Anthony R. Petruzzi
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Anthony Petruzzi focuses his practice in the areas of white collar criminal defense, corporate investigations, business litigation, and eDiscovery.
Tony’s white collar criminal defense and corporate investigations experience includes the defense of individuals and entities under investigation for or charged with bank fraud, criminal RICO, FCPA, false claims, bribery, public corruption, money laundering, SEC violations, healthcare fraud, tax fraud, federal and state gambling offenses, and mortgage fraud. Tony also has experience in conducting internal investigations for private and public companies related to whistleblower complaints, employee wrongdoing, and accusations of corporate misconduct. His work on the successful amendment of Ohio Criminal Rule 16 (“Open Discovery”) earned him recognition from the Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Tony’s civil litigation experience includes the defense of individuals and entities, including major corporations, in cases involving fraud, product liability, consumer protection violations, and civil RICO claims, as well as representing corporations in business and commercial disputes.
Tony’s practice also includes managing the Tucker Ellis eDiscovery Group. He is an active member of The Sedona Conference Working Group 1 (electronic document retention and production working group) and speaks on areas of eDiscovery, both locally and nationally. He is frequently called upon to advise and manage the eDiscovery process for Tucker Ellis clients on litigations of all shapes and sizes. Tony counsels and provides services to clients in all areas of eDiscovery, including the preservation of ESI, the drafting and negotiation of ESI protocols, conducting custodial interviews, and managing the collection, review, and production of ESI for litigations, including complex litigations, class actions, and multidistrict litigations. Tony manages the eDiscovery process in an efficient, defensible, and seamless manner for clients, identifying and managing any potential issues so that they can remain focused on litigation.
- Education
- Cleveland State University College of Law (J.D., 1997)
- Ohio University (B.A., summa cum laude, 1994)
- State Admissions
- Ohio, 1998
- Federal Admissions
- United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio
- Service Areas
- White Collar Criminal Defense & Corporate Investigations
- Appellate & Legal Issues
- Business Litigation
- Class Action Litigation
- Construction
- eDiscovery
- Educational Institutions
- Financial Services Litigation
- Health Care
- Mass Tort & Product Liability
- Life Sciences Litigation
- Health & Life Sciences
- Artificial Intelligence & Autonomous Vehicles
- Industries Represented
- Construction Contractors
- Financial Institutions
- Gambling
- General Contractors
- Healthcare Professionals
- Mortgage Brokers
- Private Households & Individuals
- Defended individual against federal bank fraud charges
- Defended officer of major gaming device manufacturer against federal criminal charges of illegal gambling, conspiracy, RICO violations, and money laundering
- Represented mortgage lenders and title companies in civil and criminal cases
- Defended tobacco company in individual and class action product liability, wrongful death, and consumer protection cases
- Defended major pharmaceutical company in product liability case
- Defended alcoholic beverage manufacturer in consumer protection class action case resulting in dismissal
- Defended major national banks in consumer protection and mortgage fraud cases
- Analyzed gaming and sweepstakes laws in numerous jurisdictions across the United States for major companies in the gaming and sweepstakes industry
Speaking Engagements
- “eDiscovery Topics,” Commercial Dockets Program, The Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College, Cleveland, Ohio (April 2024)
- “Corporate Lawyers Beware: Why Due Diligence Is Important in Corporate/Business Transactions from a Criminal/Civil Liability Perspective,” Tucker Ellis Business Law Institute (March 2024)
- “ESI Case Law in 2023: Key Trends and Developments,” The Sedona Conference Working Group 1 Midyear Meeting 2023, Portland, Oregon (April 2023)
- “Litigation Pitfalls: Things to Consider for Every Corporate/Business Transaction,” 2023 Business Law Institute on Corporate Law and M&A, Tucker Ellis LLP (January 2023)
