Seth Goertz
PEOPLE

Seth Goertz

Partner
goertz.seth@dorsey.com
Phoenix P +1 (602) 735-2681 F +1 (602) 581-3198

Overview

A former federal prosecutor, Seth is a seasoned trial lawyer with extensive experience in white collar crime, government investigations, cryptocurrency, and cybercrime.

During his time as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, Seth partnered with federal agencies to investigate and prosecute financial fraud and cybercrimes. Seth has also been responsible for litigating numerous civil and criminal matters including several high-profile cases in Arizona. As a result, he is a trusted advocate for individuals and entities facing government investigation or other regulatory efforts.

Seth is also highly experienced in cybersecurity matters and was a leader of the Department of Justice’s Darknet Marketplace and Digital Currency Crimes Task Force for the District of Arizona. He shares knowledgeable insights regarding how companies can proactively mitigate cybersecurity and cryptocurrency risks, and how they can effectively respond to threats and problems when they occur. He has appeared on NPR, Bloomberg Law, and been quoted in the Financial Times, Reuters, and numerous other publications.

In his civil practice, Seth focuses on resolving complex commercial disputes and government litigation, including contract, healthcare, and financial services.

Education & Admissions

University of Iowa College of Law (J.D., 2014), with distinction, Jurisprudence Award for Academic Excellence

Wheaton College (M.A., Ancient Languages and Literature, 2010), cum laude

University of Arizona (B.A., History, 2007), Dean’s List

Admissions

  • Arizona

Experience

  • Lead attorney in multiple federal jury trials, including a six-week investment fraud trial involving a loss to investors of nearly $80 million, and a two-week fraud trial involving losses of nearly $15 million.
  • Coordinated the District of Arizona’s Darknet and Cryptocurrency Task Force, which is an attorney-led coalition of federal agencies aimed at disrupting darknet activity and seizing illicitly obtained cryptocurrency.
  • Served as one of the District of Arizona’s Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Crime coordinators, which involved maintaining expertise in cyber-related content areas, electronic evidence, digital surveillance, and providing office-wide education.
  • Directed one of the DOJ’s largest-ever cryptocurrency seizures by leading a nationwide effort to seize more than a $100 million in cryptocurrency from an overseas investment fraud scheme, resulting in a nomination for the DOJ’s highest merit award and an FBI Citation of Special Merit.
  • Part of team responsible for convicting the MediaMuv principles following a wide-ranging royalty fraud scheme, involving more than $20 million in stolen royalties, which Billboard magazine described as the largest YouTube fraud in history.
  • Prior civil litigation experience includes working for one of Arizona’s premier boutique litigation firms, focused exclusively on complex business litigation, trade secrets, unfair competition, intellectual property disputes, and shareholder actions.  Substantive civil litigation experience included a three-week arbitration proceeding involving damages of $32 million and a one-week jury trial before the Maricopa County Superior Court.
 *Certain representations occurred prior to joining Dorsey
 

News & Resources

Articles

DOJ Updates the Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Program Memorandum, Emphasizing Emerging Technologies, Data Analytics, and Whistleblower Protections
DOJ on Campus: DOJ’s First Intervention in False Claims Act Case Alleging University Knowingly Failed to Meet Contractual Cybersecurity Requirements
Cybercrime Trends: A Midyear Review
Healthcare Fraud: A World Beyond the Anti-Kickback Statute
DOJ’s Criminal Division Launches New Self-Disclosure Pilot Program for Individuals

News & Press Mentions

Partner Seth Goertz Talks FBI’s Crypto Sting Operation on Bloomberg Law Podcast
Seth Goertz Shares Insights into "World's Most Controversial App"
Seth Goertz Interviewed by NPR on Telegram App's Noncompliance
Partner Seth Goertz Comments on SEC Suit Against NovaTech
Seth Goertz Highlights Impacts of SEC v. Coinbase Case
Seth Goertz Discusses Nvidia's Lawsuit and Cryptocurrency Mining on the Bloomberg Law Podcast
Former Federal Prosecutor Seth Goertz Joins Dorsey in Phoenix

Podcasts

Partner Seth Goertz Talks FBI’s Crypto Sting Operation on Bloomberg Law Podcast
Seth Goertz Discusses Nvidia's Lawsuit and Cryptocurrency Mining on the Bloomberg Law Podcast

Industries & Practices

  • Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Cybersecurity, Privacy & Social Media
  • Government Solutions & Investigations
  • Higher Education & Academic Research Institutions
  • Technology

Accolades

  • FBI Citation of Special Merit, 2023
  • Adult Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, 2017
  • Rising Star Man of the Year, American Cancer Society, 2016
Seth Goertz