Overview
Michelle Levin is an accomplished trial lawyer and strategic advisor with over 20 years of experience defending companies and executives in high-profile white-collar criminal enforcement matters, regulatory enforcement proceedings and complex commercial litigation. She also conducts internal investigations on behalf of companies and boards, often involving sensitive matters and complex cross-border issues.
Ranked by Chambers USA as a leading lawyer for white collar and government investigations, Michelle has been described as "a great trial attorney" with "a top-notch mind," "a great sense of overall strategy," "great judgment," and "enormous talent," in addition to being "detailed-oriented," "organized," and "great with clients." Her strategic approach to complex issues has resulted in a number of high-profile successes and trial wins. Most recently, she secured a rare complete acquittal for the former CEO of a public company arising from a multi-billion dollar acquisition in one of Silicon Valley's largest fraud prosecutions.
Michelle handles matters involving allegations of securities and accounting fraud, foreign and public corruption, trade secret misappropriation, sanctions violations, and cryptocurrency-related fraud, among other issues, and has particular expertise in matters related to the financial services and technology industries.
She represents clients before various federal and state regulatory bodies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), New York State Attorney General's Office, Manhattan District Attorney's Office, and congressional committees.
She also litigates a wide range of complex civil litigation, including securities class actions, and contract and insurance disputes.
Michelle serves as the managing partner of Steptoe's New York office and has served on Steptoe's Executive Committee.
- New York
- US District Court, Eastern District of New York
- US District Court, Southern District of New York
- US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 2004
- B.A., Tufts University, 1999, cum laude
Areas of Work
Representative Matters
- Successfully secured a complete defense acquittal for former Autonomy CEO Dr. Mike Lynch in a 13-year US federal criminal securities and accounting fraud case in the Northern District of California. The case relates to HP's $11-billion acquisition of Autonomy in 2011.
- Representation of numerous cryptocurrency executives in investigations by DOJ, SEC, and CFTC.
- Representation of former CEO of major financial institution in connection with SEC and FDIC investigations and securities class action in the Northern District of California.
- Representation of technology company in trade secret litigation in the Northern District of California.
- Representation of executive in connection with sanctions evasion investigations by DOJ National Security Division and OFAC.
- Represented executive of a major multinational energy company in securing a declination in connection with public corruption investigation by DOJ Fraud Section.
- Negotiated favorable deferred prosecution agreement and ultimate dismissal of all charges for CFO of a major multinational telecommunications equipment company charged with wire fraud and bank fraud related to purported criminal economic sanctions evasion in the Eastern District of New York.
- Conducted an internal investigation for board of major financial institution related to allegations of accounting and securities fraud.
- Conducted an internal investigation and represented large public healthcare company in a grand jury investigation by the DOJ Antitrust Division related to price-fixing allegations.
- Defended former REIT CFO at trial in DOJ prosecution of accounting fraud charges, in parallel SEC investigation, and in multiple federal securities class actions in the Southern District of New York.
- Defended former hedge fund manager and co-founder at trial in the landmark insider trading case United States v. Newman in the Southern District of New York. The conviction was overturned in a unanimous decision by the Second Circuit.
- Defended former assistant general counsel of a major pharmaceutical company at trial in DOJ prosecution of obstruction and false statements charges related to representations made to the FDA in the District of Maryland. The Steptoe defense team obtained a judgment of acquittal of all charges.
- Defended former retail company CEO at trial in DOJ prosecution of accounting fraud charges related to the alleged inflation of earnings through dozens of "round-trip" transactions in the Southern District of New York.
- Defended a former public official at trial in DOJ prosecution of obstruction and campaign finance-related charges in the District of Connecticut.
- Represented executive of major bank in investigations by DOJ and UK FCA of alleged antitrust violations.
- Represented former general counsel of a technology company in DOJ investigation of alleged foreign corruption.
- Represented CEO of major bank in DOJ investigation related to mortgage-backed securities fraud.
- Represented executive of major healthcare company related to DOJ off-label marketing investigation.
Speaking Engagements
- "Recent High Profile Cases," Forum on Corporate Enforcement, May 15, 2025
- "Lessons From High-Profile Acquittal of Former Autonomy CEO," PACDL 2024 White Collar Practice Seminar, November 14, 2024
- "Recent Developments in Brady," New York City Bar's 9th Annual White Collar Crime Institute, January 11, 2021
- "The Perfect Storm For White Collar Crime: Internal Fraud and Insider Trading In The Era Of COVID-19," Women, Influence & Power in Law, October 26, 2020
- "Where in a Cloud is my Data? Search Warrants and Data Privacy Issues," Lex Mundi's Business Crimes and Compliance Group Annual Meeting, October 3, 2017
News & Publications
Press Releases
Steptoe Practices and Attorneys Earn High Rankings in the Legal 500 United States 2026
June 10, 2026
Press Releases
Steptoe Expands in New York with 2026 Move to 1133 Avenue of the Americas
October 7, 2025
Press Releases
Steptoe Practices and Attorneys Earn High Rankings in the Legal 500 United States 2025
June 11, 2025
Press Releases
Steptoe Wins “Most Important Case of the Year” at the Global Investigations Review Awards 2024
November 15, 2024
Media Mentions
June 2024
Resources
Client Alerts
Assessing the Impacts of Executive Order 13936 on Hong Kong's Status, One Month Later
August 25, 2020
By: Alexandra Baj, Ali Burney, Eric C. Emerson, Edward J. Krauland, Michelle L. Levin, Patrick F. Linehan, Meredith Rathbone, Wendy Wysong, Martin Willner, Jacob Nelson (International Trade Assistant)
Events
Seminars & Events
Global Trade and Enforcement Symposium in Hong Kong
June 1, 2023
Speakers: Brigida Benitez, Ali Burney, Henry Cao, John Caracappa, Boyd Cloern, Robyn C. Crowther, Brian J. Fleming, Zoey Hong, Stanley C. Kuo, Amy J. Lentz, Michelle L. Levin, Patrick F. Linehan, Jamie Lucia, Alexandra Melia, Cáitrín McKiernan, Gwendolyn Prothro Renigar, Angus Rodger, Guy Soussan, Charles Whiddington, Wendy Wysong, Lin Yang, Bo Yue, Wilson Zhao
Webinars
The Limits of US "Long-arm" Jurisdiction
August 4, 2020
Speakers: Michelle L. Levin, Wendy Wysong
Noteworthy
- Chambers USA, Litigation: White-Collar & Government Investigations, New York (2022-2026)
- Legal 500 USA, Leading Lawyer, Dispute Resolution – Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense (2024-2026)
- Super Lawyers, White Collar Crime and Securities Litigation (2021-2023), New York "Rising Star," Criminal Defense: White Collar (2013-2017)
Professional Affiliations
- Federal Bar Council
- New York City Bar Association
- New York Council of Defense Lawyers
- Women’s White Collar Defense Association