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Megan Gaffney Painter
Partner
Megan Gaffney Painter focuses her practice on assisting clients facing regulatory scrutiny from federal and state law enforcement authorities, as well as handling civil and appellate litigation. As a former prosecutor in the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Southern District of Ohio, Megan’s considerable governmental insight and trial experience allows her to counsel clients through some of their most challenging issues.
During her time at the US Attorney’s Office, Megan’s work was broad in scope and included assisting with one of the largest insider trading cases ever prosecuted, as well as trying the largest public corruption case in the history of the state of Ohio. She prosecuted numerous high-stakes criminal and appellate matters, including cybercrime, public corruption, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO), civil rights, violent crime, fraud and tax offenses, among others. She led cross-border investigations, coordinating with foreign law enforcement on evidence gathering and extradition. She successfully represented the government in multiple trials and appeals. Megan has also served as a district-wide computer hacking and intellectual property Assistant US Attorney (AUSA), and received multiple law enforcement agency awards.
Prior to her career in public service, Megan worked in private practice with an AmLaw 25 firm, where her work focused on internal investigations in the financial services sector. Megan also clerked for the Honorable Richard C. Wesley on the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Public Sector and Government Experience
- Represented the Government at trial in one of the largest public corruption cases in Ohio history.
- Led multiple international ransomware investigations.
- Represented the Government at trial and on appeal in tax fraud and structuring prosecution.
- Prosecuted the first Southern District of Ohio hate crime case under The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009.
- Prosecuted a nationwide moving company scam under RICO.
- Prosecuted matters related to cybercrime, criminal civil rights violations, RICO conspiracy, fraud, violent crime, firearms and explosives, and child exploitation.
- Authored and argued multiple appeals before the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Sixth Circuit.
Education
- Harvard Law School, J.D., 2009
- Harvard College, A.B., cum laude, 2002
Admissions
- New York, 2010
- Ohio, 2025
Courts
- U.S. Dist. Ct., S. Dist. of Ohio
- U.S. Dist. Ct., S. Dist. of New York
- U.S. Dist. Ct., E. Dist. of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
Memberships & Affiliations
- Adjunct Professor of Trial Practice at University of Cincinnati College of Law, 2023
- FBI Honorary G-Man Award, 2019, 2020 and 2024
- 2023 U.S. Attorney’s Award Outstanding Contribution by a Litigative Team
- IRS Assistant United States Attorney Award, 2020
- FBI Director’s Certificate for United States v. Samuel Whitt, 2019
- Crime Victims’ Rights Act Champion, 2014
- Honoree, Empire State Counsel for pro bono work, 2011