Februar 03. 2020
Mayer Brown adds leading investigations and white collar defense lawyer Michael Levy as partner in DC
Mayer Brown has continued the expansion of its investigations and enforcement capabilities with the arrival of seasoned trial lawyer Michael Levy, who joins the firm as a partner in the global White Collar Defense & Compliance, Congressional Investigations & Crisis Management and Regulatory & Investigations practice groups in Washington DC. Mr. Levy joins from Paul Hastings.
“Michael’s extensive experience representing corporate and individual clients in many of the most complex, high-profile white collar criminal investigations over the past two decades—particularly in the financial services industry—will immediately bolster our growing white collar and investigations platform,” said Richard Spehr, the leader of Mayer Brown’s global Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice. “With the continued increase in parallel proceedings by government agencies around the world, we have enhanced our ability to manage these actions and mitigate global risk, which is critical in serving our clients, through strategic lateral hires in New York and Washington DC, including high-ranking government officials and in-house lawyers. Michael’s arrival accelerates the firm’s standing as a leader in the investigations and regulatory enforcement space.”
Mr. Levy focuses his practice on white collar defense, investigations, and the representation of corporations and individuals in connection with government enforcement initiatives. He has conducted internal investigations for Fortune 100 and other companies, as well as their audit committees, and has represented numerous Fortune 500 companies, high-ranking public officials, civic leaders, and prominent corporate executives in major criminal cases and congressional, SEC, and other governmental investigations involving alleged violations of fraud, securities, tax, antitrust, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, environmental, healthcare, False Claims Act, obstruction of justice and other criminal statutes.
“Mayer Brown provides an ideal platform for me to collaborate with colleagues across practices and offices to serve our mutual clients,” said Mr. Levy. “In this increasingly complex enforcement environment, any company can find itself accused of wrongdoing at any time, even without a legitimate basis. Mayer Brown’s robust international reach, roster of talented lawyers, and interdisciplinary approach to servicing clients allow the firm to respond effectively to investigations by prosecutors and regulators throughout the world and across industries.”
Mr. Levy serves on the teaching faculty at Harvard Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop and has lectured on white collar criminal defense at both the Georgetown University Law Center and the George Washington University School of Law. He is a frequent author and speaker on white collar issues, addressing audiences at programs with the ABA National Institutes on White Collar Crime and Securities Fraud, Institutional Investor, Corporate Board Member, and District of Columbia Bar on topics ranging from corporate governance and internal investigations to risk management and the role of communications in high-profile litigation.
Raj De, managing partner of Mayer Brown’s Washington DC office, added, “Michael is well-respected in the DC community and widely known as a first-rate trial lawyer with extensive experience in handling DOJ and congressional investigations. Washington has become the ‘risk capital of the world,’ and our office has expanded to meet the demands of clients to mitigate this dynamic risk landscape from criminal investigations, to regulatory enforcement, to congressional inquiries. Michael’s arrival complements our roster of experienced lawyers in Washington and adds further depth to our enforcement and investigations capabilities across the globe.”
Earlier in his career, Mr. Levy served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Columbia. While serving in the public corruption section, he prosecuted federal and local officials for bribery, fraud, embezzlement, and other forms of corrupt conduct. Mr. Levy was an instructor at the Attorney General’s Advocacy Institute and honored by the US Attorney’s Office for his trial and appellate advocacy. He clerked for US Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. and US District Court Judge Louis F. Oberdorfer.
Mr. Levy’s arrival continues the expansion of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Compliance and Regulatory & Investigations practice groups in New York and Washington DC, and follows the addition of Daniel Stein, Glen Kopp, Audrey Harris and Jason Linder.
“Michael’s extensive experience representing corporate and individual clients in many of the most complex, high-profile white collar criminal investigations over the past two decades—particularly in the financial services industry—will immediately bolster our growing white collar and investigations platform,” said Richard Spehr, the leader of Mayer Brown’s global Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice. “With the continued increase in parallel proceedings by government agencies around the world, we have enhanced our ability to manage these actions and mitigate global risk, which is critical in serving our clients, through strategic lateral hires in New York and Washington DC, including high-ranking government officials and in-house lawyers. Michael’s arrival accelerates the firm’s standing as a leader in the investigations and regulatory enforcement space.”
Mr. Levy focuses his practice on white collar defense, investigations, and the representation of corporations and individuals in connection with government enforcement initiatives. He has conducted internal investigations for Fortune 100 and other companies, as well as their audit committees, and has represented numerous Fortune 500 companies, high-ranking public officials, civic leaders, and prominent corporate executives in major criminal cases and congressional, SEC, and other governmental investigations involving alleged violations of fraud, securities, tax, antitrust, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, environmental, healthcare, False Claims Act, obstruction of justice and other criminal statutes.
“Mayer Brown provides an ideal platform for me to collaborate with colleagues across practices and offices to serve our mutual clients,” said Mr. Levy. “In this increasingly complex enforcement environment, any company can find itself accused of wrongdoing at any time, even without a legitimate basis. Mayer Brown’s robust international reach, roster of talented lawyers, and interdisciplinary approach to servicing clients allow the firm to respond effectively to investigations by prosecutors and regulators throughout the world and across industries.”
Mr. Levy serves on the teaching faculty at Harvard Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop and has lectured on white collar criminal defense at both the Georgetown University Law Center and the George Washington University School of Law. He is a frequent author and speaker on white collar issues, addressing audiences at programs with the ABA National Institutes on White Collar Crime and Securities Fraud, Institutional Investor, Corporate Board Member, and District of Columbia Bar on topics ranging from corporate governance and internal investigations to risk management and the role of communications in high-profile litigation.
Raj De, managing partner of Mayer Brown’s Washington DC office, added, “Michael is well-respected in the DC community and widely known as a first-rate trial lawyer with extensive experience in handling DOJ and congressional investigations. Washington has become the ‘risk capital of the world,’ and our office has expanded to meet the demands of clients to mitigate this dynamic risk landscape from criminal investigations, to regulatory enforcement, to congressional inquiries. Michael’s arrival complements our roster of experienced lawyers in Washington and adds further depth to our enforcement and investigations capabilities across the globe.”
Earlier in his career, Mr. Levy served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Columbia. While serving in the public corruption section, he prosecuted federal and local officials for bribery, fraud, embezzlement, and other forms of corrupt conduct. Mr. Levy was an instructor at the Attorney General’s Advocacy Institute and honored by the US Attorney’s Office for his trial and appellate advocacy. He clerked for US Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. and US District Court Judge Louis F. Oberdorfer.
Mr. Levy’s arrival continues the expansion of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Compliance and Regulatory & Investigations practice groups in New York and Washington DC, and follows the addition of Daniel Stein, Glen Kopp, Audrey Harris and Jason Linder.
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