As a Washington-based litigator and investigations lawyer, Ivano Ventresca has played key roles in numerous high-profile representations of athletes, politicians, government influencers, and corporations. Recognized for his ability to untangle complex issues and to develop effective legal strategies, Ivano is frequently called upon to distill case themes into clear, compelling arguments – whether in briefs or in the courtroom.

Through his representations, Ivano has prepared witnesses for testimony and government interviews, handled deposition-taking, and argued in state and federal courts. Notably, he developed a key theory that informed the Supreme Court’s ultimate decision to preserve Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. As part of that representation, he worked on multiple briefs before the Supreme Court, including the merits brief quoted in the Court’s majority opinion.

As a multidimensional practitioner, Ivano has experience with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the False Claims Act (FCA), the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and class actions.

Before joining the firm, Ivano was a litigation associate at an international law firm in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, he was a law clerk to the Honorable Thomas B. Griffith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the Honorable Amul R. Thapar of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and the Honorable Sri Srinivasan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he served on the Harvard Law Review.

Experience
  • Represents a global law firm in defending claims arising out of an alleged misappropriation of trade secrets.
  • Successfully represented a high-profile athlete in responding to a temporary restraining order and in arbitration hearings.
  • Secured dismissal for financial institution in FCA case involving purported mortgage fraud. Representation included drafting briefs before the D.C. Circuit and opposing a petition for certiorari in the Supreme Court.
  • Represented corporate official in SEC investigation, including preparing official for government interview, resulting in closing of investigation with no action taken.
  • Advised multi-national client on FCPA compliance issues, including assessing and revising anti-corruption policies and engaging in a risk assessment.
  • Represented the University of California in overturning the federal government’s rescission of the DACA program, which allowed nearly 700,000 undocumented individuals brought to the United States as children to remain in this country.
  • Represented City of Los Angeles in successful administrative and constitutional challenges to federal immigration enforcement policies, permitting the City to set its own priorities for local law enforcement.

Practice Focus

Education
  • Harvard Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 2013
    • Coordinating Supervising Editor, Harvard Law Review
  • Swarthmore College, B.A., 2008

Bar Admissions
  • District of Columbia
  • Pennsylvania

Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Clerkships
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
    • Hon. Thomas B. Griffith
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
    • Hon. Amul R. Thapar
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
    • Hon. Sri Srinivasan

Recognitions
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • DC Courts, Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2021, 2023-2025*

Events

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