Professional Qualifications

Mr. Breakstone has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. He is an expert in criminal defense matters for individuals, corporations and corporate management, and has over forty years of trial experience.

Mr. Breakstone has served as a federal prosecutor in Chicago and San Francisco and was the Chief, Criminal Division, United States Attorney’s Office in San Francisco. He defended cases involving tax fraud, securities and insider trading, antitrust, theft of trade secrets and copyright violations, import/export issues, mail fraud, government contracts, foreign corrupt practices, environmental, customs fraud and health care.

Mr. Breakstone has tried 50 jury trials as a prosecutor and defense counsel, in both federal and state courts located in Hawaii, Portland, Miami, Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento. He has also litigated in United States Tax Court in New York, Detroit and San Francisco. He has worked as trial attorney for the Department of Justice in the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section.

Mr. Breakstone has lectured on white collar crime topics, including advising corporations on responding to investigations, and to directors at Stanford Law School on how to conduct internal investigations. Mr. Breakstone has also appeared as a guest lecturer at Boalt Law School.

Mr. Breakstone has appeared on panels discussing issues including attorney-client privilege, cooperation under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, conflicts and joint representation, indemnification of attorneys fees and representing clients in the post-Enron era.

Education

J.D., DePaul Law School
Law Review
Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society

B.A., Syracuse University
Dean’s List

Judicial Clerkship: law clerk to Arthur Murphy,
Presiding Justice, Illinois Appellate Court

Bar Admissions

California
Illinois
United States Tax Court

Military Service, United States Army
Infantry Company Commander