Government Enforcement Defense

Our trial lawyers have extensive experience aggressively defending clients in high-profile cases against the government. Our criminal and regulatory practice is primarily cross-border, often involving simultaneous investigations by law enforcement authorities in several countries. We are one of the only firms with former U.S. prosecutors permanently stationed in offices in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.


Publications June 24, 2021

Benjamin Sauter, Evelyn Sheehan and Amanda Tuminelli in Brave New Coin: Fighting the U.S. Government in Crypto Cases

The U.S. government relies on an aggressive playbook to police digital asset markets. With the IRS recently serving subpoenas on two major cryptocurrency exchanges to identify users, individuals with substantial digital-asset wealth should understand the playbook from front to back to protect their liberty and wealth. Kobre & Kim’s Benjamin Sauter, Evelyn Sheehan and Amanda Tuminelli outline how they can defend themselves in an article for Brave New Coin.

Read More

Events June 22, 2021

Kobre & Kim Joins Latin America Digital Asset Recovery Panel with Pinheiro Neto Advogados, TozziniFreire and Chainalysis, Inc.

The cryptocurrency boom and lagging government regulations are colliding in Latin America, exposing digital assets to fraudulent activity. Kobre & Kim and the Brazilian Chamber of Digital Commerce will discuss recovering misappropriated assets at the co-hosted webinar, “How to Trace and Recover Cryptoassets,” on June 24, 2021 at 10:00 AM ET / 11:00 AM BRT.

Read More

Publications June 17, 2021

Benjamin Sauter Examines Miami as a Digital Currency Hub in Cointelegraph

With the recent hosting of the Bitcoin 2021 conference, the sprinkling of bitcoin ATMs in the city and even the mayor’s proposal to accept taxes paid in digital currency, could Miami become a digital currency hub? Kobre & Kim’s Benjamin Sauter shared his thoughts when he recently spoke with Cointelegraph.

Read More

Publications June 14, 2021

Calvin Koo Speaks With Financial Times on the Risks of HNWIs Allocating Investments into Digital Currency

The meteoric rise of bitcoin and other digital currencies have made millionaires out of early investors and are attracting many ultra-high-net-worth (UHWN) individuals to join the fray. Kobre & Kim’s Calvin Koo recently sat down with the Financial Times to discuss the trend and the risks.

Read More

Publications June 14, 2021

Michael Kim and Daniel Lee Detail South Korean Extradition Laws for Global Investigations Review

Writing in Global Investigations Review’s “GIR Know How: Extradition” guide, Kobre & Kim’s founding partner Michael Kim and Seoul-based lawyer Daniel Lee detail the current landscape and legal requirements for extradition from South Korea.

Read More

Publications June 14, 2021

William McGovern and Chang Liu on Obtaining Post-COVID-19 Vaccination Compassionate Release in New York Law Journal

The high risk of COVID-19 infection and death in U.S. federal prisons has led to a wave of court decisions granting prisoners compassionate release under the 2018 First Step Act (FSA). However, with the proliferation of highly effective vaccines, is this door now closed? Pointing to a recent case, Kobre & Kim’s William McGovern and Chang Liu say not yet in an article for New York Law Journal.

Read More

Events June 9, 2021

Jonathan Cogan and Benjamin Sauter To Share Commodities and Derivatives Enforcement Defense Strategies at Chicago Bar Association Event

American commodities and derivatives regulators, including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as well as the U.S. Department of Justice, have in recent years taken increasingly aggressive stances against traders, a trend that shows no sign of stopping.

Read More

Publications June 1, 2021

Robin Baik & Daniel Lee Unpack Korea’s Anti-Money Laundering Regime in 2021

Writing in a chapter of the International Comparative Legal Guide’s “Anti-Money Laundering 2021,” Kobre & Kim’s Robin Baik and Daniel Lee, both based in Seoul, explore the landscape of anti-money laundering laws and regulations in Korea.

Read More

Publications May 24, 2021

Could NFTs Trigger AML Regulation? Benjamin Sauter, Melisa Ortes Gonzalez and Lara Levinson Examine in Forkast News

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are the latest digital technology trend, but they may not be beyond regulatory oversight. Kobre & Kim’s Benjamin Sauter, Melisa Ortes Gonzalez and Lara Levinson unpack the potential traps in an article for Forkast News.

Read More

Publications May 18, 2021

Benjamin Sauter in WIRED: Can a Tweet be Considered Market Manipulation?

Tesla founder Elon Musk’s tweets have the power to send bitcoin prices crashing and Dogecoin prices soaring. But with Tesla sitting on a pile of bitcoin, some are asking whether Musk’s tweets amount to illegal manipulation.

Read More

Accolades May 18, 2021

Hartley West Recognized in GIR Women in Investigations 2021

In its most geographically diverse survey to date, Kobre & Kim’s Hartley M.K. West has been recognized as one of 100 exceptional women in the field of white-collar crime as part of the Global Investigations Review (GIR) 2021 Women in Investigations survey.

Read More

Firm News May 14, 2021

Kobre & Kim Lawyers Part of Inaugural Class of Brazil-U.S. 40 and Under White-Collar Lawyers Initiative

Kobre & Kim is proud to have five of our lawyers, Benjamin Sirota, Martin De Luca, Carolina Leung, Melisa Ortes Gonzalez and Scott Nielson, as members of the inaugural class of the Brazil-U.S. 40 and Under White-Collar Lawyers Initiative.

Read More

Events May 11, 2021

Evelyn Sheehan Joins PLI Panel on Foreign Corruption and Money Laundering Risks for Professionals

It may surprise some to learn that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is involved in prosecuting corruption schemes committed entirely abroad, as corrupt proceeds often flow into the U.S. All this presents risks for professionals involved in moving money. As part of the Practising Law Institute (PLI) “Anti-Money Laundering 2021: Risks, Due Diligence and Compliance in an Evolving Legal World” program, Kobre & Kim’s Evelyn Sheehan will untangle the complexities in a virtual panel on May 11, 12:00 pm New York time.

Read More

Publications April 23, 2021

Benjamin Sirota Discusses U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Against the U.S. Federal Trade Commission

In a recent opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) does not have the authority to directly seek monetary relief. Kobre & Kim’s Benjamin Sirota sat down with Global Competition Review to comment on one notable aspect of the court’s opinion.

Read More

Publications April 22, 2021

Former DOJ Prosecutor Michael Sherwin Discusses Move to Kobre & Kim with Law360

In a recent interview with Law360 marking his start at the firm, Kobre & Kim’s Michael Sherwin, a former top U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutor, explained the reasons for his move to private practice from prosecution to defense, as well as the global trends this move allows him to capitalize on.

Read More

Loading