Skip to content
DWT logo
People Services Insights
About Offices Careers
Search
People
Services
Insights
About
Offices
Careers
Search
Desktop Image: Porter, Alex
Mobile Image: Porter, Alex

Alexander F. Porter

Partner

T 213.633.6876 Los Angeles
  •  

Download vCard Download bio Print this page
Share

Alex Porter is a partner in the commercial litigation and the white collar, investigations, and government controversies practice groups. Alex has more than 15 years of experience representing clients in complex litigation and white‑collar matters. As a former federal prosecutor, Alex draws on his experience as a first‑chair trial lawyer to vigorously defend clients and obtain victories at every stage of litigation.

Alex represents clients in a broad range of industries, including the healthcare, media, technology, and financial services industries. Alex defends companies and individuals in civil and criminal investigations involving securities fraud, insider trading, healthcare fraud, kickbacks, bribery, and other white‑collar offenses. Alex represents clients in high‑stakes civil matters in federal and state court as well as in domestic and international arbitrations. He also has experience conducting internal investigations on behalf of corporations and nonprofit organizations.

Before joining DWT, Alex served as a federal prosecutor for eight years, most recently as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Major Frauds Section of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles. In that role, Alex served as the Health Care Fraud Coordinator for the Central District of California. Before that, he served as a trial attorney with the Fraud Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, where he prosecuted healthcare and securities fraud matters.

Alex draws on his experience directing multi-agency fraud investigations to effectively defend against government enforcement actions, including criminal investigations, state Attorney General actions, and alleged violations of the False Claims Act. For his work, Alex has been recognized by Best Lawyers for white‑collar defense in Los Angeles.

Practice Highlights

Government investigations

Possesses deep knowledge of government investigations involving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Experienced in defending clients in criminal and civil investigations, including parallel investigations involving DOJ and SEC.

Proven first-chair trial lawyer

Extensive trial experience in white-collar cases involving healthcare fraud, violations of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, insider trading, identity theft, and obstruction of justice.

Healthcare fraud experience

Handled investigations in broad range of healthcare fraud cases involving laboratories, hospitals, home healthcare, hospice, durable medical equipment, skilled nursing facilities, opioid drugs, compounded drugs, and COVID-19 testing.

White-Collar Defense and Government Investigations

Hospital False Claims Act investigation

Represented hospital in investigation involving alleged violations of the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute resulting in settlement with DOJ, California Attorney General, and multiple qui tam relators. (December 2024)

DOJ declination

Persuaded DOJ to close investigation of healthcare treatment centers with no enforcement action. The relator voluntarily dismissed the underlying qui tam action brought under the False Claims Act after the government declined to intervene. (September 2024)

Parallel criminal and civil resolution

Successfully resolved criminal and civil investigation through settlement of civil allegations and deferred prosecution agreement for clinical laboratory. (April 2023)

Declination of criminal charges

Obtained declination of criminal charges for physician client after government executed search warrants and seized money and assets. (February 2023)

Federal white-collar investigations

Representing individuals and companies in criminal investigations conducted by DOJ, FBI, and other law enforcement agencies. (Ongoing)
*Denotes an attorney's experience prior to joining Davis Wright Tremaine
Searching...

Complex Civil Litigation Matters

Securities class action

Represented former executive of publicly traded company in putative securities class action brought under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act. (March 2025)

International arbitration

Represented entertainment production company in arbitration involving dispute with international sales agent. (May 2024)

Trial victory for media client

Won complete dismissal of civil harassment restraining order and obtained six-figure fee award after two-day bench trial. (April 2022)

Healthcare business dispute trial

Served as counsel in bench trial resulting in victory for client in case involving allegations of breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty. (March 2022)

Malicious prosecution and tortious interference

Represented large technology company in litigation involving allegations of malicious prosecution and tortious interference. (July 2021)
*Denotes an attorney's experience prior to joining Davis Wright Tremaine
Searching...

Federal Prosecutor Experience

Anti-kickback statute fraud conviction*

Obtained convictions of doctor at trial for accepting illegal kickbacks in connection with $4.1 million in claims submitted to Medicare.

Embezzlement and money laundering*

Prosecuted foreign national for role in international embezzlement and money laundering scheme.

HGH distribution fraud*

Prosecuted doctor in $16 million healthcare fraud scheme involving illegal prescribing and distribution of human growth hormone.

Insider trading appeal*

Argued before the 9th Circuit in insider trading case and successfully won reversal of lower court's order relating to admissibility of securities expert.

Opioid kickback scheme*

Prosecuted doctor for role in multi-faceted healthcare fraud and kickback scheme, as well as for illegally prescribing more than 20,000 opioid pills.
*Denotes an attorney's experience prior to joining Davis Wright Tremaine
Searching...

