Brian Stolarz

Senior Counsel
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

Washington, DC
United States
T:+1 202 662 0309
Washington, DC
United States
T:+1 202 662 0309
Brian Stolarz

Brian Stolarz

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Biography

Brian Stolarz is a senior counsel in the firm's regulation, investigations, securities and compliance practice group. His national white-collar criminal defense practice includes defending individuals and companies in all stages of governmental investigations.

His experience includes internal investigations, government contracts and False Claims Act defense, securities enforcement and commercial litigation. His experience also encompasses numerous jury trials, regulatory hearings and litigation in criminal and civil cases in federal and state court. Brian has handled numerous government enforcement matters involving the criminal and civil divisions of the DOJ, the SEC, FINRA and CFTC.

Brian has served in leading roles on a number of high-profile matters, including service as Counsel to the Special Counsel to the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics in the investigation of matters concerning former Senator John Ensign, a large Congressional data breach and doxxing case, and the reversal of the conviction of the former President of the Armed Forces Foundation.  He has also represented individuals before congressional committees and prepared clients for staff testimony and testimony before public hearings.

In the nonprofit sector, Brian represents a prominent organization in litigation and regulatory matters, and conducts internal investigations on various issues for the organization.

Brian has received several awards for his dedication to pro bono service, including the Pro Bono Legal Service Award from the John Carroll Society at a reception attended by the Chief Justice of the United States, Associate Justices, and the Archbishop of Washington, DC. He is also the recipient of the 2014 Caritas Award, the highest honor bestowed by Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Washington in recognition of professionals who advocate on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed populations.

Notably, Brian served as habeas corpus counsel to Alfred Dewayne Brown, who was exonerated in June 2015 after serving 10 years on death row in Texas. His service garnered the 2015 Light of Justice Award from the Texas Defender Service and 2020 Trailblazer Award from The National Law Journal for securing justice for Alfred Brown, and his work on the case has been profiled in The Washington Post, Houston Chronicle and on the Today Show. Additionally, the Brown case was featured on Netflix in The Innocence Files, Episode 8.

Brian is frequently invited to speak at colleges, law schools and conferences about Mr. Brown's case and the importance of pro bono work. Brian is the Washington Post-best selling author of Grace and Justice on Death Row: The Race Against Time and Texas to Free an Innocent Man.

Professional experience

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JD, Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, 1998
BA, Political Science and English, Bucknell University, 1995

  • District of Columbia Bar
  • Maryland State Bar
  • New York State Bar
  • Virginia State Bar
  • Represented individual involved in large Congressional data breach and "doxxing" case
  • Represented a former president of a nonprofit in a six-week jury trial involving allegations of fraud and tax evasion
  • Represented Social Security Administration Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) before House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform regarding ALJ decision practices
  • Represented investment banker in DOJ and SEC insider trading investigations involving PIPE transactions
  • Represented administrator of $250 million offshore hedge fund that was an affinity scheme targeting faithbased investors in criminal and SEC fraud action
  • Represented former investment bank CEO in high-profile criminal and SEC insider trading action. Conviction reversed by Second Circuit Court of Appeals based on improper expansion of conspiracy law.
  • Represented large broker-dealer and its chief compliance officers in two-week FINRA enforcement hearing pertaining to variable annuity sales practices and allegations of destruction of documents
  • Represented car dealership owner charged with RICO and money laundering in connection with used car
    sales scheme involving members of state police department
  • Represented mortgage broker charged with bank fraud involving false statements on financial statements
  • Represented local pharmacist charged with misbranding and selling drug samples in criminal and FDA regulatory case
  • Represented prominent lobbyist in public corruption case alleging wire fraud
  • Represented prominent government contractor in DOJ false claims and debarment investigation alleging violations of the HUBZone and 8(a) set aside programs
  • Represented international consumer products company in DOJ criminal environmental action alleging unlawful disposal of chemical waste
  • Represented president of multimillion-dollar "boiler room" accused of manipulating various stocks in criminal and SEC fraud action
  • Represented chief compliance officer of large regional broker dealer in connection with FINRA investigation pertaining to supervision of variable annuity sales
  • Washington DC Trailblazer, The National Law Journal, 2020
  • Recipient of Special Recognition Award, Death Penalty Focus, 2016
  • Recipient of Light of Justice Award, Texas Defender Service, 2015
  • Super Lawyers Business Edition, Litigation Section – Criminal Defense: White Collar, Thomson Reuters, 2013
  • Super Lawyer, White-Collar Criminal Defense, Thomson Reuters, Washington, DC (2013-2014, 2018-2019) Virginia (2020-2021)*
  • Recipient of 2014 Caritas Award, Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Washington, for outstanding pro bono service
  • Recipient of 2007 Pro Bono Legal Service Awards, John Carroll Society
  • Legal Elite list, Criminal Law, Virginia Business Magazine, 2019
  • The Best Lawyers in America - Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Best Lawyers, 2020 -2024
  • Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
    • President's Council
    • Legal Network Advisory Council
  • Catholic University School of Law
    • Alumni Council
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Criminal Justice Act Felony Panel

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