
David McGill is a versatile litigator and investigator whose practice resides at the intersection of finance and technology. Mr. McGill frequently acts as lead counsel for companies and individuals involved in complex disputes, often with significant regulatory implications. His practice also includes conducting confidential internal investigations in response to whistleblower claims and defending clients in government enforcement matters. The Legal 500 reports that Mr. McGill has earned a reputation among clients for dispensing “invaluable and practical, business-oriented advice,” and his approach to cross-border matters has been praised as “insightful, uber responsive and fearless.”
Known as an aggressive advocate, Mr. McGill is often retained by hedge funds and proprietary trading firms in disputes involving allegations of spoofing and market manipulation, as well as other matters involving complex financial products such as derivatives, SSA bonds and digital currencies. Leading legal and business publications also regularly quote Mr. McGill as a thought leader on matters involving algorithmic trading and digital currency regulation.
Mr. McGill’s practice also extends to intellectual property disputes, in which he regularly represents technology and media companies in matters involving allegations of trade secret misappropriation, licensing disputes, unfair competition and IP infringement.
Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr. McGill practiced at Mayer Brown LLP, representing clients in complex civil litigation, intellectual property disputes and financial products arbitrations.
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- New York
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar
Education
- University of Virginia Law School, JD
- Colby College, BA
Accolades
- New York Metro Super Lawyers
- The Irish Legal 100
- Who's Who Legal, Asset Recovery
- The Legal 500 United States, General Commercial Disputes
- The Legal 500 United States, International Litigation
Select Engagements
Financial Products & Services Litigation
Class & Derivative Actions
Government Enforcement Defense
Joint Venture & Partnership Disputes
Intellectual Property & Technology Litigation
- David McGill on the CFTC’s Policy Agenda in 2021
- U.S. Federal Judge Sides with Kobre & Kim in Potentially Far-Reaching Spoofing Decision
- Nineteen Kobre & Kim Lawyers Recognized as Leaders by Who’s Who Legal
- Who’s Who Legal Recognizes Fourteen Kobre & Kim Lawyers as Leading Practitioners in Asset Recovery
- David McGill Discusses DOJ’s MLAT Controversy with the National Review
- Wall Street Journal: Kobre & Kim Files Motion Challenging DOJ Use of Foreign-Evidence Requests
- David McGill on Spoofing, the Statute of Limitations, and “Prosecution by Hindsight”
- Kobre & Kim Discusses SEC’s “regulation-by-enforcement mentality” in ICO case with Cointelegraph
- Who’s Who Legal Recognizes Twelve Kobre & Kim Lawyers as Leading Practitioners in Asset Recovery
- Benjamin Sauter and David McGill on the current Kik-SEC clash in Law 360
- Benjamin Sauter and David McGill on Kik’s Defend Crypto fund, and taking on the SEC
- David McGill Moderates a Panel on Enforcement Actions involving Digital Currency
- Successfully Fighting a Spoofing or Market Manipulation Subpoena from the DOJ or the CFTC
- David McGill Discusses Digital Currency Regulation and Enforcement
- Precedent-Setting Digital Currency Recovery Team Explores Options for Fraud Victims
- David McGill Explores Regulatory Perspectives on Cryptocurrencies
- 5 Ways Cryptocurrency Traders in EMEA Can Plan Ahead for U.S. Government Scrutiny
- Creating a Roadmap to Recovery After Digital Currency Fraud: David McGill and Benjamin Sauter Explain
- Market Manipulation Defense Lawyers David McGill and Benjamin Sauter Offer Insight on How To Combat Government Allegations
- Government Enforcement Defense Lawyers David McGill and Benjamin Sauter on Why Cryptocurrency Traders Must Prepare for Regulatory Scrutiny
- Benjamin Sauter and David McGill Offer Insight on the SEC’s New Digital Currency Oversight
- Benjamin Sauter and David McGill Examine U.S. Regulatory Turf War Over Digital Currency Trading
- Publishers of Global Arbitration Review Recognize Kobre & Kim’s Global Asset Recovery Team
- As Cryptocurrency ICOs Surge in Popularity, David McGill and Benjamin Sauter Analyze the Role of U.S. Regulators
- Benjamin Sauter and David McGill Explore Where the SEC Stands on Initial Coin Offerings
- Kobre & Kim Receives Top Honors from Legal 500
- Who’s Who Legal Recognizes Nine Kobre & Kim Lawyers as Leading Practitioners in Asset Recovery
- David McGill Explores the Impact of a Landmark Judgment and Pending Appeal on Joint Venture Disputes
Professional & Community Involvement
