I am an experienced litigator and seasoned investigator providing counsel for businesses and individuals in a wide array of civil matters in federal and state court and before regulatory agencies. I worked with some of the most effective and sought-after litigators and corporate investigators before starting my own firm, Swain, LLC.  I take pride in helping businesses and individuals navigate complex legal issues in and out of court, tailor compliance policies to practical and effective business practices, conduct compliance audits by internal investigation, and defending entities facing regulatory enforcement actions--without breaking the bank. I live in Brookline with my wife Kristen and our golden retriever Hudson, read voraciously, and cook every chance I get.  

More about my practice and background: 

My litigation practice focuses on complex business disputes, including breach of contract, fraud, interests in real and intellectual property, and securities law, among others.  I practice actively in trial and appellate courts in the federal and state court systems.

I also maintain an extensive regulatory practice, a substantial portion of which involves representing and advising clients in the beverage alcohol and cannabis industries.  I have significant experience conducting complicated internal investigations for clients seeking to identify and remedy regulatory compliance concerns, design and implement organizational changes and best practices, and defend against regulatory enforcement actions.  I also represent clients before the Federal Election Commission. 

Prior to founding Swain Law LLC, I spent several years as an attorney in the Litigation Department at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in New York, where I worked on a wide variety of matters, served on Gibson Dunn’s eDiscovery Committee, and led the firm’s pro bono Guardianship Project and Holocaust Reparations Project.

In 2007, I left Gibson Dunn for six months to serve as deputy counsel to a presidential campaign committee, where I represented the campaign in enforcement matters before the Federal Election Commission.  I continued to represent clients before the FEC after rejoining Gibson Dunn in 2008

After moving to Boston and recovering from the major surgery that brought me here, I accepted a position as Of Counsel at MG+M The Law Firm, a Boston-based national law firm.  While there, I handled commercial litigation in federal and state courts in Massachusetts involving a range of claims, including, for example, breach of contract, unfair business practices, infringement on intellectual property rights, and breach of privacy rights.  In particular, I handled complex motion practice and appeals for some of MG+M’s largest clients, including Boeing, Colgate, and Texas Instruments. 
 

Education

Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 2005
Member, Georgetown International Environmental Law Review  

University of Pennsylvania, B.A., Political Science, cum laude, 2002
 

Bar Admissions 

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts 
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York 
Massachusetts State Bar 
New York State Bar