Overview
Galen Kast represents both corporate and individual clients in criminal investigations and prosecutions, internal investigations and compliance, and civil litigation. Galen draws on his knowledge in diverse industries including automotive and transportation, blockchain and cryptocurrency, energy, finance and trading, securities, foods, pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, healthcare, and electronics and technology to assist clients in all phases of investigations, prosecutions, compliance, and litigation.
Galen has defended clients against a wide range of allegations by state and federal agencies, including antitrust conspiracies, bribery, false claims, false statements, fraud, obstruction, money laundering, price gouging, adulteration, misbranding, and other business crimes. He has also advised clients in connection with enforcement matters before the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, in compliance matters, and in commercial litigation.
Galen has experience with fact development, responding to subpoenas and other requests for documents and information, presentations to and negotiations with government agencies, witness preparation and interviews, motions practice, and criminal trials from indictment through post-trial briefing. Galen has also managed document reviews and productions in complex investigations involving numerous witnesses and millions of documents.
Galen is active in Steptoe's pro bono program, and has represented clients in DC Superior Court and in matters involving United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- District of Columbia
- J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2016, magna cum laude; Editor in Chief, American Criminal Law Review, Annual Survey of White-Collar Crime
- M.Ed., Marquette University, 2013, Education Policy and Leadership
- B.A., Carleton College, 2011, magna cum laude, Psychology
Areas of Work
Representative Matters
White-Collar Criminal Defense, Investigations, and Compliance
- Representation of prominent global financial institution as independent compliance consultant in connection with settlements with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission regarding the collection and retention of employee electronic communications.
- Representation of prominent global financial institution in connection with a compliance assessment of the collection and retention of employee electronic communications.
- Representation of executive of prominent global financial institution in connection with settlements with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission regarding the collection and retention of employee electronic communications.
- Representation of prominent global financial company in investigations by the Department of Justice and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
- Representation of multiple executives and employees of cryptocurrency companies in connection with investigations by the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
- Representation of executives in connection with investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Representation of prominent cryptocurrency companies in investigations by federal and state agencies.
- Representation of an executive in criminal trial involving allegations of fraud, false statements, and conversion.
- Representation of an executive in alleged antitrust conspiracy investigation.
- Representation of Volkswagen AG in diesel emissions criminal case and related matters.
- Representation of dietary supplement company indicted for alleged FDCA violations, wire fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and money laundering.
- Representation of fuel retailer in state attorney general price gouging investigation involving multiple fuel retailers operating in the Western United States. Developed a proposed resolution framework stemming from the preparation of an exhaustive "white paper" on price gouging regulations, which led to resolution featuring nominal settlement payments with prophylactic compliance measures.
- Representation of pharmaceutical executive in misbranding investigation. The government declined to pursue charges.
- Representation of energy executive in federal fraud investigation. The government declined to pursue charges.
Blockchain/Cryptocurrency
- Representation of cryptocurrency company in civil litigation and compliance matters.
- Representation of prominent cryptocurrency companies in investigations by federal and state agencies.
- Representation of Bitfinex and Tether in investigations by the CFTC and New York Attorney General's Office, both resulting in settlement.
- Advise cryptocurrency fund on legal, regulatory, and policy matters.
- Advise early-stage cryptocurrency companies on legal, regulatory and policy matters.
Speaking Engagements
- "Law and Regulation of Blockchain & FinTech," Harvard Law School Annual Blockchain, FinTech & the Law Conference, March 3, 2020
News & Publications
Publications
Blockchain in the USA: 2022-2023 Developments
Chambers Global Practice Guides Blockchain 2023
July 6, 2023
By: Alan Cohn, Jason M. Weinstein, Coy Garrison, Shawn P. Davisson, Galen Kast, Sophia Breggia
Publications
Defenses to Tolling Applications Under 18 U.S.C. § 3292
Bloomberg Law
December 16, 2022
Publications
How DC Federal Court Ruling Limits Wire Fraud Act Scope
March 8, 2022
By: Ashwin J. Ram, Galen Kast
Publications
Bloomberg Law
April 14, 2021
Publications
Defense Against Price Gouging Allegations Amid Falling Prices
Bloomberg Law
March 11, 2021
Publications
New Criminal Enforcement Risks to Dietary Supplement Industry Litigations
Bloomberg Law
September 8, 2020
By: Patrick F. Linehan, Chris Niewoehner, David Matthew Fragale, Galen Kast
Press Releases
Steptoe Raises Record-Breaking Funds for Legal Aid's Making Justice Real Campaign
August 25, 2020
Resources
Client Alerts
FCPA/Anti-Corruption Developments: 2017 Year in Review & 2018 Q1 Preview
April 12, 2018
By: Lucinda A. Low, Brigida Benitez, William L. Drake, Alexandra Baj, Rachel B. Peck, Evan T. Abrams, Galen Kast, Peter Jeydel, Lin Yang, Bo Yue
Noteworthy
- Super Lawyers, Washington, DC, "Rising Star," Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2023-2024)