Practice areas: White Collar Crimes, Securities Litigation, Business Litigation; view more
Licensed in New York since: 2003
Education: Seton Hall University School of Law
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Ford O’Brien Landy LLP
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Details
A highly regarded criminal defense and civil litigation attorney, Adam C. Ford is a founding partner at Ford O’Brien Landy LLP. Based in the firm’s office in midtown Manhattan, he provides representation to people and businesses throughout the greater New York City metropolitan area and around the country. Admitted to practice in New York since 2002, Mr. Ford is also admitted to practice in New Jersey as well as before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Mr. Ford has an extensive white collar criminal defense practice, representing clients who have been charged by the state or federal government. His cases have included allegations of money laundering, securities, wire, and mail fraud, so-called “pump and dump” schemes, insider trading, violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and obstruction of justice. Mr. Ford has also appeared on behalf of clients before numerous regulatory agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Reserve Board, the U.S. Department of Justice, and state taxing authorities.
Mr. Ford’s civil litigation practice has included partner and shareholder disputes, fiduciary duty and contract breaches, employment law and general business matters, and outside of the courtroom, he has assisted company clients that are conducting internal investigations. His successful track record in all of his professional endeavors has earned him a great deal of positive recognition from his fellow members of the bar. Mr. Ford attended Seton Hall University School of Law and was awarded his Juris Doctor magna cum laude in 2002.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense: White Collar, Securities Litigation, Business Litigation, Civil Litigation: DefenseFocus areas
Criminal Law - Federal, White Collar Crime
- 50% Criminal Defense: White Collar
- 30% Securities Litigation
- 10% Business Litigation
- 10% Civil Litigation: Defense
First Admitted: 2002, New Jersey
Professional Webpage: https://www.fordobrien.com/attorney/adam-c-ford/
Bar / Professional Activity
- New York Bar, 2002
- New Jersey Bar, 2002
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
- Eleventh Circuit, 2019
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
- New York State Bar Association
- New York City Bar Association
- Supreme Court of the United States in: Guy Gentile, Petitioner v. Securities and Exchange Commission. CASE: 19-878., 2020
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- DR. WILLIAM HUSEL V, MOUNT CARMEL HEALTH SYSTEM, 2025
- Gentile v. Securities and Exchange Commission, Case No.19-878, Supreme Court of the United States Blog "Petitions to Watch" https://www.scotusblog.com/2020/01/petitions-of-the-week-82/, 2020
- Gov't Informant Ruling Will Limit Recourse For SEC Targets. https://www.law360.com/articles/1317550/gov-t-informant-ruling-will-limit-recourse-for-sec-targets, 2020
- SEC Declines to Amend Complaint Against Guy Gentile https://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/2020/lr24962.htm#:~:text=SEC%20Declines%20to%20Amend%20Complaint%20Against%20Guy%20Gentile&text=On%20October%2021%2C%202020%2C%20the,Commission's%20case%20against%20Guy%20Gentile.&text=On%20December%2013%2C%202017%2C%20the,on%20statute%20of%20limitations%20grounds., 2020
- Court declines to impose injunction over a decade after illegal acts stopped. https://lrus.wolterskluwer.com/news/securities-regulation-daily/court-declines-to-impose-injunction-over-a-decade-after-illegal-acts-stopped/122260/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/could-injunctions-become-secs-next-headache-russ-ryan/?published=t&trackingId=ejmp7THNSwGgVwOMf8vZzQ%3D%3D, 2020
- JUDGE REDUCES BITCOIN MINER CEO’S ROLE IN $27M PUMP-AND-DUMP https://bitcoinist.com/bitcoin-miner-ceos-27m-pump-and-dump/, 2020
- Bitcoin Miner CEO Gets $27M Pump-And-Dump Suit Trimmed. https://www.law360.com/articles/1247039/bitcoin-miner-ceo-gets-27m-pump-and-dump-suit-trimmed, 2020
- MGT Capital’s CEO Must Face Allegations He Helped Pump-and-Dump https://news.bloomberglaw.com/securities-law/mgt-capitals-ceo-must-face-allegations-he-helped-pump-and-dump, 2020
- SEC Further Amends Its Complaint in Massive Market Manipulation Case to Add New Claims Against Defendant Robert Ladd https://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/2020/lr24771.htm, 2020
- 'COVID-19 Clearinghouse': Project N95 is matching hospitals with PPE suppliers https://www.fastcompany.com/90481901/covid-19-clearinghouse-project-n95-is-matching-hospitals-with-ppe-suppliers, 2020
