Robert E. Goldman’s nationwide practice focuses on white collar criminal investigations and defense. He also practices art, antiquities, and collections law, representing individuals, institutions, and countries in matters relating to art and cultural property.

Bob has extensive background in courtroom litigation, with over 32 years of trial experience. Bob has previously served as a state and federal prosecutor for 28 years, 19 years of which were with the United States Department of Justice. He has broad experience in the widest range of criminal cases, including white-collar crime, corporate fraud, political corruption, international art theft, museum theft, and illegal gambling operations.

He is also an Immigration Law trial attorney who provides representation to corporations and management in connection with investigations by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).  In a coordinated effort with other immigration attorneys, he assists companies to avoid investigation by examining their compliance programs and installing changes to their in-place system.  Where an ICE investigation is initiated, he brings a prompt hands on approach to dealing with the government’s efforts.
 
As a federal prosecutor, Bob served as Special Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice as the national prosecutor with the newly created FBI National Art Crime Team. This Unit was formed to prosecute international art theft, antiquities smuggling, and fraud in the art and collecting industry. With the FBI, Bob was involved in the recovery of more than $150 million worth of stolen art and cultural property. Now as a private practitioner, Bob applies his background and training to assist private individuals, companies, institutions and countries in matters dealing with potential art litigation.

As a trial attorney with great familiarity with how government investigations are conducted, he assists his clients navigate through investigations with the goal of convincing prosecutors to take no action and bring an end to the investigation.  Where a prosecution follows an investigation, his long term experience in the courtroom and in handling complex litigation is directed towards assisting his clients defend against the pending allegations.

Honors and Awards
Smithsonian Burke Award for excellence in cultural property protection (2006)

Selected as a “Named a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” by Law & Politics and Philadelphia magazines in the area of Criminal Defense: White Collar. (2006 through 2009)

Department of Justice Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, for his investigation and prosecution of museum and art theft cases (2001)

Department of Justice Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, for heading a multi-agency investigation and prosecution of U.S. citizens and South African state-owned corporations involved in arms smuggling of high-tech munitions (1998)

Medal and commendation from the Government of the Republic of Peru, for the recovery of a 2,000-year-old royal artifact stolen from the Tombs of Sipan and smuggled from Peru into the U.S. (1998)