National Law Journal Names Sergio Acosta a "White Collar Crime Trailblazer"

The National Law Journal named Sergio E. Acosta — the Chicago-based leader of the White Collar Defense & Internal Investigations Practice at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP — to its inaugural list of 50 "White Collar Crime Trailblazers." As noted by the publisher, those named to the list have "shown a deep passion and perseverance in pursuit of their mission, having achieved remarkable successes along the way" and "are making a big difference." It adds further that Mr. Acosta and his fellow honorees "continue to make their mark in white collar criminal litigation."

In addition to Mr. Acosta, honorees include, among others: dozens of former U.S. and Assistant U.S. Attorneys; former officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Securities and Exchange Commission; and former state and local prosecutors. Like Mr. Acosta, many lead their law firms' white collar practices.

Profiles of the honorees were published in a special supplement to the National Law Journal. As explained in the "Trails Blazed" section of Mr. Acosta's profile, while with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois — including several years as Chief of the General Crimes Section — Mr. Acosta tried more than 25 jury trials in federal court and many appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He also became the first Hispanic supervisor in the office's history. Mr. Acosta noted that he "considers the opportunity to have supervised and help mentor over 85 Assistant U.S. Attorneys to be one of his greatest professional accomplishments." He "considers his move to join Hinshaw & Culbertson and his efforts to help establish and expand the firm's White Collar Criminal Defense practice to be another significant accomplishment."

Mr. Acosta is an experienced criminal litigator and investigator. He has represented companies, government entities and individuals in matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, complex financial fraud, criminal tax violations, export regulations and criminal forfeiture. His practice also encompasses corporate governance, corporate internal investigations, regulatory enforcement, commercial litigation and gaming law.

In addition to his leading roles in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois, Mr. Acosta also has served as: Administrator of the Illinois Gaming Board; a prosecutor in the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office; a member of then-Illinois Governor Pat Quinn's Illinois Concealed Carry License Review Board; and a member of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Ethics Reform Task Force. He recently was appointed as a co-chair of Mayor Emanuel's newly created Task Force on Police Accountability.

To view Mr. Acosta's full National Law Journal White Collar Crime Trailblazer profile, click here.