- Project N95 Launches To Battle 2020 Shortage Of N95 Masks During Coronavirus Outbreakhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2020/03/22/project-n95-launches-to-battle-2020-shortage-of-n95-masks-during-coronavirus-outbreak/#ae34221445e1, 2020
- Successful dismissal of 17 million dollar claims in favor of compelling arbitration. 2019 WL 2082551 Only the Westlaw citation is currently available. United States District Court, S.D. Florida. AXOS CLEARING, LLC, Plaintiff, v. Scott REYNOLDS, an individual; and SRR Fortress Capital, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, Defendants. Case No.: 1:19-cv-20979-KMM Signed 05/09/2019 Axos Clearing, LLC v. Reynolds, No. 1:19-CV-20979-KMM, 2019 WL 2082551 (S.D. Fla. May 9, 2019), 2019
- New Jersey Supreme Court winning decision in US Master v. DEP. 239 N.J. 145 Supreme Court of New Jersey. US MASTERS RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY (USA) FUND, Petitioner-Appellant, v. NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION - Financial Services Element, Respondent-Respondent. A-78 September Term 2017081137 Argued March 11, 2019, Decided July 29, 2019, US Masters Residential Prop. (USA) Fund v. New Jersey Dep't of Envtl. Prot., 239 N.J. 145, 216 A.3d 137 (2019), 2019
- Investor who was once FBI informant files $25M defamation lawsuit against rivalhttps://nypost.com/2019/08/30/investor-who-was-once-fbi-informant-files-25m-defamation-lawsuit-against-rival/, 2019
- BREAKING: 2 Former Platinum Execs Convicted Of Fraud, ExCFO Walkshttps://www.fordobrien.com/BREAKING-2FormerPlatinumExecsConvictedOfFraudEx-CFOWalks-Law360.pdf, 2019
- Ex-Gov't Informant Can't Pause SEC Suit Amid High Court Bidhttps://www.law360.com/delaware/articles/1222662/ex-gov-t-informant-can-t-pause-sec-suit-amid-high-court-bid, 2019
- Duty to advance insurance coverage, triggered to cover costs of defense against criminal charges in securities fraud scheme. https://www.fordobrien.com/Platinum-Execs-Say-Insurers-Must-Give-Cash-For-Defense-Law360.pdf, 2019
- SEC Isn't Trying To Punish Broker Dealer, 3rd Circ. Told https://www.fordobrien.com/SEC-Isnt-Trying-To-Punish-Broker-Dealer-3rd-Circ-Told.pdf, 2018
- Avalon Holdings slump after 5 day surge https://www.reuters.com/article/avalon-holdg-stock/avalon-holdings-slump-after-5-day-surge-idUSL1N1UR1S3, 2018
- ‘Rogue Informant’ Sues Puerto Rico Over Banking License Denialhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-05/-rogue-informant-sues-puerto-rico-over-banking-license-denial, 2018
- Beat a $17 million SEC civil fraud case. https://nypost.com/2017/12/13/hotshot-banker-thankful-for-fantastic-decision-on-17m-sec-case/ https://www.fordobrien.com/SEC-Filed-Stock-Scheme-Suit-Too-Late-NJ-Judge-Says.pdf, 2018
- https://www.fordobrien.com/Ex-GoldmanBankerWantsFinalFedDecisionOnLifetimeBanLaw360.pdf https://www.fordobrien.com/Ex-Goldman-banker-facing-possible-lifetime-ban-sues-Federal-Reserve.shtml, 2018
- Court rejected SEC's argument that an injunction and industry bar were equitable remedies necessary to prevent alleged defendants from committing future violations of federal securities laws. https://www.fordobrien.com/NJ-Case-Bolsters-The-Limitations-Defense-Against-SEC.pdf https://www.fordobrien.com/BrokerSlamsSECs3rdCircAppealInPennyStockCaseLaw360.pdf https://nypost.com/2018/07/04/hotshot-banker-denied-business-license-over-f-k-you-doj-joke-suit/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-05/-rogue-informant-sues-puerto-rico-over-banking-license-denial https://www.reuters.com/article/avalon-holdg-stock/avalon-holdings-slump-after-5-day-surge-idUSL1N1UR1S3 https://www.fordobrien.com/SEC-Isnt-Trying-To-Punish-Broker-Dealer-3rd-Circ-Told.pdf, 2018
Representative Clients
- Sarah Copland, et al v. TGS ASA 4:22-cv-03572 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS HOUSTON DIVISION Adam has received recent press on a case that relates to a lawsuit filed in the State of Texas relating to the August 2020 explosion in the Port of Beirut, which is estimated to have destroyed more than a quarter million homes, killed over 200 people, injured several thousands more, and left some 300,000 people homeless, including 80,000 children. The World Bank’s assessment is that the explosion caused up to an estimated $4.6 billion in damage. The Firm represents the Plaintiffs who are among the victims of this carnage. This lawsuit is brought on behalf of U.S. citizens, a U.S. green-card holder, relatives of U.S. citizens, and others who were living near the Port of Beirut at the time of the Beirut Blast. For nearly the last four years, Plaintiffs have watched helplessly as the same corrupt political environment in which the Beirut Blast occurred now delays justice for the victims indefinitely. We hope to bring swift justice to our clients. , 2025
