Steven B. Ungar

Shareholder | Portland | 503.778.2064 | ungars@lanepowell.com

Areas of Practice

Steven Ungar is co-chair of the Firm’s White Collar Criminal Defense, Regulatory Compliance and Special Investigations Practice Group, emphasizing white collar criminal defense, Subpoena response, internal investigations, corporate governance and crisis management.

Steven has served as Chairman of the Lottery Commission since his appointment by the Governor in 2005.

Criminal Defense, Internal Investigations and Regulatory Compliance.

Steven represents business entities and individuals who are facing all types of regulatory enforcement problems, governmental investigations and criminal prosecutions. He handles investigations where our client’s face allegations of securities fraud, insider trading, tax evasion, money laundering, broker-dealer issues, bank and bankruptcy fraud, computer crime, Internet-related investigations, environmental violations and obstruction of justice and perjury. He handles prosecutions and investigations involving federal and state agencies empowered to seek civil or criminal enforcement remedies.

Crisis Management and Coordination of Complex Litigation and Government Investigations.

Steven has decades of experience representing individuals, corporations and nonprofit organizations in managing legal and expert witness resources and coordinating criminal investigations, indictments, civil litigation and negotiations. His experience and expertise working with government agencies, investigators and prosecutors offers our clients expertise in reaching the best disposition possible in these sorts of complex matters.

Health Care Fraud and Abuse.

Steven is also a member of Lane Powell’s Long Term Care and Seniors Housing Industry Team, where his focus is health care fraud and abuse, Medicare and Medicaid compliance and internal audits and investigations.

Admitted to Practice

Oregon
Washington
U.S. Supreme Court
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court, District of Oregon

Academics

University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri (J.D., 1979)
Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri (B.A., 1975)

Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships

Co-Chair, White Collar Criminal Defense, Regulatory Compliance and Special Investigations Practice Group
Health Care
Litigation
Long Term Care and Seniors Housing Client Service Team
Native American Affairs

Representative Matters and Clients

Crisis management and public relations coordination for numerous corporate and individual clients.
Special counsel to Indian tribe, focusing on governance, financial restructuring, personnel matters, negotiations with BIA and other federal agencies, crisis management.
Conduct internal investigation for several health care provider clients, each under investigation by HHS-Office of Inspector General, arising from allegations of former employee/whistleblower.
Special Counsel to Christian church whose belief in faith healing were under attack by local prosecutors alleging their illegality.
Law firm specializing in taxation arising out of tax shelter opinions given on behalf of clients who became targets of a federal criminal investigation.
National account executive accused of IP theft, computer crime and related violations in federal investigation fueled by a former employer.
Special Compliance Counsel for operator of various nursing home and assisted living facility operators.
CEO of Oregon Port Authority in EPA/DEQ civil and criminal task force investigation by multiple state and federal regulators and prosecutors.
Regional law firm and member lawyers under criminal investigation and state bar investigation for alleged conspiracy and fraud in the procurement of government funds.
Bank holding company’s Board of Directors, consulting with general counsel on as-needed basis, addressing fraud audits, employee fraud, ID fraud, Patriot Act and related structuring issues. Emphasis on coordinating with multi-agency task force investigations and government regulators (state and federal).
Broker of Fortune 100 Company facing grand jury investigations into conspiracy, tax fraud and money laundering.
Former Vice President of Technology at Enron Broadband, Inc., witness in ongoing Enron Task Force investigations and prosecutions.
Former CEO/CFO of public company facing indictment by the DOJ alleging Sarbanes-Oxley violations, accounting fraud and securities fraud.
Commercial lender under parallel investigations by state Attorney Generals and the FTC for fraud and deceptive trade practices by its alleged participation in a Ponzi scheme.
Pastor of “mega-church” facing civil, criminal tax and securities violations.
IRS criminal investigation for alleged conspiracy to commit tax fraud and money laundering for alleged off-shore banking and tax violations.
Individuals and entities under investigation for antitrust violations by the United States Department of Justice investigating international trade cartels.
Securities broker with major mutual fund under investigation by SEC and New York Attorney General, alleging “market timing” and after-hours trading violations.
Real Estate developer and appraiser prosecuted for SBA, HUD and bankruptcy fraud.
Internet gaming company targeted in SEC and parallel criminal fraud investigation.

Awards and Honors

Named as one of The Best Lawyers in America®, 2005-2010
Named as an Oregon “Super Lawyer,” Oregon Super Lawyers magazine, (Criminal Defense: White Collar) 2006-2009
Named one of Portland’s Best Lawyers by Portland Monthly magazine, 2006-2008
American Civil Liberties Union (Montana), Special Commendation for 10 years service as President (1994)

Professional and Community Activities

Chairman, Oregon Lottery Commission, appointed by Governor Ted Kulongoski
Member, Executive Committee of the Jewish Federation of Portland’s Community Relations Committee (since 1998)
Governor’s Judicial Screening Committee, interviewing judicial candidates for vacancies and other appointments
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
American Bar Association, White Collar Crime Committee
Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), New York City – National Board of Directors (2001 – 2008)
Stanford Jazz Workshop, instruction and performance (drums) (1978-Present)