Zahid N. Quraishi has been named Chair of Riker Danzig’s highly-regarded White Collar Criminal Defense and Investigations practice. Za is succeeding Samuel P. Moulthrop as leader of the Department, effective January 1, 2019. Sam, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, has led the practice for more than 20 years and has handled numerous high profile white collar and environmental matters including serving as a federal monitor, representing numerous individuals in the Bridgegate investigation and representing corporations and government entities in connection with investigations. Sam will continue to work with Za and the Department in representing the Firm’s clients in the white collar, complex litigation, and environmental practice areas.
Za joined Riker Danzig in 2013 after serving as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey for over five years. At Riker Danzig, Za continues to represent corporations, municipalities, and individuals in connection with complex state and federal criminal investigations involving healthcare and financial fraud, public corruption, tax evasion, and SEC civil enforcement investigations among other areas. Recently, he secured an acquittal at trial on behalf of a physician assistant charged with a second degree felony in state court.
Za has also been instrumental in the development of Riker Danzig’s Cannabis Law Group, one of the first in New Jersey, which provides counsel to clients on state and federal law and policies, entity and fund formation, licensing, domestic and foreign investment activity, and other legal, tax, and regulatory compliance matters.
In addition to his legal practice, Za serves on Riker Danzig’s Management, Hiring, and Diversity Committees. He is a Trustee for the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey and the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the C. Willard Heckel American Inn of Court at Rutgers School of Law. Za was recently appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees for the U.S. Attorney's Office Alumni Association. He also proudly serves on the Criminal Justice Act Panel representing indigent defendants before the United States District Court in the District of New Jersey.
