cardamone U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Corruption and fraud law commentator on national television news, appearing on CNN Tonight with Don Lemon and on Bloomberg TV with David Westin
  • Frequently speaks on regulatory and criminal law matters, including matters relating to blockchain-based investment vehicles, cryptocurrency, and initial coin offerings
 

Recognition
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  • New York Law Journal, New York Trailblazers, 2019
  • Lawdragon, 500 Leading Litigators in America, 2022