Nina Marino

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 serves 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 Defense Law Section of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA) and of the Los Angeles chapter of the Women’s 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 2016, the Los Angeles Daily Journal recognized Ms. Marino as one of the top 100 women lawyers in California. In 2015, the Los Angeles Business Journal recognized Ms. Marino by one of the most influential lawyers in the field of white collar and cybercrime in Los Angeles. 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

 

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

 

Speaking Engagements

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

 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

• 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

 

Professional Associations and Memberships

Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference

Lawyer Representative Co-Chair, 2015 – 2019; 2003 – 2006.

 

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

Section Chair, 2012 – 2018.

 

American Bar Association

Council Member, ABA Criminal Justice Section (second term) 2019-Present; Board Member, Criminal Justice Section Standards Committee 2017 – Present; SOC Liaison, ABA Standing Committee on Continuing Legal Education 2016 – 2017; Founder and Co-Chair, Women in White Collar Subcommittee 2013 – Present; Director CLE, Criminal Justice Section 2012 – Present; Director, Communication, Membership and Services 2012 – 2019; Vice Chair Criminal Justice Section Counsel 2009 – 2011; Council Member, ABA 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 Defense Law Section 1997 – Present; Board of Governors 1996 – Present.

 

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.