- “Ohio Civ.R.37(E) and Failure to Preserve Electronically Stored Information (ESI),” Advanced Appellate Advocacy Seminar, Case Western Reserve University School of Law (October 2022)
- “eDiscovery Overview and Hot Topics,” Commercial Dockets Program, The Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College, Cleveland, Ohio (October 2022)
- “Overcoming the Challenges of Modern Discovery,” Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS) Ohio Chapter, Cleveland, Ohio (October 2022)
- “eDiscovery Case Law Update: The Beat Goes On,” The 15th Annual Sedona Conference Institute: Pre-Trial Practice in a Post-Pandemic World” (May 2022)
- “Commentary on the Need for Guidance and Uniformity in Filing ESI and Records Under Seal,” Webinar, The Sedona Conference (January 2022)
- “Our Quest for Best Practices and Uniformity in Filing ESI Under Seal,” The Sedona Conference Working Group 1 Mid-Year Meeting 2021 (April 2021)
- “Ethics and Finance: A Lawyer’s Perspective,” Financial Statement Analysis for Attorneys, NBI Webinar (October 2020)
- “Our Quest for Best Practices and Uniformity in Filing ESI Under Seal,” The Sedona Conference Working Group 1 Annual Meeting 2020 (October 2020)
- “Appellate Issues Related to Investigations and Preservation of Evidence,” Advanced Criminal Appellate Law Topics CLE Seminar, Cleveland, Ohio (November 2019)
- “Criminal Law Update,” Speed CLE: A Year in Review of Ten Practice Areas,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Cleveland, Ohio (December 2017)
- “A Day in the Life – Managing Your Practice,” New Lawyer Bootcamp, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Cleveland, Ohio (December 2017)
- “10 Things a GC Needs to Know in the Evolving World of Criminal Investigations and Enforcement,” 2016 In-House Counsel Summit, Tucker Ellis LLP, Cleveland, Ohio (October 2016)
- “Forensic Accountants, The Indispensable Experts,” Cleveland State University Monte Ahuja College of Business, Cleveland, Ohio (November 2015)
- “Criminal Exposures: When and How to Involve or Address Law Enforcement Officials,” Tucker Ellis Privacy and Data Security Risks: Are You Prepared?, Cleveland, Ohio (July 2015)
- “Significant Cases from Northeast Ohio, State of Ohio v. Ariel Castro,” Moderator, Judge John M. Manos Inn of Court and Charles F. Scanlon/Judge Samuel H. Bell Inn of Court, Cleveland, Ohio (April 2015)
- “Forensic Accounting & White Collar Crime,” Cleveland State University Monte Ahuja College of Business, Cleveland, Ohio (April 2015)
- “Drawing Up a Game Plan: Litigation Madness,” Tucker Ellis/McGladrey Marching Through the Madness: Making Your Financial Services Team a Winner in Risk and Compliance, Cleveland, Ohio (March 2015)
- “Health Care Enforcement from the Defense Perspective,” Health Care Compliance Association, Upper North Central Regional Annual Conference, Columbus, Ohio (May 2014)
- “Health Care Fraud: What Every Healthcare and Criminal Attorney Should Know,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (March 2014)
- “What Tangled Webs We Lawyers Weave: Legal and Ethical Issues in the Medical Corporate Tree,” West Virginia United Health System (January 2014)
Publications
- “‘The Perils of Dabbling’: AI and the Practice of Law,” Reuters Legal News and Westlaw Today (September 2023)
- eDiscovery: 2019 Year in Review
- E-Discovery: 2018 Year in Review
- “Policing for Profit? A Primer on Ohio’s Forfeiture Statutes,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (January 2018)
- “Beware of Potential Criminal Implications for the Improper Handling of a Whistleblower Investigation,” Inside Counsel (October 2015)
Media
- “Legal Tech’s Predictions for E-Discovery in 2020,” Legaltech News (December 2019)
- “Legal Tech’s Predictions for 2019 in E-Discovery,” Legaltech News (December 2018)
- Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Champion of Justice Award (2010)
- The Supreme Court of Ohio, Certificate of Recognition (2010)
- Ohio Super Lawyers®
- Criminal Defense: White Collar (2012–2023)
- The Best Lawyers in America® (2013–2025)
- Cleveland Zoological Society, Board of Trustees
- Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
- Ohio State Bar Foundation, Fellow, Class of 2012
- The Judge John M. Manos American Inn of Court, Barrister
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Criminal Law Section, Former Chair
- Federal Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- The Sedona Conference, Working Group 1 – Electronic Document Retention and Production