Lankler Siffert & Wohl LLP is proud to announce that Michael D. Longyear has joined the firm as partner, after nearly seven years of public service as a federal prosecutor in New York City.

Michael rejoins LSW following his service as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), for which he received numerous recognitions and awards. As an AUSA, Michael supervised scores of Assistant U.S. Attorneys and oversaw dozens of jury trials, most recently as Chief of the SDNY’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit, and prior to that as Co-Chief of the Narcotics Unit. Michael tried six jury trials and argued several appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He has personally prosecuted or supervised hundreds of cases involving a range of criminal offenses, including racketeering, financial crimes, violent crimes, and narcotics trafficking. In his supervisory capacity, Michael served as one of SDNY’s primary liaisons with various federal and state agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the New York City Police Department. 

Michael’s prosecutorial experience includes the investigation of matters involving fraud, RICO and other complex multi-defendant conspiracies, money laundering, asset seizure, forfeiture, and cryptocurrency. Michael interacted frequently with foreign law enforcement agencies on cross-border investigations and issues relating to fugitives and extradition proceedings.

Michael has received the True American Hero Award from the Federal Drug Agents Foundation and was previously named Federal Prosecutor of the Year by the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation.

At LSW, Michael will handle criminal, regulatory, and commercial matters. “I am thrilled to rejoin my colleagues at LSW—it feels like coming home,” he said. “I am honored to work alongside such skillful advocates on behalf of our clients.”

The firm is delighted that Michael has returned. He is a dynamic, strategic, and practical lawyer with a broad skill set that has been strengthened and honed through his government experience. The addition of Michael to LSW will benefit our clients and contribute to our team-oriented approach to confronting the most challenging legal issues. 

Prior to serving at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Michael was an associate at LSW, where he represented individuals in white collar and regulatory investigations.  He previously clerked for the Honorable Dennis Jacobs of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Honorable Loretta A. Preska of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Michael earned his J.D. magna cum laude from Fordham University School of Law and his B.A. magna cum laude from Georgetown University.