Daniel H. Ahn

Daniel’s impactful white-collar work has earned him swift recognition in, and accolades from, leading industry publications. Daniel is recognized by Chambers USA as one of the top practitioners in California in Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, with clients praising his skill at “combining extensive experience with understanding of customer needs.” Daniel has also been recognized by The Legal 500 for his “strong experience from the Department of Justice” and “exceptional judgment.” He has been recognized further by the Los Angeles Times as a legal visionary and by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of LA’s most influential attorneys. Reed Smith’s white-collar group in LA and beyond has been recognized by Best Lawyers as a leader in the field. Daniel speaks and writes regularly on a range of white-collar and compliance issues, with major publications, including Bloomberg, Global Investigations Review, Law360, the National Law Journal, and the Wall Street Journal, turning to him for thought leadership.

Daniel has deep experience in matters involving domestic and foreign corruption, sanctions and export controls, consumer protection, environmental offenses, civil rights and claims of unlawful discrimination, and securities fraud and other forms of financial fraud, including health care fraud and money laundering. As an accomplished trial lawyer and appellate strategist, Daniel also represents clients in high-stakes commercial disputes.

Daniel works closely with the firm’s Labor and Employment practice group, drawing on his service as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He is a member of the firm’s Retail and Consumer Goods practice, supporting brands with their compliance and investigation needs. Daniel also co-leads the firm’s Korea Business Team – a global interdisciplinary team that provides seamless regulatory, litigation, and corporate services to Korean clients in all major industries.

Before joining Reed Smith, Daniel spent a decade at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, holding the positions of senior litigation counsel, acting chief, and deputy chief in the Criminal Division. Daniel focused on investigating and prosecuting complex fraud, RICO, and corruption cases and spearheaded some of the office’s most high-profile and challenging white-collar matters. Daniel also led significant cross-border matters in coordination with the State Department and governmental authorities in Asia, and provided training for South Korean prosecutors and judges at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in Seoul and at Seoul National University School of Law. Earlier in his career, Daniel served as a DOJ trial attorney in Washington, joining the Department through the Attorney General’s Honors Program.

During his long-running career as a federal prosecutor and DOJ trial attorney, Daniel forged strong relationships with officials at Main Justice as well as at U.S. attorney’s offices and partnering agencies across the country, including state AG offices, county DA offices, city attorney’s offices, the FBI, DHS, HHS, DOL, ED, IRS, SEC, FINRA, OFAC, and many others. With his experience and knowledge, Daniel brings key insights to clients navigating government actions, including those initiated through grand jury subpoenas, HIPAA subpoenas, civil investigative demands, and search warrants.

Daniel has substantial trial and appellate experience. For his trial work, Daniel has received numerous awards from DOJ, FBI, IRS, and DOL for demonstrated excellence in the prosecution of complex fraud and corruption. For his appellate work, Daniel has received multiple “best brief” accolades.

Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Daniel was an associate in the Washington office of Gibson Dunn, where he handled FCPA, securities enforcement, and U.S. Supreme Court matters. Upon graduation from law school, Daniel served as a law clerk to Judge Gary L. Taylor of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and Judge Johnnie B. Rawlinson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Daniel earned his law degree from the University of Southern California, where he was editor-in-chief of the Southern California Law Review.

Daniel serves as a Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, sits on the Community Service and Pro Bono committees at Reed Smith, and is an adjunct lecturer at USC, where he teaches a course on cybersecurity and cybercrime.

Before law school, Daniel earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and served as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill.