David Salant is an associate in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. His practice centers on high-stakes commercial, securities and white-collar litigation, and disputes involving complex financial concepts. He has represented multinational companies defending their cross-border transactions; investment firms and professionals under regulatory scrutiny for trades in derivatives and cryptocurrencies; senior executives accused of securities, accounting and tax offenses; and public and private companies targeted by others’ fraud and demanding satisfaction.

David has significant trial advocacy and motion practice experience. He has served as lead counsel in a federal jury trial, successfully argued dispositive and evidentiary motions in federal and state court, and taken first-chair roles in witness examinations, jury addresses, depositions and settlement negotiations.

Representative matters include:

Securities Litigation and Enforcement

• The Nasdaq Stock Market.  Represented Nasdaq in securing complete dismissal on summary judgment of the “High-Frequency Trading” putative securities class action in the SDNY.
• Rio Tinto Group.  Representing Rio Tinto in securities enforcement action in the SDNY concerning multi-billion dollar investment in Mozambique.
• Piedmont Lithium.  Representing Piedmont in EDNY securities litigation relating to lithium project.
• Representing plaintiff investment firm in SDNY litigation regarding securities offered in connection with de-SPAC transaction.

Commercial Litigation

• Amazon.com Inc.  Representing Amazon in SDNY lawsuit concerning Key for Business service.
• Represented group of investment funds in SDNY contract dispute arising out of bankruptcy of nationwide fitness center operator.
• Represented co-founder of international apparel and home furnishings company in successful pre-litigation settlement of founders’ dispute.
• Represented investment firm in fully recouping from startup company investment procured by fraud.

White-Collar Criminal Disputes

• Represented former CEO of publicly-traded technology company in eight-week securities and wire fraud trial in the SDNY.
• Represented former pharmaceutical company executive in forestalling criminal charges threatened by federal authorities in the DNJ.
• Represented investment bank in response to grand jury subpoenas relating to negotiation of public M&A transaction in the wireless technology space.

David is a member of the Federal Courts Committee of the New York City Bar Association, where he has lectured on the subjects of effective federal district court advocacy and federal courts practice. He has also trained and supervised junior attorneys at the Firm in their first stand-up, in-court roles.

He maintains an active pro bono  practice that includes lawsuits to redress violations of detainees’ Constitutional rights.

David received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Harvard Law School, and his Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from Columbia University.

Prior to law school, he worked in the Equity Derivatives Group on the equity trading floor of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

Following law school, David served as a law clerk to the Honorable Naomi Reice Buchwald of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

He is admitted to practice in the State of New York and before the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.