David M. Zornow

David Zornow is the global head of Skadden’s Litigation/Controversy practices and a member of the firm’s Policy Committee. Mr. Zornow founded the firm’s white collar practice in 1989, which The American Lawyer named as the 2018 White Collar/Regulatory Litigation Department of the Year.

He represents corporations and individuals in federal and state grand jury investigations and at criminal trials. He also represents clients in regulatory investigations, including investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission and state attorneys general, and conducts corporate internal investigations.

Mr. Zornow also served as an assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he supervised a wide range of white collar cases, including the investigation of corruption at the New York City Parking Violations Bureau.

He was a member of the trial team that obtained the RICO conviction of Stanley Friedman, the Bronx Democratic leader. For his investigative and trial work on the Friedman case, Mr. Zornow was awarded the Department of Justice’s Director’s Award.

From 1994 to 1996, Mr. Zornow served as chairman of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, an independent agency that investigates allegations of police misconduct.

Mr. Zornow also has been recognized for outstanding pro bono service to the New York City Legal Aid Society, and in 2016 he received the Milton S. Gould Award for Outstanding Advocacy from the Office of the Appellate Defender. He also is a member of the New York City Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, having been nominated for the position by the chief judge of New York State.

Education:

• J.D., Yale Law School, 1980
• B.A., Harvard College, 1976 (summa cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa)

Admissions :

• New York
• District of Columbia

Associations : Member, Board of Advisors, Yale Law School Center for the Study of Corporate Law

Government Service:

• Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York (1983-1987)
• Associate Independent Counsel, Iran-Contra Investigation (1987-1989)
• Chair, New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (1994-1996)
• Member, New York City Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary (2018-present)