
Cory is a white collar defense attorney in the firm’s Chambers ranked White Collar practice group, and a former federal and state prosecutor with extensive trial experience who specializes in representing individuals and companies in the financial services sector in investigations, enforcement actions and compliance related to financial laws. Cory uses his experience as a first chair litigator in over 75 state and federal jury trials and hundreds of grand jury proceedings to advise his clients on a variety of actions, from subpoena responses to plea negotiations to trial proceedings related to alleged financial crimes, and violations of securities laws, anti-money laundering laws and regulations. He also has extensive expertise in advising clients on FCPA compliance and due diligence, as well as drafting and implementing internal anti-money laundering and FCPA policies for clients looking to mitigate risk. In addition, Cory has a long history of representing broker-dealers before the SEC and DOJ, in both subpoena responses and enforcement proceedings and skillfully guides clients through such challenges with a deep understanding of potential civil, criminal and reputational impacts. As a former prosecutor and head of anti-money laundering for a global systemically important bank, Cory’s approach to legal challenges is holistic and draws on his unique experiences in the role of defense counsel, prosecutor and in-house counsel in complex disputes.
Cory also works with clients on navigating the complex regulatory and legal issues surrounding the cannabis industry at both the state and federal level. He helps guide investors, startups and individuals through this uncertain and evolving legal landscape, including counseling them on risk assessment, compliance measures, and helping to minimize business disruption. He has extensive experience in advising clients and individuals in the cryptocurrency industry on navigating the rapidly evolving legal landscape including counselling them on complex legal issues related to criminal and civil disputes, government investigations and regulatory compliance.
In addition to his robust white collar practice, Cory is an active member of the firm’s pro bono initiatives, where he works on a variety of different regional and national projects, including advising domestic violence shelters in understanding and responding to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions.
Prior to joining Mintz, Cory was a vice president and the regional head of the anti-money laundering (AML) division for North America at a Boston-based global systemically important bank (G-SIB). His work encompassed supervising more than two dozen compliance professionals and providing oversight and guidance to the company’s North American business units on AML regulations, the Bank Secrecy Act, and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations. In addition, he negotiated and resolved matters before federal, state, and international regulatory bodies including FINRA, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Reserve Bank.
Between 2010 and 2016, Cory served as an Assistant US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, where he investigated and indicted one of the largest pyramid schemes ever prosecuted by the US Department of Justice involving investors in 240 countries and over $3 billion in losses. Earlier, he worked in the homicide and senior trial units of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in Boston, handling all aspects of homicide and high-profile felony cases. In addition to his extensive trial court and grand jury work, Cory argued before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts and succeeded in persuading the court to adopt the doctrine of forfeiture by wrongdoing. In 2008, Cory was the recipient of the Outstanding Superior Court Prosecutor Award from the Suffolk County DA’s Office.
In law school, Cory served as a notes & comments editor of the Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal and senior director of Fordham Student Sponsored Fellowship. He was also a two-time recipient of the fellowship and was granted the Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award.
He coaches various Weston youth athletic teams, including baseball and wrestling.
Experience
- Currently represents two defendants charged with fraud in relation to the ongoing College Admissions prosecution.
- Represented CFO charged in $30+ million fraud scheme and secured disposition substantially more favorable than recommended by the Federal Guidelines. The sentencing judge remarked that he was “frankly surprised that [CFO’s] counsel was able to negotiate such a favorable agreement.”
- Represented former professional athlete as a witness in a DOJ investigation related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
- Represented numerous broker dealers in connection with various investigations and actions brought by the DOJ and SEC.
- Represented CFO indicted in a $25 million fraud.
viewpoints
Judge Rakoff puts the Ripple Party on Ice as the Crypto Community and SEC Ponder their Next Moves
August 7, 2023 | Blog | By Cory S. Flashner, David Adams, Edmund P. Daley, Patrick E. McDonough
Will a Half-Victory for Ripple Labs Create a Wave of Good News for Digital Asset Exchanges?
July 14, 2023 | Blog | By Cory S. Flashner, Edmund P. Daley, Patrick E. McDonough
DOJ’s Criminal Division Announces Key Policy Updates Regarding Compensation, Compliance Programs, and Monitors
March 7, 2023 | Blog | By Eoin Beirne, Cory S. Flashner, Edmund P. Daley, Nick A. LaPalme
DOJ Issues Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy for All United States Attorney’s Offices
February 24, 2023 | Blog | By Eoin Beirne, Cory S. Flashner, Edmund P. Daley, Nick A. LaPalme
The Rise of Whistleblower Tips (and Rewards) for Crypto Sleuths
February 17, 2023 | Blog | By Cory S. Flashner, Adam Sisitsky, Edmund P. Daley
EnforceMintz Newsletter — Health Care Enforcement Year In Review & 2023 Outlook
February 9, 2023 | Article | By Karen Lovitch, Brian Dunphy, Grady Campion, Kathryn Edgerton, Cory S. Flashner, Samantha Kingsbury, Kevin McGinty
EnforceMintz — The Pandemic May Be Ending, But Fraud Prosecutions Will Keep Coming
February 9, 2023 | Blog | By Cory S. Flashner
Coinbase Reaches $100 Million Settlement with NYS Department of Financial Services Over Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Failures
January 6, 2023 | Blog | By Cory S. Flashner, Edmund P. Daley, Christopher D'Aliso
FINRA to Examine Broker-Dealer Crypto Communications
December 1, 2022 | Blog | By Cory S. Flashner, Edmund P. Daley, Christopher D'Aliso
NFTs: A Flash in the Crypto Pan or Virtual Gold? (Part 1)
August 2, 2022 | Blog | By Edmund P. Daley, Cory S. Flashner, Frank Gerratana
News & Press
Twenty-Five Mintz Attorneys Named To Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers List
November 21, 2023
Attorneys Note Rise In Cryptocurrency Whistleblowers
March 3, 2023
Nursing Home Lawsuit: Management Company Diverted $1.8 Million In COVID Relief Funds
February 24, 2023
Twenty-Eight Mintz Attorneys Named To Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers List
November 22, 2022
SEC Tests Its Reach With Coinbase Insider Trading Case
July 25, 2022
Anti-Money Laundering Risks in Real Estate Transactions
July 15, 2020
Former Federal Prosecutor Cory Flashner Joins Mintz
June 03, 2019
Events & Speaking
2020 White-Collar Crime Conference
Boston Bar Association
Aloft Boston | Seaport District 401-403 D Street Boston, Massachusetts, 02210

Recognition & Awards
- Chambers USA: Massachusetts- Litigation: White Collar Crime and Government Investigations (2023)
- Best Lawyers in America: Criminal Defense: White Collar (2021-2024)
- Boston Magazine Top Lawyers – Criminal Defense-White Collar (2021 - 2023)
Involvement
- Board Member, Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC) (2021)
- Board Member, Weston Dads Foundation (2016 - present)
- Vice President, Show-Me Wrestling Club
- Secretary, New England Chapter, Fordham Law Alumni Association (2008 - 2015)