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< Directory Lee S. Richards, III

Lee S. Richards III is a founding partner of the firm. He concentrates in white collar criminal defense, securities enforcement defense, regulatory proceedings, internal investigations and complex commercial litigations. He has extensive trial experience and regularly represents investment banks, hedge funds, public companies, investment advisers, corporate officers and directors, and other professionals in investigations and proceedings by the DOJ, SEC, FINRA, and other governmental entities and SROs. He also represents companies and senior executives in commercial litigations, class action and derivative cases, and arbitrations relating to a variety of disputes.

In addition, Mr. Richards advises companies and directors on governance issues and has served as SEC Special Compliance Counsel, Receiver and Trustee in the liquidation of five securities firms, including Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, and three major insider trading cases. He was appointed as the Independent Examiner in United States v. Computer Associates International, Inc.

Some notable representations include:  

  • Representation of various Audit Committees for public companies including a major business information company, a large software company and a large REIT;
  • Representation of a major pharmaceutical company in a Medicare investigation being conducted by the DOJ in the Midwest;
  • Representation of several pivotal senior executives and analysts in the research analyst investigation, including Jack Grubman;
  • Representation of the CEO of one of the largest international insurance companies in an SEC investigation;
  • Representation of the CFO of a major pharmaceutical distributor in an SEC investigation; and 
  • Representation of several major New York investment banks in a variety of DOJ, SEC and FINRA investigations, including investigations regarding Internet gambling, securities lending and auction rate securities.

Mr. Richards served for fifteen years as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Fordham Law School. He is Chairman of the American Bar Association's Subcommittee on Criminal Aspects of the Securities Laws, President Emeritus of the Federal Bar Council Inn of Court, and a member of the American Inns of Court Board of Trustees. In addition, he is a regular speaker and writer on topics relating to criminal and securities law issues, internal investigations, corporate governance and compliance procedures. He is also a member of the American Jazz Foundation's Board of Directors and the Advisory Board for the Brennan Center for Justice.

He was recognized by Conde Nast’s Portfolio.com as one of the top ten white collar lawyers in New York. The 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business ranked Lee Richards as a leading individual in Litigation - White Collar & Government Investigations. Mr. Richards has also been identified as one of the nation's "Leading Lawyers" by The Legal 500 and as a “Super Lawyer” by Law & Politics Media, Inc. In addition, The Best Lawyers in America® has named him on both the Best Lawyers in New York and the Best Lawyers in America lists.

From 1977 to 1983, Mr. Richards was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he handled major prosecutions of insider trading and securities fraud.

Honors & Awards

  • Top Ten White Collar Lawyers in New York by Conde Nast’s Portfolio.com
  • Leading Individual in Litigation - White Collar & Government Investigations by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2007-2010)
  • Leading Lawyers by The Legal 500 in the area of Litigation: White Collar Criminal Defense (2011).  Comments made by clients surveyed include:
    • Lee Richards is "one of the most effective white collar defense lawyers in the bar."
    • Lee Richards is "universally respected in the bar and by the government lawyers for his skills, his integrity and most significantly, his effectiveness."
  • Super Lawyer by Law & Politics Media, Inc.
  • Best Lawyer by The Best Lawyers in America® (2006-2012) in the areas of Corporate Governance, Corporate Compliance, Bet-the-Company Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Comments made by clients surveyed include:
    • "Lee has lived up to and surpassed his reputation as one of the preeminent attorneys for this type of work."
    • "Lee is the classic 'wise man' -- he is extremely bright and knowledgeable about his practice area, but what he has that is so special is a wealth of experience and impeccable judgment."

News

Seminars & Speaking Engagements

Publications

Professional & Community Affiliations

  • Chairman, American Bar Association's Subcommittee on Criminal Aspects of the Securities Laws
  • President Emeritus, Federal Bar Council Inn of Court
  • Member, American Inns of Court Board of Trustees
  • Member, American Jazz Foundation's Board of Directors
  • Advisory Board, Brennan Center for Justice.
Photo of Lee S. Richards, III

New York Office
T:  212.530.1840
F:  917.344.8840
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Clerkship(s)
  • Honorable Milton Pollack, United States District Court, Southern District of New York
Education
  • Columbia University School of Law, J.D., 1975
  • Amherst College, B.A., summa cum laude, 1972
Bar and Court Admissions
  • New York