Emily Haffner concentrates her practice in complex civil litigation, white collar criminal cases and internal investigations.
Haffner has experience representing individuals and corporations in all stages of state and federal trial and appellate litigation and civil and criminal enforcement issues. She regularly handles a wide range of matters, including criminal white collar cases, defending government inquiries, and conducting internal investigations related to anti-corruption, accounting irregularities, improper business practices, compliance practices, corporate governance issues and related matters. Haffner also has extensive experience in a variety of areas of civil litigation in state and federal court. She actively advises clients on transaction due diligence, compliance policies and procedures, and employee training relating to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators | 2026 | White Collar, Global Investigations |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators | 2025 | White Collar, Global Investigations |
Some of Haffner’s representations include:
- Fujian Jinhua, a China-based manufacturer of DRAM memory devices, in obtaining the acquittal of all charges in a high-profile, eight-week criminal trade secrets trial brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) National Security Division and in obtaining summary judgment in a related civil case brought by the DOJ
- a Chinese nuclear power company in a criminal case that involved alleged violations of various provisions of the Atomic Energy Act
- an artificial intelligence company in investigations by the DOJ and various state attorneys general relating to the safety of artificial intelligence
- Marci Palatella, the CEO of International Beverage, as a defendant in the DOJ’s “Varsity Blues” college admissions case
- the Audit Committee of a REIT in an investigation into allegations of self-dealing and conflicts of interest
- Intuitive Surgical, Inc. in products liability actions relating to its Da Vinci robotic system and accessories, including securing the affirmative of a grant of summary judgment
Haffner maintains an active pro bono practice, including immigration, conservatorship and criminal matters. She submitted an amicus brief on behalf of the National Association of Federal Defenders to the U.S. Supreme Court on Fourth Amendment issues. Haffner also briefed, argued and won an appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Most recently, she obtained favorable monetary settlements on behalf of families involved in immigration-related Federal Tort Claims Act cases. She also successfully obtained the release of a client who had been sentenced to life without parole and had spent over 38 years in prison after demonstrating that a Brady violation had occurred in the case.
Haffner is also on the board of the Western Center on Law and Poverty and on the Executive Committee of the Federal Bar Association for the Northern District of California.