David Callaway, Goodwin Procter (Courtesy photo)

After spending nearly three years at Baker McKenzie, David Callaway, who once led the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California, has made a move to Goodwin Procter in Silicon Valley.

Callaway joined Goodwin Monday as the second West Coast member of the firm's white-collar defense practice. Firmwide, Goodwin said it has 75 attorneys in its securities, white-collar and business ligation practice.

Callaway is joining forces in Redwood City with former colleague Grant Fondo.

“We worked together in the San Jose U.S. attorney's office, where we worked on a number of cases together, and we also became very good friends,” said Callaway, noting that he is excited for the opportunity to help Goodwin grow its white-collar practice on the West Coast.

Before returning to private practice, Callaway spent nearly 20 years at the U.S. attorney's office, where he served as the former chief of the criminal division and head of the white collar unit at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California. He also served as chief of the San Jose branch and as a member of the office's computer hacking and intellectual property unit.

“I think there is going to be a continued focus on the West Coast on white-collar prosecutions in general,” Callaway said. He explained that the current U.S. attorney, David Anderson, has set up a new corporate fraud strike force in the Northern District of California, which will bring increased attention to white-collar offenses.

“I can certainly see why Goodwin Procter wants to continue to develop and grow its presence on West Coast,” Callaway said, adding that he looks forward to collaborating with Fondo on securities prosecutions and expanding his practice into Latin America. Callaway speaks Spanish fluently.

Before he was a federal prosecutor, Callaway was a deputy district attorney in Santa Clara County from 1995 to 1998. Before that, he spent five years as an associate at San Francisco criminal defense firm, Topel & Goodman.

According to his new firm, Callaway has tried over 40 cases to verdict.

“Dave's extensive experience as the Department of Justice's highest-ranking white collar crime prosecutor in Northern California will be an exceptional resource for companies and individuals facing criminal and regulatory investigations,” Tony Fiotto, chair of Goodwin's securities litigation, white-collar defense and business litigation practices, said in a statement. “Pairing his expertise, especially in economic and cyber crimes, with our comprehensive suite of capabilities will be a tremendous asset to our clients in Northern California and globally.”

In a statement responding to Callaway's departure, a Baker McKenzie spokesperson said, “we thank David for his contributions to the Firm and wish him well.”

Read More

How Goodwin Became a Household Name in California's Startup Community

Goodwin Adds Tech, Venture Capital Partner in NYC

Goodwin Grows Again in California With Steptoe, Fox Rothschild Hires