EDITORIAL REVIEW
Seymour sizzles for companies facing serious investigations after her success prosecuting Martha Stewart for lying.
— Lawdragon,
January 2008
The former chief of the criminal division of the U.S. attorney's office in New York successfully prosecuted Martha Stewart and co-defendant Peter Bacanovic in one of 2004's most high-profile criminal cases. She also served an earlier term as chief of the general crimes unit for the New York U.S. attorney's office. Admirers say that Karen Seymour's talents as a litigator and a manager will help her private practice flourish at Sullivan & Cromwell, where she runs the firm's criminal defense group.
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Karen Patton Seymour is the head of Sullivan & Cromwell's Criminal Defense and Investigations Group. Her practice focuses on
white-collar criminal defense and internal investigations. She also represents clients in complex federal and state civil
litigation.
She has represented individuals, corporations and financial institutions in state and federal investigations and proceedings
involving allegations of:
- securities fraud
- insider trading
- violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
- OFAC sanctions
- healthcare fraud
- criminal antitrust violations
Ms. Seymour has tried numerous jury and bench trials in federal court and argued many appeals before the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Second Circuit.
She has in-depth experience representing corporations and individuals outside of the United States in responding to U.S.
inquiries and investigations.
Ms. Seymour is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, two U.S. Courts of Appeal, and the Court of Federal
Claims, as well as the
New York State Courts and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
Government Service
From 2002 to 2004, Ms. Seymour served as the chief of the Criminal Division for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern
District of New York, where she supervised 165 federal prosecutors and oversaw all criminal investigations and prosecutions
in the district, including the investigations of corporate fraud involving WorldCom, ImClone and Adelphia. She was lead
trial counsel for the government in the prosecution of Martha Stewart and Peter Bacanovic.
During her first tenure in the U.S. Attorney's Office from 1990 to 1996, she prosecuted a wide variety of cases and served
as Chief of the General Crimes Unit.
Ms. Seymour frequently lectures on business ethics, corporate fraud, internal investigations, securities enforcement and
other topics.
Professional Activities and Community Involvement
Rankings and Recognitions
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business – recognized as a Leading Litigator in White-Collar Crime &
Government Investigations (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) and in Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Regulatory
Enforcement & Investigations) (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
- The Best Lawyers in America – recognized as a Leading White-Collar Criminal Defense and Commercial Litigator
(2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
- The Legal 500 United States – recommended Lawyer for White-Collar Criminal Defense (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
and for Corporate Governance and SEC Investigations (2007)
- Who’s Who Legal: The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers 2009 and The International Who’s Who of
Business Crime Lawyers – recommended Lawyer for Business Crimes (2008, 2009)
- New York Super Lawyers – selected as one of the top New York Super Lawyers in the field of Criminal Defense:
White Collar (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010); selected as one of “The Top 50 Female” lawyers (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
- Euromoney’s Benchmark: America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys – recognized as a Star for White-Collar
Litigation (National) and Litigation (New York) (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
- Euromoney’s Guide to the World’s Leading White Collar Crime Lawyers (2008)
- Lawdragon – ranked as one of the top 3,000 lawyers in the United States (2009-2010); selected as one of “100
Lawyers You Need to Know in Securities Litigation” (2008); ranked as one of the top 500 lawyers in the United States (2005,
2007)
- New York Post – ranked as one of the 50 most powerful women in New York (November 21, 2004)
- Recipient, 2009 Burton Award for Legal Achievement – Legal Writing
- Recipient, 2009 Robert M. Morgenthau Award for outstanding legal career and improving the lives of children in New York
See Library Tab for articles, publications and presentations
by Karen Patton Seymour
