Evan T. Barr

• ebarr@steptoe.com
• vCard
• New York Office

Evan T. Barr is a partner in Steptoe’s New York office where he concentrates in white-collar criminal defense and complex regulatory matters.

A former federal prosecutor, Mr. Barr has represented individuals and companies in high-profile and sensitive investigations and prosecutions conducted by the Department of Justice, various US Attorneys' Offices, the SEC, the Internal Revenue Service, the New York State Attorney General’s Office, FINRA, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.  Over the course of his 20 year career, he has handled matters involving virtually all aspects of white-collar crime, and is ranked by Chambers USA as a leading practitioner in the category of White-Collar & Government Investigations.  Chambers notes that Mr. Barr “knows what it means to be a defense lawyer, and is not afraid to do a bit of head-butting.”

Prior to joining the firm in 2005, Mr. Barr was Chief of the Major Crimes Unit at the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York where he supervised approximately 25 prosecutors specializing in a wide array of white-collar crimes.  He also served in the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force, Public Corruption Unit, and Asset Forfeiture Unit. 

Mr. Barr has tried 12 criminal cases to verdict in federal court and has briefed and argued numerous cases before the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Mr. Barr has extensive experience in the area of asset forfeiture and money laundering, and has represented numerous clients in matters involving restraining orders, seizure warrants, and ancillary proceedings.  Currently, Mr. Barr represents a large Middle Eastern bank in forfeiture litigation pending in the Southern District of New York involving alleged money laundering and trade embargo violations.  In addition, Mr. Barr has successfully litigated a variety of forfeiture cases involving claims made by private parties and governments seeking to recover valuable artworks and antiquities. 

Mr. Barr has provided legal commentary for publications including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Law Journal, and Law 360.  He serves as Co-Chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on White-Collar Criminal Litigation.

Representative Matters

Mr. Barr has represented clients in some of the most important white-collar criminal cases over the past several years.  Recent matters include:  

• Representing the former Chief Administrative Officer of a major department store chain in connection with an accounting fraud investigation by the SEC which concluded, after a Wells Submission, with no charges filed against our client
• Representing the assistant treasurer of MF Global Holdings Ltd. in investigations by the CFTC, SEC, and US Attorney regarding the company's bankruptcy
• Representing a former senior executive of a major insurance company in an investigation by the SEC into the use of finite reinsurance contracts, which concluded with no charges being filed against our client
• Representing the CEO of a natural gas company in connection with an FCPA investigation
• Representing a former New York gubernatorial candidate in a public corruption investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s office which concluded with no civil or criminal charges filed against our client
• Representing a former wealth manager charged by the Department of Justice with federal campaign finance violations in connection with contributions made during the 2008 presidential election; the case was concluded with a probationary sentence for our client 
• Representing the former president of Monster Worldwide at trial in the Southern District of New York  in connection with criminal stock options backdating charges, and on appeal which resulted in a partial reversal of the judgment
• Representing the former chairman of Neteller in connection with an investigation relating to online gambling
• Conducting an internal investigation for a global financial services company regarding the filing of a potentially improper claim made on behalf of one of the bank's proprietary accounts
• Representing a lawyer in connection with an investigation by the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts regarding the marketing of certain well-known prescription medications by a major pharmaceutical firm
• Representing the president of a technology company in connection with federal computer hacking charges the case was resolved with our client receiving a probationary sentence
• Representing a New York hedge fund manager on insider trading charges filed in connection with the expert networking investigation in the Southern District of New York
• Representing a New York City Council member in connection with a federal investigation into allegations of fraud and misuse of public funds
• Represented a prominent New York auction house in providing enforcement and regulatory advice
• Represented witness in connection with DOJ investigation of laundering of  alleged FCPA bribery proceeds from Taiwan
• Represented a private collector in civil litigation regarding an artwork alleged to have been stolen during World War II  
• Representing the president of a well−known art gallery in connection with a sales tax investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office 

Noteworthy

• Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers 2012, Litigation: White-Collar & Government Investigations (New York)
• Super Lawyers New York (2011-2012)
• Department of Justice's John Marshall Award for Outstanding Legal Achievement in Asset Forfeiture and the Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant US Attorney
• Deputy Special Counsel, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Select News & Events

• “Defining Cultural Ownership: Shifting Focus, Shifting Norms," Fordham Law School, April 10, 2013
• L'Hebdo Quotes Evan Barr on New DOJ Strategy, UBS LIBOR Case
• The New York Times Quotes Evan Barr on Disputed Cambodian Statue
• The New York Times Quotes Evan Barr on DOJ’s New Model for Financial Fraud
• Reuters Quotes Evan Barr on Rajat Gupta Case, Post-Conviction Bail
• New York Super Lawyers Recognizes Steptoe Attorneys
• Steptoe Receives 18 Practice, 57 Individual Mentions in Chambers USA 2012
• "Current Issues Relating to Trafficking in Stolen Art and Items of Cultural Property," Brooklyn Law School Art Law Association, November 17, 2011
• "Arts in the Legal Industry," Rutgers University School of Law Art Law Society, October 18, 2011
• "Snapshot of Cultural Heritage Law," New York State Bar Association, Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section, June 28, 2011

Selected Publications

• Bail Pending Appeal in the Second Circuit
  April 16, 2012, New York Law Journal
• Recovering Internal Investigation Costs from Federal Criminal Defendants
  September 7, 2011, New York Law Journal
• Parting Company: Permissive Withdrawal in Criminal Cases
  September 22, 2010, New York Law Journal
• The Bench Trial Option in White-Collar Criminal Cases
  January 5, 2010, New York Law Journal
• No Bright Line In Securities Sentencing Anymore
  December 17, 2007, Securities Law360
• Russell: Prosecuting Defense Counsel for Obstruction
  November 21, 2007, New York Law Journal
• Limiting the Scope of Honest Services Fraud
  July 23, 2007, New York Law Journal
• Evolution of the Antiquities Trade: From Open-Air Bazaar to Buyer Beware
  Museum News, November/December 2006

More Publications »

Professional Affiliations

• Co-Chair, Committee on White Collar Criminal Litigation, New York State Bar Association
• Member, New York Council of Defense Lawyers
• Member, Criminal Justice Act Panel, US District Court for the Southern District of New York