Sergio E. Acosta

Sergio E. Acosta is an accomplished white collar defense attorney with decades of experience handling complex criminal and regulatory matters. As a seasoned trial lawyer, he has led more than 70 jury trials and represented companies and executives in high-stakes federal investigations, enforcement actions, and internal compliance reviews.

Sergio holds a Bachelor of Arts in French from DePaul University and earned his Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School. His broad education laid the groundwork for a legal career marked by rigorous analysis, cross-border fluency, and strategic insight in both English and Spanish.

Sergio brings exceptional experience from his eighteen years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, where he supervised major federal cases involving fraud, terrorism, political corruption, and more. He also led civil rights prosecutions and played a key role in the case against a notorious former Chicago police commander. His prior role as Illinois Gaming Board Administrator further expanded his regulatory expertise.

Sergio advises clients on allegations related to bribery, FCPA violations, export control breaches, and fraud across various sectors. He has successfully defended clients against securities fraud charges, had bribery convictions vacated, and negotiated favorable resolutions in DOJ investigations, earning a reputation for resolving critical matters effectively.

Sergio has also conducted internal investigations for multinational corporations and governmental bodies, including those operating in Latin America. Fluent in Spanish, he has represented Latin American executives and advised on U.S. compliance risks in foreign jurisdictions, with a focus on proactive legal guidance.

Sergio E. Acosta continues to shape the field of white collar litigation through his litigation results, public service, and leadership in legal education and ethics reform. Sergio contributes actively to the legal community as a law professor, panelist, and board member. His affiliations include the Hispanic National Bar Association and American College of Trial Lawyers. He has received honors from Crain’s Chicago Business, the National Law Journal, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Law Office Affiliations

• Co-Chair, Akerman LLP
• Member, Federal Bar Association
• Member, Hispanic National Bar Association
• Member, Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois
• Member, Leading Lawyers Network

Licensed State

• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Illinois

Education

• George Washington University Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• DePaul University
  BA in French

Awards & Badges