Who is Todd Blanche?
Todd Blanche is an American attorney and the founding partner of Blanche Law. He has over 20 years of experience in criminal litigation and investigations, and has represented several high-profile clients, including Paul Manafort and Igor Fruman. He was born in New York on August 6, 1974, making him 49 years old as of 2023.
What is Todd Blanche’s Education and Career Background?
Todd Blanche graduated from American University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government & Political Science in 1996. He then obtained his Doctor of Law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 2003, graduating with cum laude honors.
He began his career as a paralegal in the Criminal Division of the Southern District of New York (SDNY) in 1999. He then served as a law clerk for two federal judges, Honorable Denny Chin and Honorable Joseph F. Bianco, before joining the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP as a litigation associate in 2005.
In 2006, he became an Assistant United States Attorney in the SDNY, where he prosecuted various cases involving fraud, corruption, money laundering, racketeering, and terrorism. He left the public sector in 2014 and joined WilmerHale as a counsel, focusing on white-collar defense and investigations.
In 2017, he became a partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, where he led the firm’s white-collar defense and investigations group. He left Cadwalader in April 2023 and founded his own law firm, Blanche Law, with two other former Cadwalader partners.
How Did Todd Blanche Join Trump’s Legal Team?
On April 4, 2023, Todd Blanche joined the legal team of former President Donald J. Trump, along with two other attorneys, Susan R. Necheles and Joseph Tacopina. They will represent Trump in the hush-money case involving adult film star Stormy Daniels, who claims she had an affair with Trump in 2006 and was paid $130,000 by Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen to keep silent about it.
The case is being investigated by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, which is also probing Trump’s business dealings and tax returns. Blanche and his co-counsels will replace Marc Mukasey and Amy Carlin, who withdrew from the case in March 2023.
According to The New York Times, Blanche was hired by Trump after he was recommended by Alan S. Futerfas, another lawyer who represents Trump and his family in various matters. Blanche has previously worked with Futerfas on several cases, including the defense of Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman, who was convicted of tax and bank fraud in 2018.
Blanche has also represented Igor Fruman, a Ukrainian-American businessman and associate of Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal lawyer, who was indicted on campaign finance charges in 2019. Blanche successfully negotiated a plea deal for Fruman, who pleaded guilty to one count of soliciting a foreign contribution in 2021.
What are Todd Blanche’s Achievements and Recognition?
Todd Blanche has been recognized as one of the leading lawyers in his field by various publications and organizations. He has been named as a Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters since 2017, and as a Rising Star by Law360 in 2018. He has also been ranked as a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation since 2019, and as a National Practice Area Star by Euromoney since 2020.
He has also received several awards and commendations for his work as a prosecutor, including the Director’s Award for Superior Performance from the Department of Justice in 2012, and the True American Hero Award from the Federal Drug Agents Foundation in 2013.
He has also been involved in several pro bono and community service activities, such as serving as a board member of the Federal Bar Council, a mentor for the Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program, and a volunteer for the Legal Aid Society. He is also a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the New York City Bar Association.
Conclusion
Todd Blanche is a prominent and experienced attorney who has joined Trump’s legal team in the hush-money case involving Stormy Daniels. He is 49 years old and has a distinguished career in both the public and private sectors. He has represented several notable clients, including Paul Manafort and Igor Fruman, and has been recognized as one of the top lawyers in his field. He is also active in pro bono and community service work, and is a member of various professional associations.