Roman E.Darmer

Of Counsel

Irvine + 1.949.553.7581

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For more than 20 years, Roman Darmer has defended clients facing investigations and enforcement actions by the United States Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other federal and state law enforcement agencies. He represents companies, officers, and directors in securities class actions and derivative lawsuits. A former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, Roman leads internal investigations on behalf of companies, boards, and board committees. He advises companies on anticorruption and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act programs and compliance.

In addition to his securities work, Roman is an experienced trial lawyer who has tried numerous cases to verdict. Roman regularly litigates complex commercial and business disputes. Recent representations include clients in the private equity, financial services, hospitality, spirits, retail, medical device, and pharmaceutical industries.

Roman served as president of the board of directors of Community Legal Aid SoCal in 2018-2019. He served on the board of directors of Public Law Center of Orange County and was president of the Federal Bar Association of Orange County in 2016-2017. He is a member of the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County. Roman is a member of the Firm's Pro Bono Committee and maintains an active pro bono practice. In 2017, he received the Daily Journal's CLAY Award (California Lawyer of the Year) for extraordinary achievement in 2016 for his work on behalf of veterans and a community organization challenging Huntington Beach, California's amendment to its housing element that limited available affordable housing sites.

Experience

  • Venezuelan mother and son obtain asylum under new MPPOn November 13, a trial team led by Irvine Partner Roman Darmer and New York Partner Jenn Del Medico, and with support from Micah Telegen and Rachel Elwood, successfully persuaded an Immigration Judge to grant asylum for Laredo Project client C and her 8-year old son based on past persecution of Ms. C for her political opinion by the Venezuelan government.
  • National retailer defends allegations of corruption in Latin America and AsiaJones Day is representing a national retailer in an internal investigation into allegations of corruption in multiple countries in Latin America and Asia and related DOJ and SEC investigations.
  • American Apparel concludes SEC investigation with no enforcement actionJones Day represented American Apparel, Inc. in an investigation by the enforcement division of the SEC (LA Regional Office) arising out of the conduct of the former CEO regarding related party transactions and other alleged financial improprieties discovered during an internal investigation previously conducted by Jones Day.
  • Audit committee conducts independent investigation of allegations of financial and personal misconduct of CEO of American ApparelJones Day conducted, on behalf of the independent directors of American Apparel, an investigation of alleged misconduct and possible Sarbanes Oxley violations by the former CEO, resulting in his termination for non-suitability.
  • Applied Medical Resources wins appeal in breach of contract and conversion claims litigationJones Day client Applied Medical Resources Corporation persuaded the California Court of Appeal to reverse summary judgment of breach of contract and conversion claims Applied Medical filed against a former member of its Board of Directors.
  • Clients obtain writ of mandate against City of Huntington BeachJones Day obtained a writ of mandate against the City of Huntington Beach.
  • International spirits company implements worldwide FCPA compliance programJones Day provided counseling to an international spirits company regarding the implementation of its worldwide Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance program.
  • Newspaper published by legal aid first in nation to obtain general circulation statusJones Day represented the Legal Aid Society of Orange County in obtaining orders adjudicating its weekly publication, "The Notice," as a newspaper of general circulation in Orange and Los Angeles Counties.
  • Audit committee of an NYSE-listed Chinese software company involved in internal investigationsJones Day represented the audit committee of an NYSE-listed Chinese software company to conduct an internal investigation and respond to SEC inquiries and the NYSE regarding allegations of accounting fraud and advised committee regarding related shareholder actions and D&O issues.
  • Outside directors of Banc of California defend against series of derivative actions and related securities class actionJones Day is representing certain outside directors of the Banc of California, Inc. (NYSE: BANC), headquartered in Orange County, California, in connection with derivative actions and a related securities class action arising out of an internal investigation completed in 2017.
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    February 2024 White Paper

    2023 Securities Litigation Year in Review

    October 2023 White Paper

    Considerations for Addressing DOJ's Corporate Compliance Guidance on Mobile Devices and Messaging Platforms

    February 2023 White Paper

    2022 Securities Litigation Year in Review

    January 2023 Commentary

    DOJ Criminal Division Announces Revisions to its Corporate Enforcement Policy

    November 2022 White Paper

    Conducting an Effective Internal Investigation: An Overview

    February 2022 White Paper

    2021 Securities Litigation Year in Review

    February 2022 Alert

    SEC Announces Settlement of Fraud Case Without Requiring Financial Penalty in Recognition of Company's Substantial Cooperation

    February 2022 Alert

    SEC Announces Proposed Amendments to Whistleblower Program Rules

    October 2021 Alert

    SEC Announces $110 Million Award to Whistleblower and $1.1 Billion in Total Awards to 214 Individuals Since 2012

    July 2021 Commentary

    Recent SEC Enforcement Action Stresses Importance of Not Impeding Whistleblower Communications with Regulators
    View All

    Additional Speaking Engagements

    • November 29, 2020
      36th Annual SEC Reporting & FASB Forum -- "Staying Out of Trouble -- SEC Enforcement Update"

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