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 January 25, 2021

Benjamin Sirota, Daniel Zaheer and Michael Ng on the Intersection of Antitrust and Intellectual Property

Though often perceived as opposing forces, antitrust and intellectual property (IP) law are now converging in courtrooms around the world. How can in-house and general counsel navigate cases where one must balance free competition with limited monopolies? Kobre & Kim lawyers Benjamin Sirota, Daniel Zaheer and Michael Ng, discussed the intersection of IP and antitrust with Richard Levick in the first episode of the In House Warrior podcast’s three part “Antitrust” series.

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Accolades January 22, 2021

Kobre & Kim Featured on U.S.-Israel Legal Review’s Israel Desks League Tables 2020

Kobre & Kim has been featured among the top international law firms that are deeply involved and knowledgeable in the Israeli market, as ranked by the U.S.-Israel Legal Review’s Israel Desks League Tables 2020.

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Publications January 22, 2021

Polly Wilkins Analyzes How U.S. May Extend AML Regulations into Antiquities Market in The Wall Street Journal

The U.S. Treasury Department is set to extend anti-money laundering (AML) regulations to the antiquities market. Kobre & Kim’s Polly Wilkins, who focuses on representing ultra-high-net-worth individuals in international disputes, analyzed what may happen when she sat down with The Wall Street Journal.

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Events January 20, 2021

Benjamin Sirota to be Program Chair for New York State Bar Association Antitrust Section Annual Meeting

Kobre & Kim’s Benjamin Sirota will serve as program chair for the New York State Bar Association Antitrust Section’s Annual Meeting—a forum to discuss the latest developments in the increasingly-relevant field of antitrust law. The Annual Meeting events will be held on January 21, 22 and 25, 2021.

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Publications January 14, 2021

Evelyn Sheehan Points to a Possible Boost of U.S. Sanctions Enforcement in 2021 with Global Trade Review

As companies try to predict U.S. sanctions trends in 2021 by looking at enforcement activity last year, they may be tempted to see a downward trend. However, Kobre & Kim’s Evelyn Sheehan cautions against this conclusion when she sat down with Global Trade Review.

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Publications January 11, 2021

Nicholas Surmacz Evaluates New U.S. Powers to Subpoena Foreign Banks in GIR

The recent National Defense Authorization Act significantly expands the scope of foreign bank records U.S. authorities can subpoena, allowing them to track money outside the U.S., Kobre & Kim’s Nicholas Surmacz told Global Investigations Review

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Publications January 7, 2021

Wade Weems Analyzes the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act for the Anti-Corruption Report

The expected adoption of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act by the U.S. adds yet another tool in its increasingly confrontational posture against China, adding pressure to both Chinese and U.S. companies, Kobre & Kim’s Wade Weems and William Weightman wrote in the Anti-Corruption Report.

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Publications January 7, 2021

Nicholas Surmacz Unpacks the New Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Rewards Act in Law360

As a new Attorney General is set to take the helm under the Biden administration, newly enacted laws provide the U.S. Department of Justice with new tools to fight foreign corruption. Kobre & Kim’s Nicholas Surmacz sat down with Law360 to analyze one of those tools.

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Publications January 7, 2021

Evelyn Sheehan Explains Recent OFAC Enforcement Actions in Global Trade Review

A French bank’s settlement with the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) over sanctions breaches is “a good example of ‘bread and butter’ sanctions enforcement by OFAC,” Kobre & Kim’s Evelyn Sheehan told Global Trade Review in her analysis of the case.

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Publications January 6, 2021

Sean Buckley Analyzes Sanctions Risks for U.S. Data Firm Linked to QAnon and Hamas Websites

After revelations that QAnon and 8chan conspiracy websites were hosted by a Hamas-linked firm that relies on a data center in the U.S., Kobre & Kim’s Sean Buckley spoke with investigative reporter Brian Krebs’ blog, KrebsOnSecurity, to analyze the potential legal ramifications for U.S.-based companies tied to designated terrorist organizations.

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Publications January 4, 2021

David McGill on the CFTC’s Policy Agenda in 2021

With the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) expected to come under Democratic leadership in 2021, Kobre & Kim’s David McGill told Law360 what he expects the regulator’s policy agenda to look like in the new year.

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Publications January 4, 2021

Wade Weems Discusses Enduring U.S.-China Conflict Over TikTok in the South China Morning Post

Tech will remain one of the critical battlegrounds between the U.S. and China in 2021, even as a new administration is set to take office in the U.S. Kobre & Kim’s Shanghai-based Wade Weems spoke with the South China Morning Post on one of clashes that will continue into this year.

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Accolades December 18, 2020

Chambers and Partners Again Recognizes Kobre & Kim as Top International Law Firm in Korea and China for 2021

Chambers and Partners has once again recognized Kobre & Kim as among the top international law firms in South Korea and in China for 2021.

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Accolades December 3, 2020

Kobre & Kim Makes the GIR 100 for 5th Consecutive Year

For the fifth consecutive year running, Kobre & Kim has made the Global Investigations Review (GIR) 100 as one of the world’s leading law firms to handle cross-border investigations.

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Publications November 30, 2020

Wade Weems and Calvin Koo Look at the First Few Months of Hong Kong’s National Security Law in China Business Review

Five months since the promulgation of the Hong Kong national security law, legal and commercial uncertainty for U.S. businesses in the territory is still high. As most international companies continue a “wait and see” approach, Kobre & Kim’s Wade Weems and Calvin Koo examine the current and coming risks facing them in an article for the U.S. China Business Council’s China Business Review.

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