Pro Bono Experience

Sentencing reduction

Representing client through the Second Look Project to seek sentencing reduction under Washington, D.C.'s Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act. (Ongoing)

Immigration appeal*

Represented individual in immigration appeal through the 9th Circuit Pro Bono Project and successfully obtained relief for client, resulting in new immigration court hearing.
*Denotes an attorney's experience prior to joining Davis Wright Tremaine
Searching...

Admitted to Practice

  • California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California

Education

  • J.D., USC Gould School of Law, 2008
    • Order of the Coif
    • Senior Content Editor, Southern California Law Review
  • B.A., Philosophy, University of San Francisco, 2003, summa cum laude
    • Valedictorian, College of Arts and Sciences
    • Alpha Sigma Nu National Jesuit Honor Society
    • NCAA Division I Soccer

Memberships & Affiliations

    • Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Los Angeles Chapter, Board of Governors, 2025
    • Criminal Justice, Health Law, and Litigation Sections, American Bar Association
    • American Health Law Association
    • Los Angeles Chapter, Federal Bar Association
    • California Lawyers Association
    • Los Angeles County Bar Association
    • USC Gould School of Law, Board of Councilors' Clerkship Committee, 2020-present
    • California Society for Healthcare Attorneys

Professional Recognition

    • Named as one of the "Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers in Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2025-present
    • Named in "Leaders of Influence – Thriving in their 40s" by the Los Angeles Business Journal, 2024

Background

    • Assistant United States Attorney, Major Frauds Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney's Office, Los Angeles, 2016-2021; Health Care Fraud Coordinator, 2017-2021; Hiring Committee Member, 2018-2021; Acting Deputy Chief, 2019-2020
    • Trial Attorney, Fraud Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Los Angeles, 2013-2016
    • Litigation Associate, Irell & Manella LLP, Los Angeles, 2009-2013
    • Judicial Law Clerk, Hon. Stephen V. Wilson, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, Los Angeles, 2008-2009
    • Judicial Extern, Hon. Dale S. Fischer, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, Los Angeles, 2007
Searching...
Stacks of Hundred Dollar Bills
05.22.25
Insights
White Collar, Investigations & Government Controversies
DOJ Criminal Division Reveals New White-Collar Crime Enforcement Priorities and Corporate Enforcement Policies Read More
09.12.24
Presentations
Speaker, "How to Pay Healthcare Sales Reps with Both Hands Tied Behind Your Back (But Not in Handcuffs)," PNW Healthcare Regulatory & Compliance Seminar, Davis Wright Tremaine, Seattle
Publications
08.15.24
News
2025 Edition of Best Lawyers Recognizes More Than 180 Davis Wright Tremaine Attorneys for Excellence Read More
03.06.24
Presentations
Panelist, "False Claims Act Update," DWT Healthcare Regulatory & Compliance Seminar, Culver City, Calif.
Publications
01.02.24
Publications
Co-author, "4 Ways The DOJ Is Changing Its Approach To Insider Trading," Law360 Read More
Publications
12.18.23
News
Named to "Thriving in Their 40s," Los Angeles Business Journal Read More External Link
03.30.23
Presentations
Healthcare
Panelist, "Mind the Gap: Cautionary Tales from Recent Government Enforcement Activity," Annual Healthcare Regulatory & Compliance Seminar, Davis Wright Tremaine, Culver City, Calif.
Publications
01.02.23
News
White Collar, Investigations & Government Controversies
Quoted in "5 White Collar Enforcement Trends To Watch In 2023," Law360 Read More External Link
covid card and vaccine
04.25.22
Advisories
Healthcare
Recently Announced DOJ Nationwide COVID-19 Fraud Takedown and Los Angeles City Attorney Settlement Focus on COVID-19 Testing Read More
Webinar
03.17.22
Webinars
Healthcare
Panelist, "COVID-19 Enforcement Trends Panel," Davis Wright Tremaine Webinar Read More
02.02.22
Presentations
Healthcare
"The Growing Threat: Kickback Enforcement in the Private Payor World," American Health Law Association, Physicians and Hospitals Law Institute
Publications
01.03.21
News
Healthcare
Quoted in, "Blockbuster Year Ahead For Health, Life Sciences Litigation," Law360 Read More External Link
Your search returned no results. Please try another search or remove search criteria.
DWT logo
©1996-2025 Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Attorney Advertising. Not intended as legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Media Kit Affiliations Legal notices
Privacy policy Employees DWT Collaborate EEO
SUBSCRIBE
©1996-2025 Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Attorney Advertising. Not intended as legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.