
Evelyn B. Sheehan focuses her practice on advising high-net-worth individuals, institutional clients and their executives in cross-border investigations, government enforcement actions and related asset forfeiture matters. In addition, she also counsels clients in global asset tracing investigations and recovery efforts, in which she leads offensive asset forfeiture actions in aid of civil claim monetization. While at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Ms. Sheehan received various distinguished service awards for her work on asset forfeiture matters to recover illicit proceeds on behalf of victims of crime.
Before joining Kobre & Kim, Ms. Sheehan served as a prosecutor at the DOJ as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida. Most recently, she served as Deputy Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Division for that office, where she was responsible for overseeing complex cross-border investigations related to international corruption, foreign bribery, white-collar fraud, narcotics trafficking, organized crime and violations of anti-money laundering laws.
During her tenure at DOJ, Ms. Sheehan worked for over six years to litigate the complex forfeiture matters related to the infamous $1.4 billion fraud scheme led by Scott Rothstein. The prosecution and forfeiture resulted in the successful conviction and imprisonment of 29 total defendants, and concluded in the full restitution of the hundreds of victims involved. As a result of her work in this case, Ms. Sheehan was awarded the 2016 U.S. Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award and was a semi-finalist for the 2010 Daily Business Review’s Most Effective Lawyers Award for Criminal Justice Category.
Ms. Sheehan was also a member of the Regional Committee of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). As a result of her work on two high-profile international money laundering investigations, she earned two National OCDETF Awards. She has also lectured extensively on the application of asset forfeiture and money laundering laws for the U.S. Department of Justice and a number of federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Before her time as a prosecutor, Ms. Sheehan practiced with White & Case LLP, where she focused on complex commercial litigation, and with Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, where she focused on private equity fund formation and bankruptcy work.
Admissions
- Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Education
- Yale Law School (J.D., May 2002) (Yale Journal of International Law, Submissions Editor)
- University of Michigan (B.A., May 1999) (High Honors; Phi Beta Kappa)
Languages
- Spanish
Accolades
- Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service (2016)
- Department of Defense Award for Outstanding Investigation (2018)
- National Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Group Award for Outstanding Investigation (2018 and 2016)
- Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity & Efficiency, Task Force Investigative Team Award (2017)
- Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations Chief’s Award for Outstanding Investigation (2017)
- Daily Business Review’s Top 20 Women in Law (2015)
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers in Miami-Dade (2013)
- Daily Business Review’s Most Effective Lawyers Award for Criminal Justice Category- Semifinalist (2010)
Select Engagements
Government Enforcement Defense
Claim Monetization & Dilution
- Evelyn Sheehan Points to a Possible Boost of U.S. Sanctions Enforcement in 2021 with Global Trade Review
- Evelyn Sheehan Explains Recent OFAC Enforcement Actions in Global Trade Review
- The Dark Side of 1782: Defending Against Aggressive U.S. Discovery Actions
- Finding the Unknown: Creating Innovative Strategies to Protect and Recover Assets in Complex Family Disputes
- Wealth Talk: Evelyn Sheehan on the DOJ’s “Long Reach” towards Latin America’s HNWIs
- Andrew Stafford QC and Evelyn Sheehan Ask “Who Owns a Bribe?” in Expert Analysis Chapter for ICLG
- Evelyn Sheehan and Jason Short on the DOJ’s Growing Reach Into Latin America
- John Han, Evelyn Sheehan and Wade Weems on the Risks of Wealthy Hong Kong Individuals’ Moving Assets Abroad
- Kobre & Kim Hosts Webinar on Proactive Strategies to Protect Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals in Central America
