Nina Marino

Profile

Nina Marino of Kaplan Marino

Nina’s complex litigation and white-collar crime practice is national and international. She negotiates with the U.S. Department of Justice, state attorneys general, District Attorneys, and Interpol in her defense of individuals alleged to be involved with Medicare fraud, Foreign Corrupt Practice Act violations and tax, cyber and other crimes.

Personal Commitment to Clients and Non-Traditional Approaches

Quite simply, Nina likes to save people. Right from the start, clients understand that Nina takes their cases as personally as they do.

Her presentations before U.S. Attorneys introduce new perspectives, compelling context and workable paths to resolution.

Nina’s unconventional combination of caring, integrity and formidable lawyering has earned her a national reputation and recognition. She discovers the shades of gray behind prosecutors’ black-and-white arguments to shine new light on her clients’ circumstances. Her team-driven, meticulously prepared strategies have repeatedly helped clients reach their objectives — from staying out of prison to defending allegations all the way to trial.

Advancing Criminal Defense Law

A prominent member of the criminal defense bar, Nina was recognized for more than 25 years of professional excellence as the recipient of the American Bar Association’s 2017 Charles English Award, the highest national award for work in the field of criminal justice.
Nina holds leadership roles on several ABA committees, including as a board member of the Criminal Justice Section Committee and as founder of the Women in White-Collar Subcommittee. In addition, Nina served as the Appointed Chair of the Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representatives, Central District of California.

A frequent media commentator, author and speaker, Nina has steered the conversation at numerous national and international conferences on white-collar crime and fraud. Her presentation topics range from international criminal investigations and public corruption to unconscious bias in expert testimony and regulatory issues related to virtual currencies.

Legal and Civic Leadership

Nina has championed women’s issues for more than two decades. She has helped change the gender composition of the ABA’s educational programming and spoken at the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Women’s Summit. At the Los Angeles Daily Journal’s Women Leadership in the Law series, Nina interviewed Eileen Decker, president of the Los Angeles Police Commission.

Nina is the founder of the Criminal Law Section of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA) and of the Los Angeles chapter of the Women White-Collar Defense Association (WWCDA). In addition, Nina serves on the board of directors of C5LA, which focuses on creating a path to college for underserved youth.

The Los Angeles Daily Journal and Los Angeles Business Journal have repeatedly recognized Nina for her influence and impact on the legal profession, and she is included among Best Lawyers’ top practitioners in white-collar criminal defense.

In 2020, the Daily Journal recognized Ms. Marino as one of the top white collar lawyers in California. Nina was named with 27 other practitioners and only 5 other women statewide. Also in 2020 Nina was recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as a Leader in the Law and a Top Woman Attorney, by the California Lawyers Association for Excellence in Practice, and International Advisory Expert recognized Nina as an expert in white collar crime.  Since 2004, Ms. Marino has been voted by her peers as a Southern California Super Lawyer and a Top Woman Lawyer.

Areas of Practice

  • White-Collar Defense
  • Public Corruption
  • International Extradition
  • Tax Fraud
  • Sentencing

 

Litigation Percentage

  • 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

 

Recent Awards and Recognitions

 

Speaking Engagements

2021

  • “Bridge or Bulwark? Using ‘Bridgegate’ to Keep Property Fraud in its Lane” WWCDA WatercoolerPLUS , Virtual Event
  • “Keeping Prosecutors at Bay: A North American Take on the Dos and Don’ts of Negotiating Corporate Resolutions in Light of Current Enforcement Trends.” 33 Chancery Lane Business Crime Conference 2020, Virtual Event

2020

  • Panelist at 5th Annual Business Crime Conference 33 Chancery Lane, Virtual Event
  • “The Dark Net, Cryptocurrency & Money Laundering” NACDL Defending Modern Drug Cases Seminar, Virtual
  • “2020 Vision: L.A.’s Top Women Judges Preview the Litigation Landscape and Discuss the Characteristics of Power Litigators for the New Decade” WLALA 25th Annual Litigators Forum, Los Angeles, CA

  • “Unique Issues in Representing Individuals” NACDL West Coast White-Collar Crime Conference, Virtual

