George Donnini, Butzel Long Photo

George B. Donnini is renowned for providing his clients with not only exemplary counsel and advice, but also with a level of experience achieved only through years devoted to navigating the most daunting legal scenarios. When criminal investigations, charges, prosecution, and/or parallel civil investigations are looming—jeopardizing the personal and professional reputations of individuals or entities—Mr. Donnini’s knowledge provides the legal lifeline required to traverse even the most challenging situations.

Overview

During his more than 25 years in practice, George Donnini has accumulated an impressive record of prevailing in matters across the country in the areas of white collar criminal defense, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) civil enforcement actions, antitrust investigations, and conducting corporate internal investigations. Due to the expansive nature of fraud claims, he routinely counsels his clients through criminal charges, civil liability issues and/or regulatory matters. He is experienced in managing complex litigation involving multiple adversaries, numerous jurisdictions, and interrelated issues. Throughout his career, George has interacted with state and federal prosecutors, law enforcement, and personnel at all levels in government agencies throughout the nation and internationally. Among his most recent victories is leading Butzel’s White Collar Criminal Defense Team in achieving back-to-back acquittals in separate cases in federal court against a tax attorney (allegations of mail fraud and tax evasion) and a medical doctor (39 counts of health care fraud related charges).

Mr. Donnini has experience in a broad array of criminal and civil cases, representing clients at the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts across the US. He has extensive experience representing clients in a variety of criminal cases involving allegations of health care, securities, and tax fraud, theft of trade secrets, insider trading, public corruption, and environmental and mortgage fraud. He has conducted numerous internal investigations for private and publicly traded companies. He aggressively, creatively, and successfully represents clients in a wide variety of federal and state criminal matters to secure the best possible outcome for his clients. Often, such representation results in convincing the government not to prosecute in the first place or the avoidance of litigation altogether. Clients include corporations and businesses in diverse sectors including health care, pharmaceuticals, automotive, environmental, and individuals including executives, medical professionals, corporate officers, directors, managers, lawyers, and employees at all levels.

George Donnini is a Shareholder practicing in the firm’s Troy office. Mr. Donnini is a Vice President of Butzel and serves on the firm’s Board of Directors. He is Chair of Butzel’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Department, head of the Litigation Section, and serves as Co-Chair of the White-Collar Criminal Defense Practice Department. He has been recognized year-after-year by numerous well-respected industry publications for his legal prowess in the areas of white collar criminal defense and government investigations. Mr. Donnini is frequently sought as a legal expert by local and national radio and television syndications on a variety of topics. 

Before joining Butzel, Mr. Donnini served as a law clerk to The Honorable William H. Pauley III, United States District Court, S.D.N.Y., New York, New York (1998-1999). He also served as a Judge Advocate for the United States Marine Corps from 1999 to 2003. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 2003 after serving as counsel of record in numerous criminal trials.

Credentials

Education

Duke University Law School, J.D.

George Washington University, B.A., phi beta kappa

Admissions

  • All United States District Courts in Michigan
  • California
  • Michigan
  • New York
  • Numerous District and Circuit Courts throughout the United States

Memberships

  • Federal Bar Association - President, Eastern District of Michigan Chapter, 2023
  • American Bar Association (ABA) - Litigation and Criminal Justice Sections
  • ABA - Criminal Justice Section, Book Board, Co-Chair 2022, Appointed Member, 2008-Present
  • ABA - Criminal Justice Section, White Collar Crime Committee Midwest Regional Co-Chair, 2005-2018
  • ABA - Criminal Justice Section, White Collar Crime Committee, Young Lawyers' Division National Co-Chair, 2006-2009
  • American Bar Foundation, Fellow (2022 to Present)
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Detroit Bar Association, Fellow and Member
  • Oakland County Bar Association, Member

Awards & Recognitions

Awards & Recognitions

Chambers USA - White-Collar Litigation & Government Investigations, 2021-2024 (Band 1)

The Best Lawyers in America® - Lawyer of the Year - Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2023, 2025

The Best Lawyers in America® - Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2021-2025; Commercial Litigation, 2025

DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit - Non-White-Collar Criminal Defense Professional Malpractice Law, 2011-2012

DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit - White-Collar Criminal Defense, 2011-2012, 2014, 2016-2025

DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit - Antitrust Law, 2021-2023

Michigan Super Lawyers - Criminal Defense: White Collar, 2013-2024

Michigan Super Lawyers - Rising Stars -Criminal Defense: White Collar, 2011-2012

Crain’s Detroit Business – Notable Veterans, 2020

Michigan Lawyers Weekly - Leaders in the Law, 2016

Michigan Lawyers Weekly – Up and Coming Lawyers, 2008

Experience

  • Successfully represented officer of pharmaceutical company in largest health care fraud trial to date in U.S. District Court in Boston
  • Represented a major law firm partner in connection with tax shelter investigation conducted by the DOJ Criminal Tax Division
  • Represented individuals and companies subject to SEC subpoenas and investigations
  • Represented executive of an environmental company charged with criminal violations of the Clean Water Act and related environmental statutes
  • Represented pharmaceutical company in Qui Tam case in Boston.
  • Represented an attorney in criminal matter involving kickbacks on vendor contracts being funneled to corporate executive of company
  • Ponzi Schemes: Representation of Broker Dealers/Investment Advisors
  • Represented auto supplier in major US and foreign antitrust investigation
  • Represented multiple employees/ executives/ officers in major US and international antitrust investigations
  • Represented a registered representative in a selling away action
  • Represented a former Chief Financial Officer and Controller of several corporations accused in state court of embezzling almost $200,000.
  • Represented CFO of a non-profit hospital for securities fraud; case settled no jail or fine, SEC restitution
  • SEC Enforcement Actions: individual and corporate defendants facing federal criminal prosecution and SEC investigations
  • Represented witnesses in a variety of criminal and civil proceedings
  • Represented the CFO of a public company in a significant SEC enforcement action alleging 10b-5 and 17(a) violations in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan
  • Health Care Fraud Federal Criminal Trial: Individual Defense
  • Represented multiple Japanese Auto Supplier companies in criminal antitrust investigations conducted by the Department of Justice, Antitrust Division (Washington, DC)
  • Represented a book publisher and distributor in criminal investigation conducted by US Postal Service
  • Represented a company in connection with a bribery investigation.
  • Represented metals trading company in major U.S. Attorney and U.S. Customs investigation
  • Represented a major automotive supplier under investigation for allegedly participating in a several hundred million dollar international antitrust price-fixing conspiracy.
  • Represented a public company in an SEC investigation involving revenue recognition issues which, after significant document production and SEC depositions, culminated in a no action termination letter being issued by the SEC
  • Obtained a complete declination of all proceedings, criminal and civil health care fraud, against pharmaceutical client by the US Attorney's Office in Dallas
  • Represented numerous Tier I auto suppliers in federal Antitrust investigations
  • Represented Corporation in federal antitrust civil class action re automotive products
  • Represented corporations and executives under federal investigation
  • Represented numerous individual and corporate defendants facing federal criminal prosecution arising from allegations of wire and mail fraud, tax fraud, insider trading, healthcare fraud, environmental crimes, theft of trade secrets and drug conspiracy
  • Represented Tier I auto supplier in parallel proceedings conducted by US Attorney’s Office
  • Represented multiple Corporations in federal antitrust investigation re highway contracts
  • Obtained a declination of prosecution for an accounting officer of an international automotive supplier after investigation by the DOJ and the SEC
  • Represented Company in federal antitrust investigation re transportation industry
  • Obtained acquittal of pharmaceutical company executive in federal trial in Boston following 4 month jury trial
  • Represented a former employee accused of stealing more than $100 million worth of trade secrets from his employers in violation of the federal economic espionage act.
  • Represented a witness involved in stock options back-dating investigation by the United States Attorneys’ Office for the Northern District of California
  • Represented a defense contractor accused of fraudulently supplying non-conforming materials to the Department of Defense.
  • SEC Enforcement Action: Corporate Representation Regarding Alleged GAAP Accounting Irregularities
  • Routinely represent individuals and companies subject to SEC subpoenas and investigations concerning alleged violations of securities law with respect to a wide variety of financial transactions
  • Represented a physician accused of illegally prescribing pain medication to individuals without a medical need.

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