Joshua Hill, Jr.

Joshua Hill, a former federal prosecutor focusing on investigations and white-collar criminal defense, complex commercial litigation, and sports litigation, is praised by clients for his results, presence, and judgment. Mr. Hill leads the firm’s white-collar defense practice in San Francisco, and has particular experience representing clients within the pharmaceutical, medical device, life sciences, and energy industries. He also has significant trial experience, having tried seven federal cases to jury verdict to date.

Mr. Hill has more than 15 years of diverse experience across a variety of disciplines, including: civil and criminal Department of Justice investigations; civil and criminal antitrust; sports litigation; business disputes; California Public Utilities Commission investigations; California Department of Insurance healthcare fraud investigations; consumer class actions; Securities and Exchange Commission investigations; and Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigations. Mr. Hill is also comfortable litigating with an eye on the court of public opinion, having successfully represented clients in cases that have attracted both local and national media attention.

Mr. Hill’s recent notable white collar defense and government enforcement cases include the following:

Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense

• Medical device maker in U.S. Department of Justice False Claims Act investigation predicated on alleged violations of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. The government declined to intervene, and the whistleblower dismissed the qui tam complaint.
• Leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in parallel U.S. Department of Justice criminal and civil investigations related to allegations of false and misleading promotional practices. The government declined criminal prosecution.
• Individual in prosecution alleging fraud in connection with a failed real estate development. Convinced the government to voluntarily dismiss federal indictment on eve of trial. After re-indictment, prevailed on motion to dismiss the federal indictment, resulting in the government’s decision to abandon the prosecution.
• Manufacturer in DOJ antitrust price-fixing investigation.
• Health care supply-chain company in connection with a Drug Enforcement Administration audit and settlement of civil charges for violations of federal recordkeeping requirements.
• Private equity firm in an investigation related to accusations of workplace misconduct and harassment.
• Investor-owned utility in a California Public Utilities Commission enforcement proceeding related to natural–gas distribution pipelines, including an evidentiary hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.
• Health care provider in connection with a California Department of Insurance anti-kickback investigation.

Complex Commercial and Sports Litigation

• Former executive director of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) in a breach-of-contract litigation against the NBPA, a case that attracted media attention and included Mr. Hill’s deposition of NBA star LeBron James. The parties reached a confidential settlement after four years of litigation.
• Golden State Warriors organization in arbitration against the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Authority related to the lease to Oracle Arena.
• Public company in connection with high-profile wrongful-death litigation.
• Investment firm in a five-week arbitration hearing related to claims for breach of contract, theft of trade secrets, and breach of fiduciary duty.
• Biotechnology company in a dispute with a former shareholder regarding compensation for shares exchanged in tender offer.

While serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of California, Mr. Hill investigated and prosecuted a wide range of offenses, including wire and mail fraud, bank fraud, criminal tax, immigration violations, and violent crimes.

In 2018, Chambers USA named Mr. Hill as one of only two “Up and Coming” lawyers in California focusing on white-collar defense and government investigations, and he was recommended by Legal 500 US for corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense. In 2015, the Daily Journal named him one of the “Top 20 Lawyers Under 40” in California.

Mr. Hill also maintains an active pro bono practice. In 2016, he served as head of the Counsel Working Group responsible for investigating personnel and internal discipline practices within the San Francisco Police Department in connection with the Report of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Transparency, Accountability, and Fairness in Law Enforcement. Mr. Hill is also an active member of the local community, serving as a lawyer representative to the Northern District Judicial Council, a board member of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a member of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, and a former member of the Northern District of California Criminal Justice Act Panel.

Mr. Hill served as a law clerk to the Honorable Jack B. Weinstein of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He earned his J.D. from Yale Law School, his M.A. in economics from Johns Hopkins University, and his B.A. in economics from Morehouse College.