David Schertler

David Schertler is widely recognized as one of the nation’s top white-collar criminal defense attorneys. With decades of courtroom experience, he represents executives, government officials, and individuals facing complex criminal and civil investigations across the United States and abroad. His practice covers congressional hearings, securities litigation, corporate internal investigations, antitrust enforcement, and white-collar criminal defense. Known for his tenacity and skill, he has built a reputation for achieving outstanding results.

Schertler is a graduate of Amherst College and earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. He began his career in the Honors Program at the U.S. Department of Justice, serving as a trial attorney in the Antitrust Division. He later became an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, where he tried more than 50 jury cases, led over 100 grand jury investigations, and argued numerous appeals.

In private practice, Schertler has represented clients in some of the most high-profile matters of recent decades, including the Volkswagen emissions investigation, the KPMG tax shelter case, and financial fraud inquiries involving Enron, WorldCom, and AOL. His record includes defending clients in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act cases, antitrust trials, securities fraud matters, and procurement fraud investigations. He has successfully obtained acquittals, dismissals, and favorable outcomes in federal and state courts nationwide.

David Schertler’s legal excellence has earned him recognition as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and repeated listings in Chambers USA and Best Lawyers in America, which named him Washington, D.C.’s “Lawyer of the Year” in 2021. Frequently ranked among Washington’s top lawyers, he is also a sought-after speaker on developments in white-collar criminal law and remains a trusted advocate for clients in sensitive, high-stakes cases.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Schertler, Onorato, Mead & Sears LLP
• Member, District of Columbia Bar Association
• Member, Illinois State Bar Association

Licensed State

• District of Columbia
• Illinois

Education

• University of Virginia Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Amherst College
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges