WASHINGTON, DC – Erek L. Barron, the former United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, has joined Mintz as Member in the firm’s White Collar Defense & Government Investigations Practice. He will also lead Mintz’s Crisis Management and Strategic Response team, and his practice will include complex civil, criminal, and regulatory matters. He will be resident in the Washington, DC office and in Maryland. 

“Erek is a highly respected lawyer with an impressive background both in public service and private practice,” said Bob Bodian, Managing Member. “His extensive experience in high-stakes litigation, investigations, and corporate matters—combined with his various high-level positions in government—will bring immediate value to our clients across a broad range of industries.”

As the US Attorney from 2021 to 2025, Erek led one of the nation’s most active federal prosecutors’ offices, managing a staff of approximately 100 attorneys and 75 administrative and support professionals overseeing all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the United States. In that role, he led significant matters involving white collar crime, cybercrime, national security, and civil enforcement.

“Erek brings valuable perspective from the highest levels of law enforcement. That, combined with his experience in Congress, as a state legislator, and as a successful private practitioner, gives him a 360-degree view of the complex challenges that few attorneys can match,” said Seth Goldman, Chair of Antitrust, Employment, and Litigation. “I am thrilled to welcome him to Mintz and look forward to working together to further elevate our nationally recognized litigation practice.”

Under Erek’s leadership, the US Attorney’s Office brought several nationally recognized cases, including one of the largest cryptocurrency fraud prosecutions in US history and multiple high-profile public corruption and insider trading cases. His work also included oversight of major False Claims Act settlements and civil rights resolutions involving health care providers and public agencies. He worked closely with key federal agencies and served on the Attorney General’s White Collar Crime and Cybersecurity subcommittees. 

“Having known Erek for over two decades, I am confident that his leadership, collaborative approach, and successful track record in both the public and private sectors will be a tremendous asset to our DC office and to Mintz overall,” said Michelle Lipkowitz, Managing Member of Mintz’s Washington, DC, office. 

Before his appointment as US Attorney, Erek was a litigation partner at a national law firm, representing clients in complex civil and criminal cases, internal investigations, and appellate litigation. His prior matters include securing reversals of serious convictions on appeal and negotiating favorable outcomes in internal investigations involving environmental and regulatory issues. Earlier in his career, he served as a state and federal prosecutor, counsel to the US Senate Judiciary Committee, and as a member of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team focused on the Department of Justice.

“Mintz is known for its litigation prowess, multidisciplinary expertise, and elite client service, which makes it the ideal platform for my return to private practice,” said Erek L. Barron. “I look forward to working alongside an extraordinary group of talented, dedicated, and experienced professionals and applying my experience to help our clients successfully navigate high-stakes disputes and protect their reputations.”

Erek is a former Maryland state legislator and longtime leader in the legal community, including service as President-Elect of the Maryland State Bar Association. He has also held leadership roles with the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association, Maryland Legal Aid Bureau, and the Maryland Office of the Public Defender. His contributions to the profession have been recognized with the ABA’s Curtin-Maleng Minister of Justice Award and The Maryland Daily Record’s Top Leader in the Law honor. 

He earned a BA from the University of Maryland, a JD from George Washington University School, and an LLM in International Law and National Security from Georgetown University Law Center.

About Mintz

Mintz is a litigation powerhouse and business accelerator serving leaders in life sciences, private equity, energy, and technology. The world’s most innovative companies trust Mintz to provide expert advice, protect and monetize their IP, negotiate deals, source financing, and solve complex legal challenges. The firm has 600 attorneys across offices in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington, DC, San Francisco, San Diego, and Toronto.