December 7, 2012
Publication: Daily Business Review
Miami-based Matthew Menchel was recognized as this year’s Daily Business Review Most Effective Lawyer for the criminal justice category. Mr. Menchel was selected based on his key involvement in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FPCA) sting trial, in which he took the unusual and bold step of calling the government’s lead case agent on the defense’s case in chief and aggressively cross-examined him to expose the many deficiencies in the implementation of the sting operation. This tactic was widely held to be the turning point in the trial and has been referenced as one of the key reasons why the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) ultimately abandoned the prosecution. According to the presiding judge, the Honorable Richard J. Leon, “[h]is cross-examination was about as text-book an example of a vigorous cross examination as I’ve ever seen. ... He systematically took apart the conducting of the sting operation, how it was conducted.”
The Daily Business Review’s Most Effective Lawyer award highlights key lawyers in South Florida who have achieved significant victories on behalf of clients in the past 12 months. Lawyers were measured primarily on results for the client, the obstacles overcome, business interests, and their overall professional track record.