Nina Marino, founding partner of white collar boutique Kaplan Marino PC, secured a full acquittal for engineering firm founder Dennis Mitsunaga in a 12-week jury trial in Hawaii, and ensured that charges were dismissed against a lawyer accused by the district attorney's office in Orange County, California, of running an illegal referral and kickbacks scheme before the case ever went to trial, earning her a spot as one of the 2024 Law360 White Collar MVPs. 

--As told to Rachel Rippetoe. Editing by Melissa Treolo. 

Law360's MVPs are attorneys who have distinguished themselves from their peers over the past year through high-stakes litigation, record-breaking deals and complex global matters. A team of Law360 editors selected the 2024 MVP winners after reviewing nearly 900 submissions