- Evelyn Sheehan and Beau Barnes Discuss the U.S. “Sledgehammer” Seizure of Iranian Oil in Global Trade Review
- Evelyn Sheehan Analyzes U.S. Seizure of Iranian Oil Bound for Venezuela in S&P Global Platts
- Kobre & Kim’s Women’s Initiative Hosts All-Women Panel on the Recent DOJ Enforcement Trends and Risks They Pose for Latin America
- Evelyn Sheehan on the DOJ’s Challenges in Returning Corrupt Proceeds
- Evelyn Sheehan and Beau Barnes Analyze the DOJ’s Civil Forfeiture Bid Against Iranian Oil En Route to Venezuela
- Evelyn Sheehan on the Criminalization of the Private Client Profession with LegalWeek
- Evelyn Sheehan Discusses the Division of Proceeds of Crime with the American Bankruptcy Institute
- Evelyn Sheehan Discusses FinCEN’s Bolstered Investigation and Enforcement Measures in GIR
- Extradition & Due Process: U.S. Asylum Seekers Are on “Notice” Too
- Evelyn Sheehan Discusses the Challenges of Conducting Internal Investigations
- U.S. Increasingly Enforcing Against India
Professional & Community Involvement
- Yale Law School Association Executive Committee Member
- Yale Law School Alumni Association of South Florida, Steering Committee Member
- International Bar Association, Asset Recovery Subcommittee Member
- Women’s White Collar Defense Association, Monitor/Receiver Initiative and Rankings Initiative Subcommittee Member
- Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Community Outreach Committee Member
- Hispanic National Bar Association, Member
Publications & Presentations
- Presenter, "The Long Arm of the DOJ: The Landscape of U.S. Asset Forfeiture in Brazil" (Family Wealth Report, October 2020)
- Co-author, "Who Owns a Bribe? And Why Should You Care?" ("Business Crime 2021", International Comparative Legal Guides, October 2020)
- Co-author, "The Hong Kong Wealth Shift: Pitfalls for Wealth Professionals and the Ultra-Wealthy" (Law.com International, September 2020)
- Co-author, “DOJ’s Long Arm Over Latin America: Recent Trends and Future Risks From Extraterritorial Application of U.S. Laws” (Anti-Corruption Report, September 2020)
- Speaker, “Anticipation is Essential: Deploying Proactive Strategies to Protect Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals in Central America” (Kobre & Kim, September 2020)
- Speaker, “DOJ’s Enforcement Beyond the U.S.: Recent Trends and Future Risks for Latin America” (Kobre & Kim, August 2020)
- Panelist, “End of the Innocence: Behind bars: The criminalization of the profession and erosion of the attorney-client privilege” (Private Client Forum Americas, Playa del Carmen, February 2020)
- Panelist, “The Bankruptcy Trustee vs. Uncle Sam: Dividing the Proceeds of the Crime” (American Bankruptcy Institute Caribbean Insolvency Symposium, San Juan, February 2020)
- Expert Advisor for Asset Recovery Workshop, World Bank and United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime Stolen Asset Recovery (“STAR”) Initiative (Guatemala City, February 2018)
- Panelist, “Avoiding Turf Wars in Parallel Receiverships and Forfeiture Proceedings” (6th Annual National Association of Federal Equity Receivers (“NAFER”) Conference, Miami, October 2017)
- Case Study: United States v. Scott Rothstein. Maximizing Asset Forfeiture Involving Complex Assets. United States Marshals Service Complex Asset Unit Summit (Washington, D.C., August 2014)
- Case Study: United States v. Alvaro Lopez Tardon. Advanced Money Laundering Seminar at the National Advocacy Center (Columbia, South Carolina 2014)
Credentials
Admissions
- Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Education
- Yale Law School (J.D., May 2002) (Yale Journal of International Law, Submissions Editor)
- University of Michigan (B.A., May 1999) (High Honors; Phi Beta Kappa)
Languages
- Spanish
Accolades
- Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service (2016)
- Department of Defense Award for Outstanding Investigation (2018)
- National Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Group Award for Outstanding Investigation (2018 and 2016)
- Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity & Efficiency, Task Force Investigative Team Award (2017)
- Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations Chief’s Award for Outstanding Investigation (2017)
- Daily Business Review’s Top 20 Women in Law (2015)
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers in Miami-Dade (2013)
- Daily Business Review’s Most Effective Lawyers Award for Criminal Justice Category- Semifinalist (2010)