- Digital Currency & Ledger Defense Coalition, Participating lawyer
- Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Member
- GenR (International Rescue Committee), Member
- ABA Business and Corporate Litigation, including subcommittees on Partnership and Alternative Entities and Alternative Dispute Resolutions
Publications & Presentations
- Co-author, "LedgerX and CBOE: The CFTC's Trojan Horse in an SEC Turf War" (Coindesk, August 2017)
- Co-author, "Law firm Calls Bancor ICO Interesting, Cautions Investors Participating in ICOs" (Crowdfund Insider, June 2017)
- Co-author, "Initial Coin Offerings: Where the SEC Might Stand" (Coindesk, June 2017)
- Author, "'Accidental’ Partnership: From Potential Pipeline to Joint Venture Litigation" (Pipeline & Gas Journal, December 2015)
Credentials
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- New York
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar
Education
- University of Virginia Law School, JD
- Colby College, BA
Accolades
- New York Metro Super Lawyers
- The Irish Legal 100
- Who's Who Legal, Asset Recovery
- The Legal 500 United States, General Commercial Disputes
- The Legal 500 United States, International Litigation
Engagements
Financial Products & Services Litigation
Class & Derivative Actions
Government Enforcement Defense
Joint Venture & Partnership Disputes
Intellectual Property & Technology Litigation
News
- David McGill on the CFTC’s Policy Agenda in 2021
- U.S. Federal Judge Sides with Kobre & Kim in Potentially Far-Reaching Spoofing Decision
- Nineteen Kobre & Kim Lawyers Recognized as Leaders by Who’s Who Legal
- Who’s Who Legal Recognizes Fourteen Kobre & Kim Lawyers as Leading Practitioners in Asset Recovery
- David McGill Discusses DOJ’s MLAT Controversy with the National Review
- Wall Street Journal: Kobre & Kim Files Motion Challenging DOJ Use of Foreign-Evidence Requests
- David McGill on Spoofing, the Statute of Limitations, and “Prosecution by Hindsight”
- Kobre & Kim Discusses SEC’s “regulation-by-enforcement mentality” in ICO case with Cointelegraph
- Who’s Who Legal Recognizes Twelve Kobre & Kim Lawyers as Leading Practitioners in Asset Recovery
- Benjamin Sauter and David McGill on the current Kik-SEC clash in Law 360
- Benjamin Sauter and David McGill on Kik’s Defend Crypto fund, and taking on the SEC
- David McGill Moderates a Panel on Enforcement Actions involving Digital Currency
- Successfully Fighting a Spoofing or Market Manipulation Subpoena from the DOJ or the CFTC
- David McGill Discusses Digital Currency Regulation and Enforcement
- Precedent-Setting Digital Currency Recovery Team Explores Options for Fraud Victims
- David McGill Explores Regulatory Perspectives on Cryptocurrencies
- 5 Ways Cryptocurrency Traders in EMEA Can Plan Ahead for U.S. Government Scrutiny
- Creating a Roadmap to Recovery After Digital Currency Fraud: David McGill and Benjamin Sauter Explain
- Market Manipulation Defense Lawyers David McGill and Benjamin Sauter Offer Insight on How To Combat Government Allegations
- Government Enforcement Defense Lawyers David McGill and Benjamin Sauter on Why Cryptocurrency Traders Must Prepare for Regulatory Scrutiny
- Benjamin Sauter and David McGill Offer Insight on the SEC’s New Digital Currency Oversight
- Benjamin Sauter and David McGill Examine U.S. Regulatory Turf War Over Digital Currency Trading
- Publishers of Global Arbitration Review Recognize Kobre & Kim’s Global Asset Recovery Team
- As Cryptocurrency ICOs Surge in Popularity, David McGill and Benjamin Sauter Analyze the Role of U.S. Regulators
- Benjamin Sauter and David McGill Explore Where the SEC Stands on Initial Coin Offerings
- Kobre & Kim Receives Top Honors from Legal 500
- Who’s Who Legal Recognizes Nine Kobre & Kim Lawyers as Leading Practitioners in Asset Recovery
- David McGill Explores the Impact of a Landmark Judgment and Pending Appeal on Joint Venture Disputes
Professional & Community Involvement
- Digital Currency & Ledger Defense Coalition, Participating lawyer
- Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Member
- GenR (International Rescue Committee), Member
- ABA Business and Corporate Litigation, including subcommittees on Partnership and Alternative Entities and Alternative Dispute Resolutions
Publications & Presentations
- Co-author, "LedgerX and CBOE: The CFTC's Trojan Horse in an SEC Turf War" (Coindesk, August 2017)
- Co-author, "Law firm Calls Bancor ICO Interesting, Cautions Investors Participating in ICOs" (Crowdfund Insider, June 2017)
- Co-author, "Initial Coin Offerings: Where the SEC Might Stand" (Coindesk, June 2017)
- Author, "'Accidental’ Partnership: From Potential Pipeline to Joint Venture Litigation" (Pipeline & Gas Journal, December 2015)
David McGill is "insightful, uber responsive and fearless."
- The Legal 500