A former deputy attorney general of New York, Avi applies his experience in bet-the-company matters, representing clients in criminal and civil investigations and enforcement actions before state and federal regulators, prosecutors, and enforcement agencies.
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Avi’s clients have included numerous public companies, high-profile businesses and entrepreneurs, real estate developers, senior and elected government officials, political parties, and educational and other significant nonprofit institutions.
His work encompasses the full range of civil and criminal matters brought by attorneys general, insurance and banking departments, and U.S. attorney’s offices, including investigations and litigations involving the False Claims Act, insurance law, the Martin Act, consumer fraud violations, tax matters, not-for-profit law and governance issues, labor and employment violations, and public corruption and integrity cases. While the best resolutions are those that never become public, Avi has also tried cases to jury verdict, conducted arbitrations and argued appeals at the Second Circuit, the New York Court of Appeals, and the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Before entering private practice, Avi served as deputy attorney general in the New York State Attorney General’s Office, where he represented the state in significant litigations, investigations, and appeals in federal and state trial and appellate courts. Avi also served as president of the Empire State Development Corp., where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the state’s economic and real estate development agency.
Additionally, Avi served three New York State governors as chairman of the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. and served as both a gubernatorial and mayoral appointee to the Governors Island board of directors. Avi also serves as a director of the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
Avi regularly writes on legal and public policy issues, focusing primarily on First Amendment issues. His articles have been published in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Slate, Legal Affairs, the New Republic, the Daily News and elsewhere; have been cited in court opinions and academic works; and have been included in legal anthologies. Avi is a contributor to the firm's regulatory blog, Regulatory Oversight.
Representative matters may include engagements before joining Troutman Pepper.
Regulatory Oversight
03.15.24
New Jersey AG Cracks Down on Bumble for Allegedly Misrepresenting Criminal Background Checks Policy
Articles + Publications
03.15.24
Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Monitor — March 15, 2024
Regulatory Oversight
03.14.24
2024 State AG Elections: A Landscape of Change and Competition
Regulatory Oversight
03.14.24
New York AG Sues Yellowstone Capital Over Alleged “Fraudulent Loans” Targeting Small Businesses
Regulatory Oversight
03.12.24
11 AGs Sign Letter in Support of GSA’s Proposed Rule on Plastic Packaging
Regulatory Oversight
03.12.24
8 State AGs Argue That SEC’s Crypto Enforcement Action Is Unlawful