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Defense Attorneys
by Michael Y. Park
If you’re facing criminal charges, you’ll want at least one of these defense attorneys on speed dial.
Mary Jo White
Debevoise & Plimpton
212-909-6000, www.debevoise.com
The former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and former director of the Nasdaq, White is described as “feisty” by colleagues and the press. Clients include Royal Dutch Shell, Bank of New York, Tommy Hilfiger, Westar Energy, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. She’s currently representing Siemens A.G. in a global investigation of payments to allegedly corrupt government officials.
Robert B. Fiske Jr.
Davis Polk & Wardell
212-450-4000, www.dpw.com
The “dean” of New York white-collar defense, Fiske is noted for his gravitas and for his role as the original Whitewater special prosecutor. Fiske won a reversal and a subsequent acquittal for former General Development Corporation chairman David Brown in a mail-fraud case; got a reversal of two multimillion-dollar verdicts against Suzuki for its Samurai S.U.V.’s in roll-over cases; successfully defended the designers of the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor in a $4 billion lawsuit; and recently won an acquittal for Greenwich, Connecticut, stockbroker John M. Lucarelli on securities fraud and conspiracy charges.
Elkan Abramowitz
Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, Iason, Anello & Bohrer P.C.
212-856-9600, www.maglaw.com
Abramowitz is known for incisive cross-examinations. He’s currently defending David A. Stockman, former Reagan economic architect, and C.E.O. of Collins & Aikman, on charges of securities fraud. Other clients include Woody Allen and former Citibank senior vice chairman Victor J. Menezes, for whom he secured a no-fault settlement with the S.E.C. in an insider-trading case. He generally charges over $700 per hour.
Robert G. Morvillo
Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, Iason, Anello & Bohrer P.C.
212-856-9600, www.maglaw.com
Morvillo is renowned for his fiery temper and talent for behind-the-scenes deals, keeping corporations like Amerada Hess and Merrill Lynch out of court. Other clients he’s defended include Martha Stewart, U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (Democrat, New York), and John Zaccaro (Geraldine Ferraro’s husband). Charges in excess of $700 an hour.
Lee S. Richards III
Richards Kibbe & Orbe L.L.P.
212-530-1800, www.rkollp.com
Former S.E.C. counsel and federal prosecutor of insider-trading and securities-fraud cases, Richards is now chairman of the American Bar Association’s subcommittee on criminal aspects of securities laws. He’s known for candid advice and for taking on clients in investment banks, pharmaceuticals, and hedge funds, including former Dreyfus Corporation manager Michael L. Schonberg, for whom he negotiated a $50,000, no-fault settlement with the S.E.C.
Sean F. O’Shea
O’Shea Partners L.L.P.
212-682-4426, www.oshealaw.com
The former chief of the Business and Securities Fraud Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, O’Shea succeeds in getting the government to drop charges early and discreetly. With his help, former A.I.G. exec Michael Murphy avoided criminal charges related to alleged financial manipulation, and former Tyco International director Michael Ashcroft dodged a federal indictment. Recent clients include executives for Toshiba, Singapore Cargo, and Great Lakes Chemical. He charges about $700 to $800 per hour.
Thomas J. Frederick
Winston & Strawn L.L.P.
312-558-5983, www.winston.com
The chairman of Winston & Strawn’s litigation department, Frederick specializes in white-collar criminal defense, internal corporate investigations, and product liability. He is Philip Morris’s face in court, including in its federal R.I.C.O. and state cases, and has successfully defended General Electric, American Continental Corporations, and Lincoln Savings & Loan.
Fred Hafetz
Hafetz & Necheles
212-997-7595, www.hafetzlaw.com
Known for aggressive cross-examinations of prosecution witnesses, Hafetz recently made headlines for his defenses of New York Stock Exchange specialist David Finnerty, and M. Christian Milton, head of reinsurance at A.I.G. Other clients include Amerindo Investment Advisers founder Alberto W. Vilar, investment bankers involved with Enron, and former Miss America Bess Myerson in her bribery case. He charges about $650 per hour.
Marvin G. Pickholz
Akerman Senterfitt
212-880-3800, www.akerman.com
Chairman of Akerman’s white-collar and corporate-advisory practice group, Pickholz has held several enforcement positions within the S.E.C. He now specializes in defense in securities litigation and regulatory proceedings, successfully representing mutual fund complex Federal Investors, Royal Ahold, and U.S. Foodservice. He charges between $600 and $650 per hour.
Benjamin Brafman
Brafman & Associates
212-750-7800
Former Manhattan assistant D.A. Brafman has a reputation for winning acquittals for long-shot cases. He once specialized solely in white-collar crimes, but his most famous win was getting “not guilty” verdicts for Sean “Diddy” Combs in the notorious Times Square Club case in 1999, and for nightclub owner Peter Gatien, a win Brafman earned without calling a single defense witness, in 1998. Former clients include singer Michael Jackson and mafia hit man Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano.
