Thomas F. Rybarczyk

A former senior federal prosecutor and Chief of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section in the Central District of California, Tom Rybarczyk is a proven trial attorney who directed high-profile investigations and prosecutions in the nation’s largest federal district. Based in Kelley Drye’s Los Angeles office, Tom draws on nearly a decade of investigative, prosecutorial, and extensive courtroom experience to help companies, individuals, and boards navigate complex civil litigation, government investigations, and significant reputational challenges. 

During his tenure as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California, Tom rose to serve as Chief of its Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section. In that role, he led a team of elite prosecutors handling some of the nation’s most complex corruption, fraud, tax, and civil rights matters while coordinating with U.S. Department of Justice leadership in Washington, D.C., and federal, state, and local law enforcement partners across the region. 

As a federal prosecutor, Tom tried numerous felony cases to jury verdict, prepared for many other trials that resolved on the eve of jury selection, and argued several appeals before the Ninth Circuit. This courtroom experience has made him a battle-tested advocate with the judgment to know when to fight and when to resolve a matter short of trial in his client’s best interests.

Drawing on his extensive experience prosecuting and supervising complex, white-collar investigations, Tom leverages his prosecutorial experience to provide clients with informed, strategic counsel on issues spanning public corruption, bribery, wire and mail fraud, money laundering, tax fraud and evasion, campaign finance violations, obstruction of justice, Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and False Claims Act matters. His deep understanding of how prosecutorial discretion is exercised and how enforcement priorities are set—both at the local and national level—enable him to provide clients with critical insights, identify risks before they escalate, and develop defense strategies that position clients for the best possible outcomes. 

Tom’s background sets him apart as an advocate. Before becoming a federal prosecutor, Tom started his legal career at a prominent international law firm in Chicago where he gained a substantial grounding in complex civil litigation and government investigations from the defense side. A clerkship with the Honorable Michael S. Kanne of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit sharpened his appellate skills and legal analysis. And his years as a reporter covering public corruption, organized crime, and law enforcement at a major metropolitan newspaper honed his ability to investigate facts, evaluate evidence, and craft persuasive narratives that resonate with judges and juries.