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.


Events March 18, 2015

William McGovern Discusses U.S. Enforcement Against Tax Evaders and Potential Risks in Asia

William McGovern, member of the firm’s Government Enforcement Defense team in Hong Kong, presented to a group of wealth managers and tax planners an update on recent U.S. enforcement relating to tax evasion and what could be next for Asia.  

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Accolades March 2, 2015

Kobre & Kim Listed Among Top 10 Firms to Watch in Asia

Asian Legal Business (ALB), one of Asia’s most prominent legal publications, featured Kobre & Kim as one of the top 10 law firms to watch in Asia in 2015, which are smaller in size in the region but “big in potential.” 

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Firm News February 18, 2015

Kobre & Kim Strengthens Asia Investigation Team With Another Former U.S. Government Lawyer in the Hong Kong Office

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Vasu Muthyala who joins the firm’s Asia Government Enforcement Defense team.

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Publications February 17, 2015

William McGovern Discusses Potential Legal Risks Chinese Companies Face When Doing Business in the U.S.

In this article, Hong Kong-based lawyer William McGovern explores the legal risks many Chinese companies face when endeavoring to grow their business in the U.S.

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Accolades February 13, 2015

Kobre & Kim Recognized by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2015

In the latest Chambers Asia-Pacific annual rankings for law firms and individual lawyers, Kobre & Kim’s Asia team received recognition for its insolvency and corporate investigations work.  

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Accolades February 12, 2015

Kobre & Kim Lawyers Recognized as Top Investigations and Business Crime Defense Lawyers by the Publishers of Global Investigations Review

Michael Kim, Steven Kobre, William McGovern, and Roger Burlingame of Kobre & Kim’s Government Enforcement Defense team have been recognized as leading lawyers this year in the areas of Business Crime Defense and Investigations by the publishers of the Global Investigations Review.

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Publications December 17, 2014

Robert Henoch Explains Why the Pressure Is On for Israeli Banks

In a Law360 article, former federal prosecutor Robert Henoch examines how the ongoing and aggressive effort by the U.S. government to extinguish international tax evasion by U.S. citizens is now focused squarely on Israel and its financial institutions.

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Publications November 17, 2014

Steven Kobre Discusses Privilege in Cross-Border Investigations With the New York Law Journal

In this article, Steven Kobre and Leanne Bortner discuss how these privilege issues come into play in cross-border investigations and which steps should be taken to assess local privilege laws and avoid inadvertent waivers of privilege.

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Accolades November 6, 2014

Matthew Menchel Named Litigator of the Week

Kobre & Kim would like to congratulate Matthew Menchel and Freshfields' Aaron Marcu on being named "Litigators of the Week" by The American Lawyer.

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Firm News November 3, 2014

Kobre & Kim Achieves Landmark Acquittal for Raoul Weil, Former UBS Executive Accused of US $20 Billion Tax Evasion

In a major victory for the defense team, Raoul Weil, the highest-ranking Swiss banker to stand trial in the U.S., was acquitted by a federal jury on all charges of conspiring with wealthy Americans to hide US $20 billion in secret offshore accounts.

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Publications September 3, 2014

Kobre & Kim Analyzes Korean Government's Attempts to Find and Seize Assets Hidden Abroad

In this article, Kobre & Kim analyzes the remedies available to international creditors attempting to find and seize assets hidden outside of Korea.

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Publications August 12, 2014

Kobre & Kim Tackles Korean Company and U.S. Legal Risk in Preserving Documents

When must a company take steps to preserve its own documents that may serve as evidence in a lawsuit? In the U.S., the answer is well-known, though counterintuitive: before the litigation begins, when the prospect of litigation is present.

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Accolades June 26, 2014

Legal 500 Announces Kobre & Kim as a Nationwide Leader in White-Collar Criminal Defense

This year’s Legal 500 U.S. rankings included high praise for Kobre & Kim’s government enforcement defense team, ranking the firm and several partners as one of the top U.S. White-Collar Criminal Defense firms nationwide.

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Publications June 11, 2014

Kobre & Kim’s Korea Litigation Team Discusses the Effectives of U.S. Tax Enforcement on Korean Banks

In this article, Kobre & Kim discusses how the implementation of Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act will change and affect the dynamic between Korean financial institutions and their clients.

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Publications June 11, 2014

William McGovern Discusses Asia’s Increased Focus on Global Banking Investigations in The Wall Street Journal

William F. McGovern discusses how and, more importantly, where Asian regulatory investigations will affect internationally based financial institutions.

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