Debevoise & Plimpton
212-909-6000, www.debevoise.com
The former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and former director of the Nasdaq, White is described as “feisty” by colleagues and the press. Clients include Royal Dutch Shell, Bank of New York, Tommy Hilfiger, Westar Energy, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. She’s currently representing Siemens A.G. in a global investigation of payments to allegedly corrupt government officials.
Robert B. Fiske Jr.
Davis Polk & Wardell
212-450-4000, www.dpw.com
The “dean” of New York white-collar defense, Fiske is noted for his gravitas and for his role as the original Whitewater special prosecutor. Fiske won a reversal and a subsequent acquittal for former General Development Corporation chairman David Brown in a mail-fraud case; got a reversal of two multimillion-dollar verdicts against Suzuki for its Samurai S.U.V.’s in roll-over cases; successfully defended the designers of the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor in a $4 billion lawsuit; and recently won an acquittal for Greenwich, Connecticut, stockbroker John M. Lucarelli on securities fraud and conspiracy charges.
Elkan Abramowitz
Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, Iason, Anello & Bohrer P.C.
212-856-9600, www.maglaw.com
Abramowitz is known for incisive cross-examinations. He’s currently defending David A. Stockman, former Reagan economic architect, and C.E.O. of Collins & Aikman, on charges of securities fraud. Other clients include Woody Allen and former Citibank senior vice chairman Victor J. Menezes, for whom he secured a no-fault settlement with the S.E.C. in an insider-trading case. He generally charges over $700 per hour.
Robert G. Morvillo
Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, Iason, Anello & Bohrer P.C.
212-856-9600, www.maglaw.com
Morvillo is renowned for his fiery temper and talent for behind-the-scenes deals, keeping corporations like Amerada Hess and Merrill Lynch out of court. Other clients he’s defended include Martha Stewart, U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (Democrat, New York), and John Zaccaro (Geraldine Ferraro’s husband). Charges in excess of $700 an hour.
Lee S. Richards III
Richards Kibbe & Orbe L.L.P.
212-530-1800, www.rkollp.com
Former S.E.C. counsel and federal prosecutor of insider-trading and securities-fraud cases, Richards is now chairman of the American Bar Association’s subcommittee on criminal aspects of securities laws. He’s known for candid advice and for taking on clients in investment banks, pharmaceuticals, and hedge funds, including former Dreyfus Corporation manager Michael L. Schonberg, for whom he negotiated a $50,000, no-fault settlement with the S.E.C.
Sean F. O’Shea
O’Shea Partners L.L.P.
212-682-4426, www.oshealaw.com
The former chief of the Business and Securities Fraud Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, O’Shea succeeds in getting the government to drop charges early and discreetly. With his help, former A.I.G. exec Michael Murphy avoided criminal charges related to alleged financial manipulation, and former Tyco International director Michael Ashcroft dodged a federal indictment. Recent clients include executives for Toshiba, Singapore Cargo, and Great Lakes Chemical. He charges about $700 to $800 per hour.
Thomas J. Frederick
Winston & Strawn L.L.P.
312-558-5983, www.winston.com
The chairman of Winston & Strawn’s litigation department, Frederick specializes in white-collar criminal defense, internal corporate investigations, and product liability. He is Philip Morris’s face in court, including in its federal R.I.C.O. and state cases, and has successfully defended General Electric, American Continental Corporations, and Lincoln Savings & Loan.
Fred Hafetz
Hafetz & Necheles
212-997-7595, www.hafetzlaw.com
Known for aggressive cross-examinations of prosecution witnesses, Hafetz recently made headlines for his defenses of New York Stock Exchange specialist David Finnerty, and M. Christian Milton, head of reinsurance at A.I.G. Other clients include Amerindo Investment Advisers founder Alberto W. Vilar, investment bankers involved with Enron, and former Miss America Bess Myerson in her bribery case. He charges about $650 per hour.
Marvin G. Pickholz
Akerman Senterfitt
212-880-3800, www.akerman.com
Chairman of Akerman’s white-collar and corporate-advisory practice group, Pickholz has held several enforcement positions within the S.E.C. He now specializes in defense in securities litigation and regulatory proceedings, successfully representing mutual fund complex Federal Investors, Royal Ahold, and U.S. Foodservice. He charges between $600 and $650 per hour.
Benjamin Brafman
Brafman & Associates
212-750-7800
Former Manhattan assistant D.A. Brafman has a reputation for winning acquittals for long-shot cases. He once specialized solely in white-collar crimes, but his most famous win was getting “not guilty” verdicts for Sean “Diddy” Combs in the notorious Times Square Club case in 1999, and for nightclub owner Peter Gatien, a win Brafman earned without calling a single defense witness, in 1998. Former clients include singer Michael Jackson and mafia hit man Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano.
