Joseph De Leon is an associate in the Century City office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the firm’s Litigation Department. He is a former federal prosecutor and an experienced trial lawyer, actively involved in the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations and Complex Commercial Litigation Practices.
Joseph practices in both federal and state courts. He has extensive experience in all aspects of civil and criminal litigation, including successfully trying multiple cases to verdict. He has also conducted numerous internal investigations, represented clients in government regulatory actions both in the United States and foreign jurisdictions, and advised companies on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other compliance issues.
From 2023 to 2025, Joseph served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California (USAO). While at the USAO, he successfully prosecuted various fraud crimes and served as the lead or co-lead prosecutor on several jury trials, including a nearly three-week investor fraud trial involving the founder and CEO of a tech company.
Joseph is actively involved in the firm’s pro bono program and previously served on the Pro Bono Committee.