Joshua Hill, Jr.

Joshua Hill, a former federal prosecutor, is a trial lawyer focusing on white collar defense, government enforcement investigations, and complex commercial litigation. 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, trying seven federal cases to jury verdict to date.

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.

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

• Represented a 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.
• Represented a 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.
• Obtained voluntary dismissal of federal indictment on eve of trial for an individual charged with fraud in connection with a failed real estate development.  Later prevailed on motion to dismiss a federal indictment.
• Represented a health care company in connection with a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) audit and settlement of civil charges for violations of federal recordkeeping requirements.
• Represented an 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. 
• Represented a public company in connection with multiple California civil grand jury investigations and California Fair Political Practices Commission inquiries.
• Represented the head of an issue advocacy-focused trade association in connection with an investigation by the California Fair Political Practices Commission and the Attorney General’s office into campaign finance activities.
• Represented an individual in connection with an SEC investigation concerning allegations of improper revenue recognition.
• Represented a large technology company in the criminal component of a joint investigation by DOJ and SEC.

Mr. Hill’s recent notable commercial litigation cases include the following:

• Represent a former Executive Director in breach of contract litigation against the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) following Mr. Hunter’s termination as the Executive Director of the NBPA.
• Represented an investment firm in a five-week arbitration hearing related to claims for breach of contract, theft of trade secrets, and breach of fiduciary duty.
• Represented a biotechnology company in a dispute with a former shareholder regarding compensation for shares exchanged in tender offer.

In 2017, Chambers named Mr. Hill as one of only two “Up and Coming” lawyers in California focusing on white collar defense and government investigations. He was recommended in Legal 500 US 2017 for his work regarding 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, an M.A. in Economics from Johns Hopkins University, and a B.A. in Economics from Morehouse College.