Overview
(May 9, 2023, New York) — Steptoe & Johnson LLP has expanded its Investigations and White-Collar Defense Practice in Asia with the addition of new partner, Cáitrín McKiernan. Cáitrín, formerly of Shearman & Sterling, joins the Hong Kong and New York offices.
Steptoe Chair Gwen Renigar commented: "Cáitrín's work enhances Steptoe’s reputation for counseling clients on the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the Asia-Pacific region while helping our clients manage the unique risks that arise in connection with investment, trade, and business."
"Our team in Hong Kong brings decades of experience in international economic sanctions, export controls, anti-money laundering, anti-bribery and corruption compliance, data privacy, and corporate governance matters," said Wendy Wysong, co-chair of Steptoe’s Investigations and White-Collar Defense Practice and managing partner of Steptoe's Hong Kong office. "Cáitrín's deep experience working with multinationals operating across the Asia Pacific region adds new strength to our team."
Cáitrín, who is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, focuses on conducting multijurisdictional compliance reviews and internal investigations, crafting compliance policies, providing proactive compliance counseling, and leading interactive compliance training. From January 2019 to January 2020, Cáitrín was seconded to a US-listed company, where she led the company’s compliance investigations in Asia Pacific. She is a strong supporter of diversity initiatives, and notably hosts monthly fireside chats with leading women in law.
Cáitrín commented: "Steptoe provides a strong brand and footprint and I am delighted to grow my practice with such a talented team."
Cáitrín joins the firm on the heels of five other prominent additions to Steptoe’s investigations and white-collar defense team over the past year, including Brian Burke, Julia Gatto, Dwight J. Draughon Jr, Jonathan Baum, and Iris Bennet.
Over the past two years, Steptoe's Investigations and White-Collar Defense Practice has handled a number of significant matters including representing Volkswagen AG in a diesel emissions case and successfully negotiating the largest corporate criminal and regulatory settlement in recent history, and representing iFinex Inc., the owner of the Bitfinex cryptocurrency exchange, and Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, in investigations by the CFTC and the New York Attorney General's Office. Steptoe's IWC practice acts for both corporations and individuals and was recently named by Global Investigations Review to its GIR 30, an independent guide to the world's best firms for international investigations for the 8th year running.
About Steptoe
In more than 100 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
