Founded over 40 years ago by Robert C. Gottlieb, Gottlieb Townsend has evolved to become a highly respected and renowned national firm of highly experienced criminal defense trial lawyers. We are committed to leaving no stone unturned in the fight for justice on behalf of our clients who have been charged with the most serious state and federal crimes including white collar offenses, murder, rape, extortion, political corruption, terrorism, money laundering, Medicare fraud and federal and state tax crimes.
Because of the devastating personal and professional impact of being charged with a crime, we firmly believe that the best defense begins with a thorough investigation at the very outset of our retention in an all-out effort to avoid criminal prosecution. If that is not possible, our attorneys are fully prepared and armed to take the case to trial and zealously and effectively defend our clients before a jury. Many of our cases involve issues of mental illness requiring that we work hand in hand with forensic psychiatrists to avoid mentally ill clients being held responsible for conduct that otherwise would be criminal.
We pride ourselves in providing close, personal attention to each of our clients, whether the client is a corporation or an individual. Our client approach is a hallmark of our practice. We are committed to managing costs without sacrificing the quality of legal representation and the time and effort necessary to protect our clients’ legal interests. We achieve this balance by carefully selecting matters in which we believe our firm can offer outstanding representation while delivering a competitive advantage.
Criminal Defense and Government Investigations
Criminal defense requires that the attorneys have a deep understanding and knowledge of the most effective defenses available for a client and, especially in the government investigations area, a strong facility with other areas of the law (e.g., securities regulation, banking regulation, tax laws) that relate to the client’s potential legal exposure. Gottlieb Townsend stands among the most established litigation boutique law firms in New York with notable criminal defense and government investigations experience.
We are aggressive and effective trial lawyers unafraid of doing battle in and out of court. We have repeatedly demonstrated our skills in defending against fraud charges, government investigations, white collar crime charges, as well as violent crime allegations, in local, state and federal courts across the United States through some of the most high-profile cases in the nation.
We have produced successful results for clients before the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Department of Justice. Additionally, several of our attorneys have previously received Top Federal Security Clearance.
Even though plea bargaining has become the essence of criminal justice in the United States, our firm’s culture is rooted in fighting to defend our clients’ rights even if that means proceeding to a trial. Sometimes our clients are best protected by working out a plea (or accepting the terms of a government settlement offer); however, that is hardly ever our starting point. We are never fearful in requiring government prosecutors and regulators to meet their burden of proof.
White Collar Criminal Defense and Corporate Internal Investigations
Our firm protects clients who have been served with federal and state Grand Jury subpoenas and find themselves involved in serious regulatory enforcement matters before government regulators including the SEC and FINRA. Our attorneys have counseled clients involved in government investigations focused on a range of issues, including FCPA violations, allegations of Medicaid fraud, allegations of embezzlement, and probes into international mail/wire fraud allegations, securities fraud, bank fraud and theft of intellectual property.
Our attorneys have counseled clients and been involved in corporate internal investigations focused on a range of issues, including FCPA violations, allegations of insider trading schemes, Medicaid fraud, allegations of embezzlement, and probes into international mail/wire fraud allegations. In this capacity, we can lead focused, effective, and efficient internal investigations even where the company already has existing outside counsel for general corporate purposes.
Where relevant in internal investigations, we also employ the assistance of forensic investigators to support our legal review and analysis. The combination of our forensic investigators and the firm’s attorneys provides a single source solution for corporate clients involved in internal investigations.
Complex Civil and Commercial Litigation
Complex civil and commercial litigation matters require lawyers that are adept at achieving efficient solutions for their clients, whether the matter requires out-of-court resolution or effective advocacy during trial or on appeal. We have those skills.
We represent both plaintiffs and defendants and are especially skilled in handling high-profile matters, whether for government officials, high-net worth individuals, businesses or financial institutions. Our criminal law expertise makes us sensitive to the criminal and regulatory implications of highly sensitive civil matters.
We have experience in responding and filing Wells submissions, defending against SEC complaints and settling matters brought by the SEC.
We have prosecuted civil complaints in Federal court and have extensive experience in motion practice before the Federal bar. Furthermore, we have also served as litigation co-counsel in bankruptcy matters representing debtors and their financial services industry subsidiaries.
Conflict Free Internal Investigations
In the area of corporate internal investigations, we are conflict-free and able to perform independent evaluations of potential violations of state and/or federal criminal statutes and regulations on behalf of company executive management and/or Boards of Directors.
Growing International Footprint
Gottlieb Townsend is one of the original founding boutique law firms that established the International Network of Boutique Law firms (INBLF), a network of highly credentialed law firms across the United States, Canada and around the globe. Our membership in INBLF has resulted in the law firm having a working relationship with more than 250 boutique firm in the United States, Canada and 38 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and the South Pacific.
Our international work has included representing clients who are subject to international warrants, extradition and Red Notices that is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and arrest a person pending extradition pursuant to international warrants.