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Leif T. Simonson photo
Leif T. Simonson
Lawyer
New York
800 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
+1 212 488 1248
leif.simonson@kobrekim.com
vCard Download 
New York
800 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
+1 212 488 1248
leif.simonson@kobrekim.com
vCard Download 

Leif Simonson represents individual and corporate clients in high-stakes disputes, often involving significant cross-border elements. With extensive experience in both civil and criminal matters involving a variety of complex financial products and services, Mr. Simonson is increasingly called upon to assist clients in asset recovery projects (including monetizing large money judgments and arbitration awards) on a multijurisdictional basis, as well as to defend clients against civil and criminal asset forfeiture.

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr. Simonson practiced with Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP and Faegre Baker Daniels LLP.

SERVICES

Admissions

  • New York
  • Minnesota
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
  • Executive Office for Immigration Review

Education

  • Harvard Law School, JD
    (Harvard Law Review, Notes Editor)
  • Harvard College, BA
SERVICES

Select Engagements

International Judgment Enforcement & Offshore Asset Recovery

  • Representation of DuPont in enforcing a US $920 million judgment against Kolon Industries, a Korean conglomerate operating in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
  • Representation of a global energy corporation in response to a subpoena issued by an Asian bank in its efforts to enforce a money judgment against a sovereign government.

Government Enforcement Defense

  • Representation of Miami-based distributor of electronic equipment servicing Latin American market in civil asset forfeiture case alleging use of distributor’s account for money laundering in connection with black market peso exchange and successful release of frozen client funds.
  • Representation of former certified public accountant in resolving a dispute concerning repayment of the large restitution order and attempts to garnish assets in connection with a prior conviction for wire fraud.
  • Representation of Chinese national charged with wire fraud in connection with alleged unauthorized trades in commodities futures on behalf of propriety trading firm based in New York.
  • Representation of Tongsun Park, a well-known international lobbyist in connection with a prosecution and asset forfeiture charges arising out of the United Nations Oil for Food investigations.
  • Under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act of 2016 (“PROMESA”), service as an independent investigator to the Special Investigation Committee of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico to perform a comprehensive review of the factors contributing to Puerto Rico's fiscal crisis.
  • Representation of Brian Hunter, the former co-head of energy trading at Amaranth, a US $9 billion hedge fund, in connection with regulatory enforcement litigation against the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
  • Representation of a former partner at KPMG in connection with the highly-publicized U.S. Department of Justice prosecution of the alleged fraudulent design and marketing of tax shelter products involving more US $2 billion+ of disputed tax liabilities.
  • Representation of a Bermuda-based client in connection with investigations into insurance industry accounting practices by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the New York State Attorney General's Office.
  • Representation of a high-level executive in an enforcement action brought against him by the SEC alleging securities fraud.
  • Representation of the former partner of an international accounting firm as a witness in litigation relating to tax recovery in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Financial Products & Services Litigation

  • Representation of major Fortune 500 public company in several securities fraud class actions relating to its accounting and a $1.9 billion restatement of revenue.
  • Representation of a former director of an electronic gaming casino-supplier in defense against a class action alleging violations of securities laws related to the collapse of the company, which is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
  • Representation of a number of public companies and their officers and directors in numerous derivative and class action suits arising out of mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity refinancing, leveraged buyouts and going private transactions.
  • Representation of a special committee of the Board of a Fortune 100 company in conducting an investigation in response to a shareholder demand alleging breach of fiduciary duty.
  • Representation of a European investment bank in a dispute against JPMorgan Chase arising from the collapse of a US $2 billion credit facility.
  • Representation of several large corporate clients in securities fraud claims against multiple institutional banks in connection with their marketing of auction rate securities.
  • Representation of a major financial institution in opposing claim objection by Lehman Brothers Holdings.
  • Representation of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) trustees in numerous litigations asserting breaches of representations and warranties in connection with residential mortgage-backed securitizations.
  • Representation of hedge funds in a dispute involving investments in collateral debt obligations (CDO) backed by real estate loans, commercial mortgage-backed securities and other debt obligations.
  • Representation of a hedge fund in several adversary proceedings relating to bankruptcies resulting from the arrest and conviction of Tom Petters for a US $3 billion Ponzi scheme.
 

