Described by Chambers USA as “willing to go to the ends of the earth for her clients,” Helen has a proven track record of successfully defending executives and financial institutions in regulatory enforcement, white collar criminal, and complex commercial matters. She is a central figure in the New York legal community, having been recognized as a national star in white collar litigation by publications including Benchmark Litigation, Chambers USA and Super Lawyers.

The clients Helen represents range from law firms to international corporations, as well as  chief executive officers, chief financial officers, compliance officers, lawyers, public accountants, investment bankers, portfolio managers, analysts, traders, and executives in a wide variety of industries.

Helen’s “well-regarded practice regularly sees her representing individuals and companies from an array of industry sectors in high-stakes criminal proceedings” (Chambers USA). She brings to bear extensive experience “across a range of criminal defense and regulatory enforcement mandates” (Chambers USA), including investigations and actions brought by the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Federal Reserve Board Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation, the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the New York State Attorney General, and various other federal and state authorities. Those matters have involved allegations of securities fraud, banking and other financial fraud, auditor misconduct, insider trading, market manipulation, earnings management, mismarking of positions, improprieties in the sale of various forms of securities (including municipal securities, auction rate securities, mortgage-backed securities, and derivative products), mail and wire fraud, FCPA violations, False Claims Act violations, environmental law violations, antitrust violations, false statements, obstruction of justice, and obstruction of Congress.

In her active civil practice, Helen counsels and represents individuals and institutions in matters involving claims of securities fraud, banking and other financial fraud, RICO violations, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, attorney misconduct, and defamation.

Held in esteem as counselor and advocate,  Helen has also served as a court-appointed receiver and trustee in SEC enforcement actions and related bankruptcy proceedings and as a member of a court-appointed independent hearing committee in a labor racketeering action.

Clients benefit from Helen’s extensive experience interacting with government authorities.  She has seen criminal and regulatory cases from every angle, having served earlier in her career as a senior federal criminal prosecutor as well as Chief Appellate Attorney in the Southern District of New York. 

A frequent lecturer on criminal and civil law topics, Helen has contributed her insights at programs sponsored by the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Federal Bar Council, and various business and law schools.

Show More +