Civil Rights, Sexual Abuse & Discrimination
Civil rights are the foundation of our democracy. We have significant experience investigating excessive force by law enforcement officers, sex trafficking, and widespread sexual abuse by government agents and powerful individuals. Our firm is well-suited to represent individuals who are victims of physical and sexual abuse by police officers, corrections officers and other public officials, including those who have been victims of excessive force by law enforcement in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
We also have significant experience working with men, women and children who have undergone trauma as crime victims and understand the importance of treating all of our clients with dignity and respect, ensuring that our representation does not result in their further victimization. Our firm is available to provide representation to individuals who have been victims of crimes, ranging from sex trafficking and sexual abuse to revenge porn and extortion, helping such individuals navigate the criminal justice system, report crimes to law enforcement, and vindicate their rights through civil litigation. You may find additional information here about New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which provides a one-year look-back window for adult victims of sexual misconduct to pursue civil claims against their abusers and those who enabled them, regardless of when the abuse took place.
We also represent employees who have suffered discrimination in the workplace, including those subjected to sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination, pursuing settlements and civil litigation as appropriate.
As federal prosecutors, we successfully investigated and prosecuted federal Bureau of Prisons officers for repeated sexual abuse of female federal inmates and brought a ground-breaking racketeering charge against singer R. Kelly in New York for his decades of criminal misconduct throughout the country involving the sexual exploitation of minors, forced labor, and other offenses, resulting in a 30-year prison sentence following a six-week trial in Brooklyn, New York. Our experience provides us with expertise to properly investigate and evaluate cases, assist individuals in reporting misconduct to the appropriate authorities to ensure their claims are taken seriously, and effectively pursue civil remedies, including through litigation, in federal court.
Internal Investigations & Civil Rights Audits
Our decades of investigative and litigation experience equip us to efficiently conduct internal investigations for corporations, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations faced with allegations of workplace misconduct, including sexual harassment, discrimination and fraud. Through impartial and thoughtful investigations, we help organizations identify potential malfeasance and design and implement measures to minimize and mitigate risk.
As seasoned investigators, we are also well-positioned to conduct civil rights audits, providing proactive assessments of an organization’s policies and practices to ensure compliance with civil rights laws and address both intentional and systemic discrimination in the spheres where an organization operates. These audits can assist organizations in creating an inclusive environment for all, with policies and practices that comply with both the letter and the spirit of the law, minimizing the risk of misconduct and discrimination and ensuring such issues are addressed appropriately when they occur.
Criminal Defense
We draw on our vast prior experience as federal prosecutors to represent individuals who are the subjects of federal and state criminal investigations to ensure the most favorable outcomes possible. We know how criminal cases are built and how best to advocate for positive outcomes, whether with prosecutors, judges or juries. As seasoned litigators, we can effectively cross-examine government witnesses, present a defense case when warranted, and make compelling arguments in court.
We also represent witnesses in the criminal investigation and trial process, including individuals and organizations served with grand jury or trial subpoenas and those who have been asked to voluntarily meet with law enforcement agents and prosecutors. Our prior experience as federal prosecutors ensures we are able to protect our clients’ interests, negotiate the scope, timing and manner of production of documents, and effectively prepare clients for testimony and meetings with law enforcement.
Wrongful Convictions
Wrongful convictions may stem from both unintentional and intentional conduct, including eyewitness misidentifications, the use of jailhouse informants and other confidential sources, and police misconduct. As former federal prosecutors, we are able to leverage our vast experience in building criminal cases to benefit our clients by reinvestigating their cases, uncovering new evidence, and finding the flaws in existing evidence. Our prosecutorial experience also gives us credibility in advocating for our clients using a multipronged approach, including working with Conviction Review Units in district attorney’s offices to overturn wrongful convictions and pursuing post-conviction litigation in state and federal courts.