Name: Tor Ekeland Law
Address: 30 Wall Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY, 10005
Telephone: (888) 721-7680

Notable Cases

Representation Shaping Computer Law

We don't turn down cases others call unwinnable. Below are matters that shaped our practice, and sometimes, computer law itself.

Discuss your matter in a confidential virtual consultation with an attorney at Tor Ekeland Law by contacting us online or at (888) 721-7680.

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Landmark CFAA Conviction Vacated on Appeal
Our origin story. The Third Circuit unanimously vacated Andrew Auernheimer's CFAA conviction, setting precedent on computer crime venue that courts and scholars still cite. The case is the subject of the documentary Troll Inc.
Landmark CFAA Conviction Vacated on Appeal
United States v. Andrew Auernheimer, 748 F.3d 525 (3d Cir. 2014).
Our origin story. The Third Circuit unanimously vacated Andrew Auernheimer's CFAA conviction, setting precedent on computer crime venue that courts and scholars still cite. The case is the subject of the documentary Troll Inc.
Adam L. Penenberg, The Troll’s Lawyer, WIRED (Jan. 5, 2015)
Troll Inc. the documentary on U.S. v. Auernheimer
Paul Mogin, Fundamental Since Our Country’s Founding: United States v. Auernheimer and the Sixth Amendment Right to Be Tried in the District in Which the Alleged Crime Was Committed, 6 U. Denv. Crim. L. Rev. 37 (2016)
High-Profile Election Cyber Case Ends in Probation
We represented a client accused of DDoS attacks on a congressional campaign website during a contested California election, first reported by Rolling Stone. He faced up to ten years in prison. The Firm negotiated the case down to no prison time, probation, community service, and a fine.
High-Profile Election Cyber Case Ends in Probation
Federal Cyberattack Prosecution, Contested California Congressional Campaign (C.D. Cal. 2024)
We represented a client accused of DDoS attacks on a congressional campaign website during a contested California election, first reported by Rolling Stone. He faced up to ten years in prison. The Firm negotiated the case down to no prison time, probation, community service, and a fine.
Andy Kroll, FBI: Consultant for Katie Hill Likely Culprit in 2018 Cyberattack on Bryan Caforio’s Campaign, Rolling Stone (Feb. 21, 2020)
Federal Felonies Reduced to a Single Misdemeanor
Armed FBI agents raided a security researcher's home after he found unsecured patient data and reported it. We negotiated the federal felony computer-crime case into a single misdemeanor without a custodial sentence.
Federal Felonies Reduced to a Single Misdemeanor
United States v. Shafer, No. 3:17-cr-00239 (N.D. Tex. 2017), Security Researcher Raid, Resolved Without Prison Time
Armed FBI agents raided a security researcher's home after he found unsecured patient data and reported it. We negotiated the federal felony computer-crime case into a single misdemeanor without a custodial sentence.
Dan Goodin, Armed FBI Agents Raid Home of Researcher Who Found Unsecured Patient Data, Ars Technica
Major Financial Case Overturned on Constitutional Grounds
The Firm represented co-defendant Anthony Conti at trial in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) and on appeal from a LIBOR interest-rate-manipulation conviction. The Second Circuit reversed the conviction on Fifth Amendment grounds.
Major Financial Case Overturned on Constitutional Grounds
United States v. Allen, 864 F.3d 63 (2d Cir. 2017)
The Firm represented co-defendant Anthony Conti at trial in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) and on appeal from a LIBOR interest-rate-manipulation conviction. The Second Circuit reversed the conviction on Fifth Amendment grounds.
Michael Rapoport, Appeals Court Overturns Convictions of Two Ex-Rabobank Traders in Libor Scandal, Wall St. J. (July 19, 2017)
Challenging Secret FISA Evidence
The FBI obtained a FISA warrant based on allegations that Keith Gartenlaub, a Boeing IT manager, provided classified aircraft designs to China, though no evidence established that he did so. As co-counsel with John D. Cline, and later in a petition for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court, we challenged the warrant’s secrecy and argued that defendants have Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights to examine the basis for a search whose evidence is used against them.
