Kareem A. Salem is a partner in Manatt’s Trial, White Collar and Investigations practice, who guides clients through high-stakes and time-sensitive moments where legal, business and reputational risks collide. He regularly advises on internal and government investigations, False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute exposure, national security matters, cybersecurity and data privacy incidents, white-collar defense and complex litigation. He helps clients make disciplined decisions under pressure and position each matter for the best possible outcome—whether avoiding enforcement, resolving a dispute or winning at trial.

Before joining Manatt, Kareem served as a Deputy Chief in the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California, where he directed some of the nation's most sensitive national security and cybercrime investigations, including a multi-year investigation into a substantial ransomware attack on a large San Diego-based health care provider. He has also tried over 40 cases to verdict in California state and federal courts, giving clients a lawyer who understands both how investigations are built and how facts are tested if a matter becomes adversarial or litigated.

Kareem is particularly effective in matters that demand discretion, speed and sound judgment: conducting privileged internal investigations, responding to government inquiries, managing cybersecurity incidents, defending companies and executives under government scrutiny, and navigating False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback allegations. He translates complexity into clear options and helps legal departments move from crisis response to durable strategy.

His clients span a range of industries, with particular depth in regulated sectors such as health care, technology, defense and financial services. Across each, Kareem brings a trial-tested perspective and delivers strategic, results-driven counsel grounded in real-world enforcement experience.