Engagements
Government Enforcement Defense
Claim Monetization & Dilution
News
- Evelyn Sheehan Points to a Possible Boost of U.S. Sanctions Enforcement in 2021 with Global Trade Review
- Evelyn Sheehan Explains Recent OFAC Enforcement Actions in Global Trade Review
- The Dark Side of 1782: Defending Against Aggressive U.S. Discovery Actions
- Finding the Unknown: Creating Innovative Strategies to Protect and Recover Assets in Complex Family Disputes
- Wealth Talk: Evelyn Sheehan on the DOJ’s “Long Reach” towards Latin America’s HNWIs
- Andrew Stafford QC and Evelyn Sheehan Ask “Who Owns a Bribe?” in Expert Analysis Chapter for ICLG
- Evelyn Sheehan and Jason Short on the DOJ’s Growing Reach Into Latin America
- John Han, Evelyn Sheehan and Wade Weems on the Risks of Wealthy Hong Kong Individuals’ Moving Assets Abroad
- Kobre & Kim Hosts Webinar on Proactive Strategies to Protect Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals in Central America
- Evelyn Sheehan and Beau Barnes Discuss the U.S. “Sledgehammer” Seizure of Iranian Oil in Global Trade Review
- Evelyn Sheehan Analyzes U.S. Seizure of Iranian Oil Bound for Venezuela in S&P Global Platts
- Kobre & Kim’s Women’s Initiative Hosts All-Women Panel on the Recent DOJ Enforcement Trends and Risks They Pose for Latin America
- Evelyn Sheehan on the DOJ’s Challenges in Returning Corrupt Proceeds
- Evelyn Sheehan and Beau Barnes Analyze the DOJ’s Civil Forfeiture Bid Against Iranian Oil En Route to Venezuela
- Evelyn Sheehan on the Criminalization of the Private Client Profession with LegalWeek
- Evelyn Sheehan Discusses the Division of Proceeds of Crime with the American Bankruptcy Institute
- Evelyn Sheehan Discusses FinCEN’s Bolstered Investigation and Enforcement Measures in GIR
- Extradition & Due Process: U.S. Asylum Seekers Are on “Notice” Too
- Evelyn Sheehan Discusses the Challenges of Conducting Internal Investigations
- U.S. Increasingly Enforcing Against India
Professional & Community Involvement
- Yale Law School Association Executive Committee Member
- Yale Law School Alumni Association of South Florida, Steering Committee Member
- International Bar Association, Asset Recovery Subcommittee Member
- Women’s White Collar Defense Association, Monitor/Receiver Initiative and Rankings Initiative Subcommittee Member
- Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Community Outreach Committee Member
- Hispanic National Bar Association, Member
Publications & Presentations
- Presenter, "The Long Arm of the DOJ: The Landscape of U.S. Asset Forfeiture in Brazil" (Family Wealth Report, October 2020)
- Co-author, "Who Owns a Bribe? And Why Should You Care?" ("Business Crime 2021", International Comparative Legal Guides, October 2020)
- Co-author, "The Hong Kong Wealth Shift: Pitfalls for Wealth Professionals and the Ultra-Wealthy" (Law.com International, September 2020)
- Co-author, “DOJ’s Long Arm Over Latin America: Recent Trends and Future Risks From Extraterritorial Application of U.S. Laws” (Anti-Corruption Report, September 2020)
- Speaker, “Anticipation is Essential: Deploying Proactive Strategies to Protect Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals in Central America” (Kobre & Kim, September 2020)
- Speaker, “DOJ’s Enforcement Beyond the U.S.: Recent Trends and Future Risks for Latin America” (Kobre & Kim, August 2020)
- Panelist, “End of the Innocence: Behind bars: The criminalization of the profession and erosion of the attorney-client privilege” (Private Client Forum Americas, Playa del Carmen, February 2020)
- Panelist, “The Bankruptcy Trustee vs. Uncle Sam: Dividing the Proceeds of the Crime” (American Bankruptcy Institute Caribbean Insolvency Symposium, San Juan, February 2020)
- Expert Advisor for Asset Recovery Workshop, World Bank and United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime Stolen Asset Recovery (“STAR”) Initiative (Guatemala City, February 2018)
- Panelist, “Avoiding Turf Wars in Parallel Receiverships and Forfeiture Proceedings” (6th Annual National Association of Federal Equity Receivers (“NAFER”) Conference, Miami, October 2017)
- Case Study: United States v. Scott Rothstein. Maximizing Asset Forfeiture Involving Complex Assets. United States Marshals Service Complex Asset Unit Summit (Washington, D.C., August 2014)
- Case Study: United States v. Alvaro Lopez Tardon. Advanced Money Laundering Seminar at the National Advocacy Center (Columbia, South Carolina 2014)