Marina A. Torres

Government 

Marina served for over six years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in both the District of Columbia and the Central District of California. As a seasoned prosecutor, Marina led numerous high-profile investigations and prosecuted individuals, corporations and international criminal enterprises for financial crimes, fraud, money laundering, racketeering, corruption, tax violations, identity theft and international drug trafficking. Marina also served as the Opioids Coordinator for the Central District of California, where she led and coordinated the law enforcement response to the growing epidemic.  Marina has received multiple awards and recognitions for her work in law enforcement, including a commendation from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and U.S. Secret Service for her work in a wide-ranging gang investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Director’s Award for securing a trial victory against a suspected white nationalist engaging in a complex mortgage fraud, and a Special Achievement Award from the DOJ.  She also taught a week-long trial skills course to Mexican judges and prosecutors through the DOJ’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT).  

Prior to being a prosecutor, Marina was a political appointee with the Department of Homeland Security under President Obama, where she was part of the policy team leading the design and implementation of the President’s executive actions on immigration in a Top-Secret classified setting. In that role, she advised Department-level heads on legal, policy and political issues related to Presidential immigration enforcement programs. 

Marina was also a candidate for Los Angeles City Attorney in the 2022 election.

Private Practice

Prior to joining Willkie in 2023, Marina was Of Counsel at California litigation boutique Halpern May Ybarra Gelberg LLP. Earlier in her career, she was a litigation associate at WilmerHale and Munger Tolles. 

• Legal 500 U.S., Recommended Lawyer, Dispute Resolution: Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense, 2024 
  
• Los Angeles Business Journal
  • Leaders of Influence: Minority Attorneys, 2024
  • Who's Who In Law, 2023
    
• U.S. Secret Service, Commendation – Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 2020 
  
• Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Director's Award, 2019
• US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, DOJ Special Achievement Award, 2017
• Hispanic Bar Association of D.C., Rising Star Award, 2015
• Huffington Post, Top 40 Latinos Under 40 in American Politics, 2015
• Lawyers of Color, Inaugural Hot List, 2013
• ACLU of Southern California
• Courageous Advocacy Award, 2011
• Social Justice Award, 2010
  

   

• Member, Medical Board of California (appointed by Gov. Newsom)
• Co-Chair of Fair & Impartial Courts Committee, American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section
• Trustee, Mexican American Bar Association
• Member, Council for Foreign Relations

• Assisted the California State Bar in conducting an independent, wide-ranging investigation regarding a high-profile plaintiffs’ attorney accused of misappropriating client settlement funds.
• Conducted internal investigation for a southern California utility company in connection with allegations of bribery by an employee.   
• Managed an international money laundering investigation on behalf of a large financial institution in Latin America. 
• Conducted several FCPA due diligence projects for leading multi-national corporation specializing in internet-related services and products. 
• Assisted in internal investigation for mining operation involving allegations of bribery and other issues. 
• Assisted real estate client with the referral to law enforcement of a rental COVID-fraud scheme.
• Represented major financial institution in complying with OCC examination related to mortgage approval process.
• Assisted in internal review of Puerto-Rico-marketed insurance products to ensure compliance with UDAAP standards, CFPB expectations. 
• Second-chaired week-long California state jury trial on behalf of a multi-billion dollar oil refining  and marketing company in a contract and negligence dispute with a public utility company. 
• Member of trial team successfully defending best-seller author against allegations made by director seeking half of the $55 million in domestic profits generated from film and book sales.