Regarded as one of Manhattan’s top white collar lawyers, Theresa routinely represents senior executives, business owners, financial services professionals, and skillfully defends them in criminal investigations, prosecutions, and proceedings before regulatory agencies such as the SEC, the FDIC, FINRA, the New York Attorney General’s Office, and the CFTC. She also conducts internal investigations on behalf of businesses, nonprofit organizations, and municipalities. Her cases involve securities and cryptocurrency fraud; public corruption; money laundering; health care, accounting, tax, and insurance fraud; antitrust violations; Ponzi schemes; OFAC violations; embezzlement; and improper trading practices such as insider trading and market manipulation.

Theresa also represents corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and individuals in federal and state courts as well as international and domestic arbitrations. She litigates a range of commercial cases, from securities and other class action litigation to contract matters and partnership disputes, with particular emphasis on matters involving complex financial transactions. She is also highly experienced in #MeToo cases, representing both plaintiffs and defendants alike in matters involving allegations of sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and discrimination.

Praised by clients and peers as “tenacious” and “unflappable,” Theresa is recognized in Chambers USA as a lawyer who “can really build a relationship with clients” and who “can gain their trust and help them navigate very difficult situations.”

Experience

• Defending the Former Governor of the State of New York: Currently representing former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in high-profile federal and state lawsuits alleging sexual harassment.
• Defending former financial institution executives: Currently representing several former senior financial institution employees in connection with FDIC and SEC investigations.
• Bankruptcy court proceedings with $1 billion at stake: Represented Lynn Tilton and her Patriarch entities in various adversary proceedings in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The litigations involved complex distressed debt fund structures, investments in various portfolio companies across the country, and questions about collateral management and fiduciary duties.
• Avoiding incarceration for sports stars: Represented Chuck Person and Darius Miles, two former NBA players, in unrelated federal prosecutions. As a result of Theresa’s highly compelling sentencing submission in each case, the clients both received probation instead of the lengthy prison sentences sought by the government.
• Achieving success where others have failed: Represented two clients in unrelated disputes with their former business partners, taking over from a prominent national law firm that had failed to produce results. In both cases, Theresa’s skilled use of the discovery process allowed her to develop powerful litigation themes and prove her clients’ claims, leading to significant pretrial financial settlements for her clients.
• Clearing a financial services client’s name: Represented the former accounting director for a leading consumer financial services company in connection with an SEC enforcement action in the Southern District of New York (SDNY). The SEC alleged that the client had engaged in various intentional violations of the federal securities laws, including accounting fraud. Theresa was able to resolve the SEC matter on terms that made clear her client had not engaged in intentional wrongdoing. Separately, the DOJ brought criminal charges against this client’s former colleagues in the Southern District of Florida. While both defendants were convicted, Theresa’s advocacy resulted in no charges for her client.

Other notable work includes:

White Collar

• Represented financial institution employees in investigations relating to OFAC violations and anti-money laundering compliance issues, and in related civil litigation.
• Represented a senior bond trader in connection with a CFTC investigation into bid rigging and market manipulation.
• Represented ratings agency employees in DOJ investigations relating to RMBS models and ratings.
• Represented a private banker in Switzerland in connection with a DOJ tax evasion investigation.
• Conducted an investigation on behalf of a municipal government into undisclosed conflicts of interest and financial improprieties.
• Represented a chief financial officer in connection with an SEC accounting fraud investigation.
• Represented a former hedge fund manager in multiple civil lawsuits related to mortgage-backed securities investments.
• Represented brokers in multiple civil cases related to tax fraud allegations.
• Defended a national media company in putative class action under the Telephone Communications Protection Act.
• Represented hedge funds in connection with SEC investigations into possible securities law violations.
• Represented an individual in connection with an SDNY insurance fraud investigation.
• Represented securities brokers in a FINRA insider trading investigation.

Commercial and Securities Litigation

• Represented the former executive of a tech startup in connection with civil fraud claims brought by investors.
• Represented a litigation finance company in connection with a dispute with claimant.
• Represented the owner of a skilled nursing facilities business in connection with a dispute with former partners.
• Represented former officers and directors of financial institutions in lawsuits relating to mortgage-backed securities investments.
• Represented a major financial institution in an arbitration relating to an investment in a prominent New York real estate brokerage company.
• Counseled future claimants’ representative in a large asbestos personal injury trust.
• Represented a corporate client in a private arbitration related to substantial investments in principal protected notes.