Karen Patton Seymour is the head of Sullivan & Cromwell's Criminal Defense and Investigations Group. Her practice focuses on white-collar criminal defense and internal investigations. She also represents clients in complex federal and state civil litigation.
She has represented individuals, corporations, and financial institutions in state and federal investigations and proceedings involving allegations of:
- securities fraud
- insider trading
- violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
- OFAC sanctions
- healthcare fraud
- criminal antitrust violations
Ms. Seymour has tried numerous jury and bench trials in federal court and argued many appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
She has in-depth experience representing corporations and individuals outside of the United States in responding to U.S. inquiries and investigations.
Ms. Seymour is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, two U.S. Courts of Appeal, and the Court of Federal Claims, as well as the New York State Courts and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
Government Service
From 2002-2004, Ms. Seymour served as the chief of the Criminal Division for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where she supervised 165 federal prosecutors and oversaw all criminal investigations and prosecutions in the district, including the investigations of corporate fraud involving WorldCom, ImClone and Adelphia. She was lead trial counsel for the government in the prosecution of Martha Stewart and Peter Bacanovic.
During her first tenure in the U.S. Attorney's Office from 1990 to 1996, she prosecuted a wide variety of cases and served as Chief of the General Crimes Unit.
Professional Activities and Community Involvement
- Departmental Disciplinary Committee Member, Supreme Court Appellate Division, First Department
- Board Member, Vera Institute of Justice
- Chair, Board of Trustees and New York State Board Member, The Nature Conservancy's Mashomack Preserve in Shelter Island, New York
- Board Member, Legal Services New York City
- Frequent lecturer on business ethics, corporate fraud, internal investigations, securities enforcement and other topics
Rankings and Recognitions
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business – recognized as a Leading Litigator in White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) and in Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Regulatory Enforcement & Investigations) (2007, 2008, 2009)
- The Best Lawyers in America – recognized as a Leading White-Collar Criminal Defense and Commercial Litigator (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
- The Legal 500 United States – recommended Lawyer for White-Collar Criminal Defense (2007, 2008, 2009) and for Corporate Governance and SEC Investigations (2007)
- Who’s Who Legal: The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers 2009 and The International Who’s Who of Business Crime Lawyers – recommended Lawyer for Business Crimes (2008, 2009)
- New York Super Lawyers – selected as one of the top New York Super Lawyers in the field of Criminal Defense: White Collar (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009); selected as one of “The Top 50 Female” lawyers (2007, 2008, 2009)
- Euromoney’s Benchmark: America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys – recognized as a Star for White-Collar Litigation (National) and Litigation (New York) (2008, 2009, 2010)
- Euromoney’s Guide to the World’s Leading White Collar Crime Lawyers (2008)
- Lawdragon – selected as one of “100 Lawyers You Need to Know in Securities Litigation (2008); ranked as one of the top 500 lawyers in the U.S. (2005, 2007)
- New York Post – ranked as one of the 50 most powerful women in New York (November 21, 2004)
- Recipient, 2009 Burton Award for Legal Achievement – Legal Writing
- Recipient, 2009 Robert M. Morgenthau Award for outstanding legal career and improving the lives of children in New York
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Education
Bar Admissions
Country of Origin
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