10/28/2026
Interested in White Collar Practice? Learn more at PACDL's Seminar.
From November 19 to 20, 2026 in Philadelphia, top practitioners share their expertise, network, and build their practices.
Practical strategies. Experienced practitioners. Timely insights for defending clients in complex federal cases.
How do you build a winning defense in a complex RICO prosecution? What should Pennsylvania defense lawyers know about federal discovery practices across the Commonwealth’s three federal districts? And where is IRS Criminal Investigation focusing its enforcement efforts?
These are just some of the important questions that will be addressed during the first three substantive sessions of the 2026 PACDL White Collar Practice Semina.
Thursday morning’s program brings together experienced defense attorneys, a public defender, and financial and advisory professionals to explore practical lessons and emerging issues affecting white collar and federal criminal defense practice.
9:00 a.m. | The Long Strange Trip from Alleged Key Member of RICO Conspiracy to Not Guilty
A successful defense starts with a strategy—and a team that knows how to execute it.
What does it take to secure an acquittal when a client is accused of being a key member of a RICO conspiracy? This session examines the successful defense of a Certified Public Accountant, focusing on how a coordinated defense team and a coherent, plausible winning theme helped achieve a not-guilty verdict.
The panel will discuss the importance of early strategic planning, expert assistance, client buy-in, pretrial strategy, meaningful jury instructions, and effective cross-examination. Attendees will gain insight into how these elements can work together to build a compelling defense in a complex prosecution.
Moderator and Presenters:
Patrick Egan, Fox Rothschild
Belinda Philip, Northampton County Public Defender Office
Saverio Romeo, Fox Rothschild
Edward Waddington, CBIZ
10:15 a.m. | Three Districts, Three Perspectives: Federal Discovery Across Pennsylvania
Federal discovery may follow the same rules, but local practice can make a difference.
Pennsylvania’s Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts operate within the framework of the Federal Rules, yet local practices, judicial expectations, and discovery customs can vary significantly.
This session brings together experienced federal practitioners from across Pennsylvania to compare discovery approaches among the three districts and share practical strategies for obtaining Brady material. For attorneys navigating federal criminal cases, understanding these differences can be an important part of effective case preparation and advocacy.
Moderator and Presenters:
Michael Comber, Comber Miller
Mariana Rossman, Rohn Kurland Rossman
Patrick A. Casey, Myers, Brier & Kelly
11:25 a.m. | IRS-CI Enforcement Today: Fraud, Digital Assets, Cartels, and Compliance Risk
Stay informed about enforcement priorities that can affect your clients.
Despite organizational changes at both the IRS and the Department of Justice, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) remains an important consideration for white collar defense practitioners.
This panel will examine the current state of IRS-CI enforcement and where it may be heading. Topics include investigations involving fraud, digital assets, drug cartels, payroll taxes, undocumented workers, nonprofit entities, and tax shelters and credits.
With a broad range of issues on the agenda, attendees will have an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the enforcement landscape and the challenges that can arise in matters involving financial and tax-related allegations.
Moderator and Presenters:
Jonathan Schnatz, Withum
John Mulcahy, Nixon Peabody
Peter Hardy, Holland & Knight
These three morning sessions are just the beginning. The 2026 PACDL White Collar Practice Seminar, scheduled for November 19–20 at the Pyramid Club, offers two days of education focused on the challenges, strategies, and developments shaping white collar and federal criminal defense practice.
Join colleagues from across the defense community for practical programming, opportunities to exchange ideas, and insights from experienced practitioners.
Register today at www.pacdl.org.
2026 PACDL White Collar Practice Seminar
November 19–20, 2026
Pyramid Club | 1735 Market Street, 52nd Floor | Philadelphia, PA