2019

  • “Through the Looking Glass: A Glimpse at International Criminal Enforcement In 2019,” ABA Southeastern White-Collar Crime Institute, Braselton, CA
  • “The Explosion of Digital Currency and ICO Enforcement Actions – The Current Landscaper and What the Future Holds,” ABA National Institute on White-Collar Crime, New Orleans, LA
  • ” Protecting Your Business Against Cyber Threats, Understanding Cryptocurrency and More”, Thompson Coburn LLC, Beverly Hills, CA

 2018

  • “A View From The Trenches,” Women’s White-Collar Defense Association (WWCDA), Chicago, Ill
  • “Substance Abuse, Mental Health, and the White-Collar Lawyer,” ABA National Institute on White-Collar Crime, San Diego, CA
  • Preparing Witnesses to Testify,” ABA Tax Section, Midyear Meeting, San Diego, CA
  • “Defending Compounding Pharmacy Enforcement Actions,” ABA Criminal Justice Section Midyear Meeting, Vancouver, BC

2017

  • “What Does Real Perseverance Look Like?,” LA Business Journal Women’s Summit, Beverly Hills, CA
  • “A New World Order? Predicting the White-Collar Enforcement Priorities of the New Administration,” NACDL 7th Annual West Coast White-Collar Conference, Santa Monica, CA
  • “Women Leadership in Law,” Daily Journal Professional Education, Beverly Hills, CA
  • “Closing Remarks,” ABA Blockchain Technology and Digital Currency National Institute, New York, NY
  • “When it’s Too Good to be True: Identifying Fraudulent Investments in the New Age of Deregulation,” Lido Consulting 12th Annual Family Office Symposium, Santa Monica, CA
  • “International Bribery” and “International Storytellers Told by Women Leaders in Government,” 31st Annual National Institute on White-Collar Crime, Miami, FL

2016

  • “Closing Remarks,” American Bar Association Fifth International White-Collar Crime Institute, London, UK
  • “Defending High Risk Cases: The Cases Get Bigger and the Risks Get Worse,” ABA National Institute on White-Collar Crime, San Diego, CA
  • “Women Leaders in Criminal Justice,” WLALA, Los Angeles, CA
  • “Closing Remarks,” ABA, 2016 Digital Currency and Block Chain Technology National Institute, Washington, DC

2015

  • “Advising Corporate Clients on International Criminal & Regulatory Investigations,” IIA-ACFE Fall Fraud Conference, Los Angeles, CA
  • “Advising Corporate Clients on International Criminal and Regulatory Investigations FCPA Enforcement and Internal Compliance Programs,” CalCPA Forensic Services Joint Meeting, Los Angeles, CA
  • “Unconscious Bias and Women Experts – Are We Placing Our Clients at A Disadvantage?” and “Crisis Management and Litigation,” ABA Fourth International White-Collar Crime Institute, London, UK
  • “Bitcoin and Other Virtual Currencies: Emerging Issues in Regulations and Enforcement,” ABA National Institute, Washington, DC
  • “The Public Trust: Defending Public Corruption Cases,” NACDL, Fifth Annual West Coast White-Collar Conference, San Diego, CA

2014

  • “Bitcoin or Bit Player? SEC and State Regulators Weigh In,” ABA, Ninth Annual National Institute on Securities Fraud, New Orleans, LA
  • “Up In Smoke: The Tax Consequences of the Legalization of Marijuana,” ABA Live Webinar
  • “Criminal Prosecutions & Investigations: A Comparison of Enforcement Mechanisms, The Use of Investigative Agencies and Cross Border Evidence Sharing,” ABA International White-Collar Crime Institute, London, UK
  • “What Your Clients Don’t Know Can Hurt Them; Hidden Legal Issues for Companies Expanding Internationally,” WLALA, Beverly Hills, CA
  • “Women in White-Collar in Today’s Global Corporate Community,” ABA National Institute on White-Collar Crime, Miami, FL
  • “Virtual Currencies: Bitcoin and the New Currency in Criminal Enterprise,” ABA Criminal Justice Section, Chicago, IL

Commencement Addresses

  • Class of 2018, CSLA, SCU, Northridge, CA
  • Class of 2014, Westwood College, Los Angeles, CA

(Additional presentations available on request)

