Chuck Stevens is a partner in the San Francisco office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice Group. His practice focuses on the representation of corporate clients in government investigations, internal investigations, and enforcement actions regarding business crimes and civil frauds, including healthcare, government contract, and corporate fraud. Chuck has extensive experience with the False Claims Act (FCA), including internal investigations of whistleblower complaints, government presentations to avoid intervention, and handling litigation and mediations.
Chuck is consistently recognized by state and national legal publications for his work on high-stakes investigations and litigation matters. Most recently, Lawdragon named Chuck to its 2023 Leading Global Litigators guide, featuring these “worldly wonders” who “are at the forefront of resolving disputes across a globe that seems ever smaller and infinitely more troubled.” Separately, Benchmark Litigation has named Chuck a 2025 California “Litigation Star,” The Daily Journal named Chuck a Top White Collar Lawyer in California for 2020, and The Best Lawyers in America® recognized him as San Francisco “Lawyer of the Year” for Bet-the-Company Litigation in 2019. Additionally, he was recognized in the Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and Criminal Defense: White Collar practice areas for 2024-2025. Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers consistently ranks Chuck Band 1 in California Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigation (16 years ranked), and recently described him as a “household name,” in white collar defense who is 'particularly skilled in successfully representing clients in healthcare enforcement matters…and government contract fraud.” He is also recognized by Global Investigation Review (GIR) and Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) in their 2024 edition of Thought Leaders: USA with additional features in Investigations and Business Crime Defense (2024 and 2023).
Representative Government and Internal Investigations
- Defending software support provider in federal criminal copyright infringement investigation.
- Defending leading e-cigarette company in federal criminal investigation regarding sales and marketing practices.
- Defending health plan in qui tam False Claims Act case alleging misuse of Affordable Care Act funds.
- Defended technology company in qui tam False Claims Act litigation regarding allegations of non-compliance with FDA product safety regulations in performance of government contracts.
- Conducted internal investigation for healthcare billing company of whistleblower’s allegations of falsification of certifications of compliance with patient coverage notification requirements.
- Conducted internal investigation for special committee of board of directors regarding shareholder allegations of mismanagement of health and safety programs.
- Represented nutritional supplement company in District Attorney Task Force investigation alleging false advertising claims.
- Defended national title insurance company in potential section 17200 action by the California Attorney General alleging unlawful business practices involving charges for escrow and title insurance services.
- Defended national financial company in an investigation by Attorney General of New York regarding allegations of kickbacks in real estate industry.
- Defended a manufacturer of jet engine parts in the DOJ investigation of allegations of procurement fraud and violations of the FCPA.
- Conducted internal investigation for major accounting firm regarding alleged money laundering by client’s foreign subsidiary and implemented a compliance program.
Representative Civil Litigation Matters
- Defended national media company in federal civil action alleging constitutional torts based on television broadcast of plaintiffs’ involvement in narcotics case, which settled during trial for pretrial offer.
- Defended publisher of financial magazine in libel action by a stockbroker for defamation in an article regarding improper business practices by stockbrokers.
- Defended newspaper publisher in libel action by college basketball player based on article about point shaving in college games, which plaintiff dismissed before trial for waiver of costs.
- Represented a private education company in action challenging regulations adopted by state regulatory agency and prevailed on motion for summary judgment.
- Defended software consulting firm in case alleging unfair competition and theft of trade secrets.
- Defended major insurance company in commercial insurance bad faith and fraud case that was tried to jury, which resulted in a defense verdict.
Chuck previously served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California. Appointed by President Clinton, he oversaw the district’s two offices and 150 employees, implemented several initiatives involving the False Claims Act, healthcare fraud and political corruption, and served as the supervising United States Attorney in Sacramento for the Unabomber prosecution. During his tenure, he was appointed by Attorney General Janet Reno to the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, an executive committee of United States Attorneys that advised the Attorney General on national law enforcement policy. Chuck also served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California. As a member of the Public Corruption and Government Contract Fraud Unit, he conducted grand jury investigations and tried federal criminal cases involving government contract fraud, bribery of federal employees, insurance fraud, tax fraud and bank fraud. Chuck also argued numerous cases to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He received special commendations from the Department of the Interior OIG and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for successful prosecutions.
Chuck has been actively involved in the professional community, serving on many boards and committees, including as a member of the Judicial Selection Committee of Senator Diane Feinstein; as Vice President of the National Association of Former U.S. Attorneys; The Board of Directors of Legal Aid at Work; as an adjunct professor at U.C. Davis School of Law; and as secretary and counsel for Something Special, Inc., a nonprofit devoted to supporting children in foster care.
Chuck is a 1982 graduate of the U.C. Berkeley School of Law, where he served as Senior Note and Comment Editor of the California Law Review. He received his B.A. in English from Colgate University in 1979.
Capabilities
Credentials
Education:
- University of California - Berkeley - 1982 Juris Doctor
- Colgate University - 1979 Bachelor of Arts
Admissions:
- California Bar