- USA v. Amadea M/Y 1:23-cv-09304 SDNY Another innovative matter that Adam is the lead litigator is involving a case where he is representating our client who owns the superyacht Amadea. The Government has seized our client’s superyacht in Fiji alleging that the yacht does not belong to our client, but instead belongs to an oligarch listed under the Russia/Crimea sanctions list. After the seizure, the yacht was moved to San Diego and remains in the custody of the Justice Department today. We were asked by Millemarin Investment Ltd., and the client to represent them. Our goal is to vacate the seizure warrant and return the Amadea to its rightful owner. Recently, the Firm was successful in a ruling against the DOJ in the Southern District of New York. Judge Ho turned down the DOJ’s motion to sell the Amadea. The case is getting a lot of international press due to the fight over international sanctions and their legal application. A hearing took place January 2025 and closing arguments are scheduled for February 7th, 2025., 2025
- USA v. Boustani et al 1:18-cr-00681 EDNY A notable case that Adam was the lead litigator was a case in the Eastern District of New York. In, U.S. v. Boustani et al., we successfully extradited Manuel Chang, Mozambique's former Minister of Economy and Finance, to the United States to dismiss a U.S. indictment against him. Chang was arrested in South Africa in December 2018, at the request of the U.S., over charges of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering with Jean Boustani, an executive with shipbuilder Privinvest Group, and others. In South Africa, Chang spent nearly five years in solitary confinement, without access to proper medical care. While it took less than a year from Boustani's arrest en route to the Dominican Republic to his 2019 acquittal at trial, Chang was jailed in South Africa for over 4.5 years until his long-delayed extradition to the United States in 2023. Trial was held in the Eastern District of New York in July/August 2024., 2024
- Represents CEO of a large oil and gas corporation in a civil forfeiture action seeking to recover a $300 million dollar asset that was wrongfully seized by the Department of Justice., 2023
- Guy Gentile (Gentile v. SEC) Supreme Court of the United States, Case No: 19-878., 2020
- MGT Capital Investments, Inc., 2020
- Robert Ladd (CEO MGT Capital Investments, Inc.), 2020
- Scott Reynolds V. TD Ameritrade (FINRA arbitration) Case No: 20-02547, 2020
- Scott Reynolds (Spartan Securities v. Reynolds FINRA Arbitration) Case No: 19-00926, 2020
- Project N95 Inc. (COVID-19 Matter), 2020
- US Masters, 2020
Pro bono / Community Service
- Provide general regulatory advice for Project N95 Inc., in response to COVID-19. Project N95 is a new start-up that is helping coordinate the purchase and sale of PPE for health care providers and local governments with suppliers and manufacturers. https://www.fastcompany.com/90481901/covid-19-clearinghouse-project-n95-is-matching-hospitals-with-ppe-suppliers https://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2020/03/22/project-n95-launches-to-battle-2020-shortage-of-n95-masks-during-coronavirus-outbreak/#ae34221445e1, 2020
- Federal Public Defender, Newark, NJ
Educational Background
- University of Pittsburgh, B.A. Cum Laude, History and Philosophy, 1997
- American University of Cairo, Egypt - 2000 Major: International Criminal Law and International Trade Courses, 2000
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Recent NBA and MLB indictments highlight the DOJ’s growing effort to crack down on sports betting based on nonpublic information. This article examines the cases, the government’s reliance on federal wire fraud laws, and the unresolved question of when betting on lesser-known information crosses into criminal conduct as legalized sports betting continues to expand., Author, NBA, MLB BETTING INDICTMENTS: SLAM DUNKS OR STRIKEOUTS, Law360, 2025
- Author, Vermouth: The Revival of the Spirit the Created America’s Cocktail Culture; The Countryman Press, 2015
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Adjunct Professor of Legal Research and Writing at Brooklyn Law School.
Honors
- Law Dragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, LawDragon, 2026
- Law Dragon 500 Leading Litigators in America, https://www.lawdragon.com/guides/2024-09-06-the-2025-lawdragon-500-leading-litigators-in-america, 2025
- Securities Litigation, 2019 - 2024, New York Metro Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2024
- Lawyers of Distinction - Excellence in Criminal Defense Law, 2018 Lawyer of Distinction, Lawyers of Distinction, 2018
Industry Groups
- Banking
- Business
- Corporate
- Financial Institutions
- Hedge Fund
- Limited Liability Companies
- Partnerships
- Securities
- Small Business
Selections
7 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2019 - 2025