Select Publications

  • The blame game: opioid litigation in America, The Daily Journal, October 7, 2020
  • Change is Coming, The Daily Journal, June 5, 2020
  • Defending Against International Extradition from the United States, The Champion, Fall 2019
  • “The Dark Side of Bitcoin,” Los Angeles Lawyer, Fall 2018
  • “Wanted By Interpol,” Author, ABA Criminal Justice Magazine, Fall 2015
  • “The Accidental Defendant,” Author, Los Angeles Lawyer, March 2015
  • “Criminal Defense in a Small Firm Setting,” Co-Author (with Richard Kaplan), Careers in Criminal Law, Ellen Brotman, 2010
  • “Defending International Extraditions,” Co-Author, ABA, Criminal Justice Magazine, Winter Issue, 2008
  • The Small Firm Lawyer
  • Orange Is The New Black: InStyle To Inmate

 

Professional Associations and Memberships

Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judicial Conference Lawyer Representatives

Co-Chair 2017 – 2019
Member 2015 – 2017
Member 2003 – 2007

United States District Court, Central District of California Standing Committee on Discipline

Section Chair, 2012 – 2018

American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section

Council Member, 2019-Present
Board Member, Standards Committee 2017 – Present
Co-Chair Continuing Legal Education Committee 2012-Present
Co-Executive Director, Professional Development Division 2020-2021
Section Officers Conference Liaison, ABA Standing Committee on Continuing Legal Education 2016-2017
Founder and Co-Chair, Women in White-Collar Subcommittee 2013 – 2019
Co-Executive Director, Communication, Membership and Services Division 2012 – 2019
Vice Chair Criminal Justice Section Counsel 2009 – 2011
Council Member, Criminal Justice Section 2005 – 2008
Co-Chair, Solo and Small Firm Committee 2007 – 2008
Co-Chair, Defense Function Committee 2001 – 2002
U.S. Attorney Liaison, White-Collar Crime Committee, West Coast Chapter 2000 – 2001

Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles

Founder and Chairperson, Criminal Justice Section 1997 –2019
Board of Governors 1996 – 2019

Women’s White-Collar Defense Association

Founder and City Leader, Los Angeles, 2013 – Present 

C5LA, College In Five

Board of Directors, Los Angeles 2015 – Present

 

Select Representative Matters Over the Past Year

Business Owner Accused of Grand Theft – Case Dismissed

A businessman was accused of being in a conspiracy with his supplier’s employee to deprive the owner of the company from sales revenue. After an examination of the books and records of the company through subpoena power, Nina achieved the dismissal of all 54 felony counts of grand theft against her client in Orange County Superior Court.

 

Bribery Allegations Against Business Owner – Diversion Granted

Our client, a successful Los Angeles businessman, was accused of attempting to bribe an IRS auditor and making false statements to the investigators. He was charged with 2 federal felonies. The presentation to the United States Attorney’s Office focused on the equities involved and procedural flaws in the investigation, which resulted in an agreement that caused the cessation of the criminal case. Diversion was granted in federal court.

 

Paralegal Faced With Bank Fraud Charges – Probation Granted

The case involved a client who is employed by a law office and was charged in federal court with multiple counts of bank fraud. The legal briefing to the court and argument at sentencing resulted in a sentence of probation despite the recommended sentence of 21 to 27 months and government argument for 21 months.

 

Mother Accused of Grand Theft Charges – Bail Granted

Our client, a 41-year-old woman and mother of a young child, was held in custody pending trial. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office opposed bail based on a $1.8M theft and filed a hold requiring proof of the source of the bail funds. Nina prepared extensive supporting documentation and called witnesses at the hearing. At the conclusion of the hearing, the client was released from custody.

 

Money Laundering and Insurance Fraud Accusations Against a Bookkeeper – Case Dismissed

All counts in a 3-felony-count complaint against a 55-year-old bookkeeper were dismissed; one as violative of the statute of limitations and two dismissed after preliminary hearing for insufficiency of the evidence.

 

Bar Admissions

  • California, 1989
  • U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1990
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 1990
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 1990
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 1990
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1990
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1996

 

Education

  • University of LaVerne School of Law, California, JD 1989
  • University of Miami, Florida, BA 1985
  • University of London, England, 1984-86