Mr. Axelrad is a former federal prosecutor with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Mr. Axelrad has significant first-chair trial experience in a wide range of federal jury and bench trials. He also has an extensive background handling high-stakes civil and criminal matters from inception to resolution.
Mr. Axelrad advises individuals and organizations on a range of matters, including:
- Complex civil trial litigation
- Commercial disputes
- Internal corporate investigations
- Government investigations
Mr. Axelrad has also successfully argued and defended his trial and litigation victories before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mr. Axelrad draws on his extensive government experience to assist clients as they navigate high-stakes litigation and complex business disputes. His wide-ranging litigation experience includes pre-litigation counseling, trial, and appellate work. Mr. Axelrad has extensive motion and discovery experience, and routinely litigates issues including false advertising, fraud, contract, and unfair business practices.
Mr. Axelrad also counsels public companies regarding issues related to community safety, intimate partner violence, and platform intervention.
From 2014 to 2022, Mr. Axelrad served as an Assistant United States Attorney where he investigated, prosecuted, and tried a variety of federal crimes, including money laundering, civil rights violations, health care fraud, wire fraud, and a range of violent crimes.
Representative matters from his time as a federal prosecutor include the investigation and prosecution of The Minerals Acquisition Company, a multimillion dollar fraud scheme based on the sale of mining waste byproduct; a first-of-its-kind murder for hire prosecution involving the Dark Web and cryptocurrency; as well as the investigation, prosecution, and trial conviction of Paul Gary “Doc” Wallace for decades-long violations of the Racketeering Corruption Organizations Act, including murder, extortion, and witness intimidation. For his work with the Department of Justice, Mr. Axelrad received the Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant United States Attorney.
Before working as a federal prosecutor, Mr. Axelrad practiced at a major international law firm where he represented individual and corporate clients in large-scale Department of Justice investigations. Mr. Axelrad conducted a variety of internal investigations locally and internationally.
Prior to joining the United States Attorney’s Office, Mr. Axelrad clerked for Judge Alicemarie Stotler of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Mr. Axelrad is a member of the Los Angeles offices' Pro Bono Committee. As part of his pro bono practice, Mr. Axelrad routinely represents clients in domestic violence, veterans’ benefits, and asylum matters.
Before becoming a lawyer, Mr. Axelrad served as a legislative aide to the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy.
Mr. Axelrad received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his law degree from the UCLA School of Law.