A creative advocate deeply committed to her clients, Anna defends individuals and organizations in high-stakes white collar and criminal matters. She provides strategic representation at every stage of the case, from initial contact with law enforcement through trial, sentencing, and appeal. For individuals who are being investigated but not charged, she creates pathways through the process to avoid charges entirely. When clients are prosecuted criminally, Anna develops innovative and cutting-edge legal arguments that consistently result in positive outcomes, including charges being dismissed altogether and, where unavoidable, reduced charges and favorable sentencing outcomes.
Anna has handled a wide range of complex matters, and her practice includes defending individuals and businesses against accusations of mail and wire fraud, tax fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, health care fraud, sexual assault, extortion, immigration-related offenses, and other serious crimes. She has tried multiple federal criminal cases, and consistently achieves favorable results for her clients. Anna has particular expertise with respect to restitution and forfeiture, and has repeatedly succeeded in drastically reducing the financial impact of her client’s criminal convictions. She also represents individuals and entities in sensitive regulatory and internal investigations, as well as in complex commercial disputes.
Anna has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers since 2021. She also maintains an active pro bono and indigent defense practice. A former federal defender, she was recently selected to serve on the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the Southern District of New York.
Experience
- Defending Sean Combs. Anna represents Sean Combs as a member of his all-star criminal defense team.
- Secured full acquittal in the Southern District of New York. Anna and partner Justine Harris were appointed pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act to defend an indigent client against the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. They scored an early victory in the case, persuading the judge to suppress statements obtained in violation of Miranda v. Arizona. At trial, Anna and Justine conducted vigorous cross-examinations of the government’s law enforcement and forensic expert witnesses, and the jury returned a not guilty verdict after less than two hours of deliberation.
- Avoiding immigration consequences. When immigration consequences are a concern, Anna creates pathways to avoid deportation. She represented a non-citizen charged with cyberstalking and extortion and succeeded in negotiating to have charges dropped to non-deportable offense, resulting in the client’s successful VAWA petition and path to citizenship. For another client, Anna secured a path to U.S. citizenship and dismissal of federal charges.
- Persuading judges when it matters most. Anna frequently convinces judges to impose probation or other non-prison sentences by changing the narrative at sentencing. She obtained a sentence of home detention and probation for an individual facing sentencing for a $9 million tax fraud scheme. For a client facing sentencing for importing synthetic cannabinoids, she convinced the government to reduce the charge to a petty offense misdemeanor and secured a probationary sentence.
- Mitigating financial consequences. Anna’s in-depth knowledge of restitution and forfeiture regularly results in dramatic reduction of financial consequences. In connection with her representation of a soccer leader in the FIFA corruption scandal, Anna successfully fought back against the government’s attempt to collect sizable restitution. She also successfully opposed the government’s request for over $13 million in restitution and forfeiture from a doctor in a health care fraud case in the Southern District of New York.
- Winning on appeal. Anna has won appellate reversals in the Courts of Appeals for the Second and Ninth Circuits. Her success stems from deep intellectual engagement and ability to navigate complex legal issues.
Other notable work includes:
- Represented private equity fund’s chief compliance officer in wire fraud prosecution related to alleged ponzi scheme.
- Represented professional accused of sexual misconduct.
- Represented former law enforcement officer charged in federal court; successfully advocated for probationary sentence.
- Represented executive in cross-border SEC enforcement action.
- Represented litigation finance company in connection with a dispute with a claimant; obtained an arbitration award (and confirmation of such award) in the full amount of recovery sought, plus legal fees and interest.
- Represented investment advisers in FINRA matters.
Recognitions
Rising Star in Criminal Defense: White Collar, Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers (2021-2024)