Professional & Community Involvement

  • American Bar Association, Section of International Law, Co-Chair of International Litigation Committee
  • Federal Bar Association, Member
SERVICES

Credentials

Admissions

  • New York
  • Minnesota
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
  • Executive Office for Immigration Review

Education

  • Harvard Law School, JD
    (Harvard Law Review, Notes Editor)
  • Harvard College, BA

Engagements

International Judgment Enforcement & Offshore Asset Recovery

  • Representation of DuPont in enforcing a US $920 million judgment against Kolon Industries, a Korean conglomerate operating in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
  • Representation of a global energy corporation in response to a subpoena issued by an Asian bank in its efforts to enforce a money judgment against a sovereign government.

Government Enforcement Defense

  • Representation of Miami-based distributor of electronic equipment servicing Latin American market in civil asset forfeiture case alleging use of distributor’s account for money laundering in connection with black market peso exchange and successful release of frozen client funds.
  • Representation of former certified public accountant in resolving a dispute concerning repayment of the large restitution order and attempts to garnish assets in connection with a prior conviction for wire fraud.
  • Representation of Chinese national charged with wire fraud in connection with alleged unauthorized trades in commodities futures on behalf of propriety trading firm based in New York.
  • Representation of Tongsun Park, a well-known international lobbyist in connection with a prosecution and asset forfeiture charges arising out of the United Nations Oil for Food investigations.
  • Under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act of 2016 (“PROMESA”), service as an independent investigator to the Special Investigation Committee of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico to perform a comprehensive review of the factors contributing to Puerto Rico's fiscal crisis.
  • Representation of Brian Hunter, the former co-head of energy trading at Amaranth, a US $9 billion hedge fund, in connection with regulatory enforcement litigation against the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
  • Representation of a former partner at KPMG in connection with the highly-publicized U.S. Department of Justice prosecution of the alleged fraudulent design and marketing of tax shelter products involving more US $2 billion+ of disputed tax liabilities.
  • Representation of a Bermuda-based client in connection with investigations into insurance industry accounting practices by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the New York State Attorney General's Office.
  • Representation of a high-level executive in an enforcement action brought against him by the SEC alleging securities fraud.
  • Representation of the former partner of an international accounting firm as a witness in litigation relating to tax recovery in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Financial Products & Services Litigation

  • Representation of major Fortune 500 public company in several securities fraud class actions relating to its accounting and a $1.9 billion restatement of revenue.
  • Representation of a former director of an electronic gaming casino-supplier in defense against a class action alleging violations of securities laws related to the collapse of the company, which is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
  • Representation of a number of public companies and their officers and directors in numerous derivative and class action suits arising out of mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity refinancing, leveraged buyouts and going private transactions.
  • Representation of a special committee of the Board of a Fortune 100 company in conducting an investigation in response to a shareholder demand alleging breach of fiduciary duty.
  • Representation of a European investment bank in a dispute against JPMorgan Chase arising from the collapse of a US $2 billion credit facility.
  • Representation of several large corporate clients in securities fraud claims against multiple institutional banks in connection with their marketing of auction rate securities.
  • Representation of a major financial institution in opposing claim objection by Lehman Brothers Holdings.
  • Representation of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) trustees in numerous litigations asserting breaches of representations and warranties in connection with residential mortgage-backed securitizations.
  • Representation of hedge funds in a dispute involving investments in collateral debt obligations (CDO) backed by real estate loans, commercial mortgage-backed securities and other debt obligations.
  • Representation of a hedge fund in several adversary proceedings relating to bankruptcies resulting from the arrest and conviction of Tom Petters for a US $3 billion Ponzi scheme.

Professional & Community Involvement

  • American Bar Association, Section of International Law, Co-Chair of International Litigation Committee
  • Federal Bar Association, Member