Overview
Michelle Levin represents individuals and companies in high-stakes government enforcement matters and investigations. She also serves as the managing partner of Steptoe's New York office.
Michelle has defended individuals, corporations, and boards in matters involving securities and accounting fraud, foreign corruption, economic sanctions, and complex legal issues surrounding digital currencies and the blockchain. One of her recent trials resulted in a complete acquittal of all charges, and another high-profile cross-border case resulted in a favorable deferred prosecution agreement and ultimate dismissal of all charges. She regularly represents clients before the DOJ, SEC, CFTC, OFAC, FDIC, Congress, and other government and regulatory agencies.
Michelle also leads internal investigations, counsels clients on corporate compliance, and represents clients in complex commercial litigation in courts across the United States. Michelle is recognized by Chambers USA as being one of the leading lawyers for White-Collar & Government Investigations, New York. Chambers quotes one client as stating that Michelle "has enormous talent" and also recognizes that she "is involved in some extraordinary cases."
Michelle serves on the firm's Executive Committee, and has served on the firm’s Nominating, Compensation, and Professional Advancement Committees.
- 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, Executive Editor, Journal of Law and Politics
- B.A., Tufts University, 1999, cum laude
Areas of Work
Representative Matters
- Representation of numerous cryptocurrency executives in investigations by DOJ, SEC, and CFTC.
- Representation of former CEO of a multinational technology company in connection with securities and accounting fraud investigations by DOJ, SEC and UK SFO. The Steptoe defense team successfully dismissed a related securities class action.
- Representation of former CEO of major financial institution in connection with insider trading and securities fraud investigation by SEC and related securities class action.
- Representation of executive in connection with Russia-related economic sanctions evasion investigations by DOJ and OFAC.
- Representation of executive of a major multinational energy company in connection with public corruption investigation by DOJ.
- 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.
- Conducted an internal investigation for board of major financial institution related to allegations of accounting and securities fraud.
- Conducted an internal investigation on behalf of large public healthcare company related to antitrust violations.
- 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 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. 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.
- Defended a former public official at trial in DOJ prosecution of obstruction and campaign finance-related charges.
- 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.
Speaking Engagements
- "Recent Developments in Brady," New York City Bar's 9th Annual White Collar Crime Institute, January 11, 2021
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"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
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"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 Receives 25 Practice, 72 Individual Mentions in Chambers USA 2023
June 1, 2023
Steptoe Investigations & Enforcement Blog
Court Orders Attorney Notes Protected in Former Citi Trader’s Lawsuit Against Former Employer
June 30, 2022
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 27 Practice, 72 Individual Mentions in Chambers USA 2022
June 3, 2022
Client Alerts
Insider Trading Developments Trigger New Liability Concerns
June 16, 2021
By: Michael Campion Miller, Michelle L. Levin, Bruce C. Bishop
Publications
'Blaszczak' and the ITPA: Toward a Statutory Definition for Insider Trading?
New York Law Journal
April 20, 2021
By: Michael Campion Miller, Michelle L. Levin, Bruce C. Bishop
Publications
Insider Trading on Government Information
New York Law Journal
December 1, 2020
By: Michael Campion Miller, Michelle L. Levin, Bruce C. Bishop
Steptoe Investigations & Enforcement Blog
Data Transfer Considerations in Investigations
July 24, 2020
Steptoe Investigations & Enforcement Blog
Higher Education Under the Prosecutorial Microscope
July 6, 2020
Client Alerts
Higher Education Under the Prosecutorial Microscope
June 26, 2020
By: Patrick F. Linehan, Edward J. Krauland, Michelle L. Levin, Caitlin Conroy, Evan T. Abrams
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: Renato Antonini, Yongqing Bao, Brigida Benitez, Brian G. Burke, Ali Burney, Henry Cao, John Caracappa, Boyd Cloern, Robyn C. Crowther, Brian J. Fleming, Coy Garrison, Stacie R. Hartman, Zoey Hong, Stanley C. Kuo, Amy J. Lentz, Michelle L. Levin, Patrick F. Linehan, Lucinda A. Low, Jamie Lucia, Alexandra Melia, Cáitrín McKiernan, Eva Monard, Darryl Nirenberg, Gwendolyn Prothro Renigar, Angus Rodger, Guy Soussan, David M. Stetson, Grace Wang, Philip R. West, 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 (2023); "Up and Coming," Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, New York (2022-2023)
- Super Lawyers, White Collar Crime and Securities Litigation (2021-2023), New York "Rising Star," Criminal Defense: White Collar (2013-2017)
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- New York City Bar Association
- New York Council of Defense Lawyers
- Women’s White Collar Defense Association