Atty. Eric J. Beste
After two decades prosecuting white collar crimes in federal courts throughout the country, Eric Beste now represents businesses and individuals facing domestic and international investigations and enforcement actions. A seasoned trial lawyer with a natural aptitude for advocacy, Eric takes each client’s story and turns it into a compelling narrative to achieve the best possible result.
Criminal Defense: White-Collar Attorney · Serving San Diego, CA
Profile Summary
About Eric J. Beste at a Glance
Eric J. Beste is a criminal defense and white collar attorney based in San Diego, California, practicing at Barnes & Thornburg LLP. Educated at Northwestern University (J.D., 1994). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2026). Serves clients in San Diego, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Eric J. Beste
- After two decades prosecuting white collar crimes in federal courts throughout the country, Eric Beste now represents businesses and individuals facing domestic and international investigations and enforcement actions
- A seasoned trial lawyer with a natural aptitude for advocacy, Eric takes each client’s story and turns it into a compelling narrative to achieve the best possible result
- Eric focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, internal investigations and compliance matters, and complex business litigation
- Leveraging his proven track record of supervising and litigating high-profile matters as a federal prosecutor, he provides experienced counsel to clients seeking to mitigate the risks inherent in the modern business world
- Among the litigation matters in which Eric can provide the most value are those involving securities fraud, corporate malfeasance, domestic and foreign corruption, tax crimes, defense procurement fraud, government contracting offenses, campaign finance fraud, Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering violations, financial institution crimes, and healthcare fraud
- Over the course of his career with the U.S
- Department of Justice (DOJ), Eric fostered collaborative relationships with law enforcement officials, fellow prosecutors, and senior officials in the United States and abroad, which allowed him to navigate difficult challenges and devise effective solutions
- Through his extensive network, Eric has gathered distinct insights into the personnel and strategies employed by agencies tasked with investigating fraud, corruption and other white collar crimes
- Eric developed a breadth of litigation experience at the DOJ’s Criminal Division, Fraud Section, and the U.S
- Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California
- He prosecuted over a dozen senior executives at publicly traded companies and secured numerous insider trading convictions, giving him a behind-the-scenes look into the investigation of securities fraud by the DOJ and the U.S
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- He investigated and prosecuted violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), including allegations of corporations and individuals making corrupt payments in Africa, China and Europe
- In addition, he secured healthcare fraud convictions in Virginia, tried bank fraud defendants in Alabama, and prosecuted racketeering cases in Washington, D.C., and San Diego, California
- Beyond honing his trial skills, this work provided Eric with invaluable insight into DOJ’s practices, policies, and decision-making in some of its most significant white-collar prosecutions
- As a supervisor in one of the busiest federal districts in the country, Eric oversaw hundreds of cases, many involving nationally significant prosecutions
- Among them were the district’s largest securities fraud case, a groundbreaking healthcare fraud kickback prosecution, the U.S
- Navy’s most significant public corruption cases, the largest foreign national campaign finance fraud case, and a pioneering Bank Secrecy Act prosecution that resulted in the largest forfeiture in the district’s history
- He was also selected to supervise high-profile matters in other districts, including the most significant public corruption investigation in the State of Hawaii
- Supervising such high-profile matters required extensive collaboration with senior officials at the DOJ and their law enforcement partners, including the FBI, IRS, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), SEC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and various Inspectors General
- While serving in the Southern District of California, Eric was responsible for devising strategies to combat financial frauds and ensure coordination among various federal agencies
- Throughout his professional life, Eric has developed a distinctive strength in creating and molding teams that can lead clients through even the thorniest of challenges
- He excels at selecting and leading the right practitioners in the right roles, which allows him and his teams to provide the best representation possible
Practice Areas Explained
Eric J. Beste's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Eric J. Beste handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in San Diego.
Criminal Defense in San Diego
A criminal defense attorney protects your rights from arrest through trial. Find experienced lawyers handling DUI, drug, federal, theft, and violent-crime charges.
Eric J. Beste is one of 212,605 criminal defense attorneys indexed nationally. Browse criminal defense attorneys in California →
White Collar Crimes in San Diego
Eric J. Beste is one of 19,824 white collar attorneys indexed nationally. Browse white collar attorneys in California →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in San Diego
Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in San Diego are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
San Diego Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a San Diego-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in San Diego or all attorneys in California.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in San Diego Choose Eric J. Beste
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Eric J. Beste's practice in the field of criminal defense and white collar.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering criminal defense and white collar, Eric J. Beste can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in San Diego
A San Diego-based practice means Eric J. Beste attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
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Eric J. Beste's Practice Areas & Specializations
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