Challenging Secret FISA Evidence
United States v. Gartenlaub, No. 16-50339 (9th Cir.)
The FBI obtained a FISA warrant based on allegations that Keith Gartenlaub, a Boeing IT manager, had provided classified aircraft designs to China. No evidence has established that he did so. Nevertheless, he was convicted of a domestic offense using evidence derived from a secret FISA Court warrant, evidence he has never been permitted to review. As co-counsel with John D. Cline, and later in a petition for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court, we challenged the warrant’s secrecy and argued that a defendant has Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights to examine the basis for a search the fruits of which he was never allowed to examine.
A Former Boeing Manager Suspected of Spying for China Says That He, Like Carter Page, Was the Victim of a Flawed National Security Investigation, Washington Post (Feb. 25, 2020)
Watchdog Reviews Complaint About FBI Surveillance Warrant, The Denver Post (Feb. 25, 2021)
Supreme Court Certiorari petition
EFF and ACLU File Ninth Circuit Amicus Brief in U.S. v. Keith Gartenlaub
High-Profile Hacktivist Case Reaches Negotiated Outcome
The Firm represented a hacktivist who helped expose evidence in the Steubenville sexual assault case. He faced up to sixteen years; we negotiated twenty-four months.
High-Profile Hacktivist Case Reaches Negotiated Outcome
United States v. Lostutter, No. 5:16-cr-00062-DCR (E.D. Ky. 2017)
The Firm represented a hacktivist who helped expose evidence in the Steubenville sexual assault case. He faced up to sixteen years; we negotiated twenty-four months.
David Kushner, Anonymous vs. Steubenville, Rolling Stone (Nov. 2013)
Significant Sentence Reduction in Federal Prosecution
We represented Matthew DeHart in a high-profile federal prosecution tied to WikiLeaks-related materials and national security claims, later the subject of the documentary Enemies of the State. He faced 72 years; we negotiated seven and a half, with credit for four years already served pretrial.
Significant Sentence Reduction in Federal Prosecution
United States v. DeHart, No. 4:15-cr-00012 (M.D. Tenn. 2016)
We represented Matthew DeHart in a high-profile federal prosecution tied to WikiLeaks-related materials and national security claims, later the subject of the documentary Enemies of the State. He faced 72 years; we negotiated seven and a half, with credit for four years already served pretrial.
Ben Kenigsberg, “Enemies of the State” Review: Seeking Proof Shrouded in Shadows, N.Y. Times (July 29, 2021)
Enemies of the State — Official Trailer, IFC Films (YouTube July 2021)
Challenging Blockchain Forensics in Federal Court
A closely watched challenge to the use of blockchain forensics in criminal prosecutions, with implications for cryptocurrency prosecutions generally. The Firm represented Sterlingov at trial and appeal, arguing the case before the D.C. Circuit.
Challenging Blockchain Forensics in Federal Court
United States v. Sterlingov, No. 24-3161 (D.C. Cir. filed Nov. 22, 2024)
A closely watched challenge to the use of blockchain forensics in criminal prosecutions, with implications for cryptocurrency prosecutions generally. The Firm represented Sterlingov at trial and appeal, arguing the case before the D.C. Circuit. The link to oral arguments is below.
“‘Extraordinary Person’ Gets 12½ Years For Crypto Laundering” (Law360, Nov. 8, 2024)
Significant Sentence Reduction After Trial
We represented Matthew Keys in a closely followed federal prosecution over alleged unauthorized access to the Los Angeles Times’ computer systems, reducing a seven-year plea offer to thirty months after trial.
Significant Sentence Reduction After Trial
United States v. Keys, No. 2:13-cr-00082-KJM (E.D. Cal. 2016)
We represented Matthew Keys in a closely followed federal prosecution over alleged unauthorized access to the Los Angeles Times’ computer systems, reducing a seven-year plea offer to thirty months after trial.
Sam Levin, Journalist Matthew Keys Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Helping Anonymous, The Guardian (Apr. 13, 2016)
Oral argument, U.S. v. Matthew Keys, Ninth Circuit

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