David Axelrod > Ballard Spahr LLP > Philadelphia, United States > Lawyer Profile
Ballard Spahr LLP Offices
1735 MARKET STREET, 51ST FLOOR
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103-7599
PENNSYLVANIA
United States
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David Axelrod

Work Department
Litigation
Position
Partner and Practice Leader the Securities Enforcement and Corporate Governance Litigation Group
Career
David Axelrod is a first-chair trial lawyer who has tried more than 15 federal court cases to judgment. He has secured favorable jury and bench verdicts in high-profile trials under intense media and public scrutiny, and has extensive experience arguing cases on appeal. David has successfully designed and executed courtroom strategy in a wide range of cases, both civil and criminal.
In cases involving criminal or regulatory enforcement, David has broad experience in cases alleging securities fraud, stock and market manipulation, insider trading, accounting fraud, bank fraud, tax evasion, and public corruption. In private civil litigation, David has secured significant victories in a broad range of cases from securities fraud to contracts to defamation.
Admissions
District of Columbia
New York
Pennsylvania
Education
Harvard Law School (J.D. 2003)
Haverford College (B.A. 1999, high honors in Economics, Political Science)
Phi Beta Kappa
Lawyer Rankings
United States > Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense
Ballard Spahr LLP has extensive experience advising on a breadth of white-collar offenses, including financial fraud, tax offenses, public corruption, and commodities fraud. The team is led by Henry E. Hockeimer, who is recommended for matters relating to securities fraud and litigation. Peter Hardy focuses on money laundering allegations and compliance requirements. Noted for his experience with handling disputes before the SEC and DOJ, David Axelrod frequently represents broker-dealers, cryptocurrency issuers, and investment advisors. Located in New York, Marjorie Peerce and Michael Robotti are also key members of the team. Peerce has experience with various regulatory and criminal investigations, including bribery, cryptocurrency trading, and hacking. Robotti is noted for his skills with navigating complex litigation; he has experience with FCPA violations, money laundering, and corporate misconduct. Unless otherwise stated, the lawyers mentioned are based in Philidelphia.
United States > Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
The securities litigation practice in Ballard Spahr LLP‘s Philadelphia office ‘delivers practical and concise advice’. Highly-respected trial lawyer David Axelrod leads the practice and Norman Goldberger co-leads the firm’s municipal securities regulation and enforcement team. Axelrod’s recent highlights include acting for pharmaceutical company Teva in a case alleging the company engaged in price fixing, and the team also recently negotiated a deferred prosecution that allowed the company to continue as a going concern in the US. John Grugan left the team in March 2024, while Timothy Katsiff departed in April 2024.
Lawyer Rankings
- Securities litigation: defense United States > Dispute resolution
- Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense United States > Dispute resolution
Top Tier Firm Rankings
Firm Rankings
- Real estate > Land use/zoning
- M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m)
- Real estate > Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
- Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): municipal
- Finance > Fintech
- Labor and employment > Labor-management relations
- Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: litigation
- Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: automotive/transport
- Real estate > Real estate
- Energy > Renewable/alternative power
- Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design
- Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation
- Real estate > Real estate finance
- Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
- Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
- Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense