Bruce Brandler joins MBK’s white-collar criminal defense, government investigations and complex litigation practices after nearly 40 years with the United  States Department of Justice.  Bruce served twice as the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (2016 – 2017 and 2021) pursuant to appointments made by the Attorney General and the Judges of the Middle District of Pennsylvania.  As the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Middle District, which comprises 33 counties in central and northeastern Pennsylvania, including staffed offices in Scranton, Harrisburg, and Williamsport, Bruce led a team of approximately 90 lawyers and support staff representing the United States in federal court matters.

Bruce also served as First Assistant United States Attorney (2017-2021), and Chief of the Criminal Division (2014-2016 and 2021-2025) supervising all major investigations and prosecutions. As Criminal Chief, he supervised approximately 25 Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the criminal division, taking ultimate responsibility for all investigations and prosecutions. He provided guidance and support throughout the investigative, plea bargaining, and trial phases, reviewed legal briefs, evaluated courtroom advocacy, and provided instruction.

For most of his career, Bruce served as a Senior Litigation Counsel specializing in complex white-collar financial frauds, criminal tax prosecutions, and high-profile public corruption cases where he successfully conducted numerous trials and appeals on matters of national and regional importance.  He also handled the office’s continuing legal education program, taught numerous courses to attorneys and law enforcement officials on federal criminal law, including trial advocacy, ethics, and search and seizure. He has additionally served as a guest lecturer at Penn State Law School, Widener Law School, and Harrisburg Area Community College.

Prior to his tenure with the Department of Justice, Bruce worked as the Chief Investigative Counsel for the New York State Senate Committee on Investigations, Taxation, and Government Operations (1985-1986) and as a Senior Assistant District Attorney (1981-1985), with the Kings County (Brooklyn, N.Y.) District Attorney’s Office.

Bruce is a trusted leader with deep courtroom experience and steady judgment informed by decades of handling high-stakes investigations and prosecutions. His extensive background as U.S. Attorney and longtime federal prosecutor is a tremendous asset to clients navigating investigations, enforcement actions and complex commercial disputes.