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Andrew Michaelson is an accomplished SEC and white-collar defense practitioner who has advised global financial institutions, Fortune 100 companies, hedge funds, and senior executives in high-stakes investigations.  He has deep experience in matters involving securities laws, complex financial instruments, and bribery or corruption.  Andrew has represented clients under investigation by the DOJ, SEC, CFTC, CFPB and State Attorneys General, and he regularly represents his clients in civil litigation that relates to government investigations.

Chambers USA has noted that Andrew is “increasingly recognized” for his work defending “companies and individuals alike” in white collar and government investigations in New York. According to Chambers, clients described Andrew as “incredibly smart and understated,” and “very, very knowledgeable on regulatory matters.” He has appeared on 60 Minutes to discuss insider trading, and his prior work as a federal prosecutor was profiled in the Wall Street Journal and The New Yorker.

Andrew previously served in government with the SEC, Division of Enforcement, and with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where he led the Galleon insider trading investigation and prosecuted numerous securities and wire fraud cases. He served as trial counsel in U.S. v. Rajaratnam, the high-profile criminal trial resulting in the conviction of Raj Rajaratnam. Andrew has spoken about the Galleon case and federal securities law enforcement at Harvard Law School and the NYU School of Law.

Full Bio

Credentials

J.D., Harvard Law School, cum laude

A.B., Princeton University, cum laude

New York

Law Clerk, Hon. Sarah S. Vance, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Top Ranked Lawyer: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations


Chambers USA, New York (2019-2022)

Named Up and Coming Practitioner


Chambers (2019)

Named New York-Metro Super Lawyer


Super Lawyers (2013-2015, 2017-2019)

Named to 500 Leading Lawyers in America


Lawdragon

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Recognition

Top Ranked Lawyer: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations


Chambers USA, New York (2019-2022)

Named Up and Coming Practitioner


Chambers (2019)

Named New York-Metro Super Lawyer


Super Lawyers (2013-2015, 2017-2019)

Named to 500 Leading Lawyers in America


Lawdragon

Matters

Digital Assets / Cryptocurrencies

Representing Ripple Labs in connection with class action litigation, in multiple federal courts across the country, concerning whether Ripple’s distributions of XRP constitute “investment contracts” subject to regulation under federal securities laws.

Advising major financial institution on application of federal banking laws and regulations to state-chartered banks and trust companies affiliated with cryptocurrency exchanges or otherwise focused on digital assets.

Representing major hedge fund in connection with internal review of trading in digital assets, to ensure compliance with federal laws and regulation.

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Matters

Digital Assets / Cryptocurrencies

Representing Ripple Labs in connection with class action litigation, in multiple federal courts across the country, concerning whether Ripple’s distributions of XRP constitute “investment contracts” subject to regulation under federal securities laws.

Advising major financial institution on application of federal banking laws and regulations to state-chartered banks and trust companies affiliated with cryptocurrency exchanges or otherwise focused on digital assets.

Representing major hedge fund in connection with internal review of trading in digital assets, to ensure compliance with federal laws and regulation.

Securities/Commodities/Unfair Trade Practices

Representing HSBC in investigations and civil litigation relating to issuance of subprime RMBS, obtaining favorable settlements of DOJ investigation under FIRREA and civil claims asserted by FHFA

Representing HSBC in connection with a variety of regulatory investigations by the SEC and/or State AGs

Representing BNP Paribas in connection with the successful recovery of nearly $150 million from an SEC Fair Fund distribution

Representing a financial services company in connection with CFPB investigation relating to fee disclosures and data security

Representing Barclays in investigations relating to ISDAFIX, obtaining favorable settlement with CFTC and civil plaintiffs

Representing a major ride hailing company in connection with investigations by State AGs relating to representations to investors, resulting in no action

Representing a substantial hedge fund (>$20 billion in AUM) and its CEO in connection with SEC insider trading investigation, resulting in no action

Representing Barclays in connection with CFTC investigation into potential insider trading, resulting in no action

Representing a public, Silicon Valley-based Fintech company in connection with investigation by a State Attorney General concerning app-based securities trading.

Corruption/FCPA

Representing NIKE in connection with DOJ investigation into corruption in NCAA basketball

Representing a Fortune 100 company in connection with DOJ investigation relating to bribery in South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the U.S.

Antitrust

Representing ValueAct in connection with an unprecedented antitrust litigation filed by the DOJ relating to Hart-Scott-Rodino’s “Investment-Only Exemption”

Representing Target Corp. in connection with opt-out antitrust litigation relating to a price-fixing in packaged seafood industry

Data Privacy

Representing a Fortune 100, Silicon Valley-based technology company in connection with an internal inquiry relating to data privacy controls

Individuals

Representing president of public company in connection with SEC investigation into public representations regarding foreign operations

Representing CEO in connection with SEC investigation into accounting of purchases and sales of data

Representing executive in connection with SEC FCPA investigation involving Russia, Turkey and Brazil

Representing CEO in connection with internal investigation by the Board of Directors

Representing numerous traders in connection with SEC and internal investigations relating to FX trading, pre-release ADRs, and other matters

Representing trader in connection with CFTC inquiry into potential insider trading

Matters

Digital Assets / Cryptocurrencies

Representing Ripple Labs in connection with class action litigation, in multiple federal courts across the country, concerning whether Ripple’s distributions of XRP constitute “investment contracts” subject to regulation under federal securities laws.

Advising major financial institution on application of federal banking laws and regulations to state-chartered banks and trust companies affiliated with cryptocurrency exchanges or otherwise focused on digital assets.

Representing major hedge fund in connection with internal review of trading in digital assets, to ensure compliance with federal laws and regulation.

See more

Close

Matters

Digital Assets / Cryptocurrencies

Representing Ripple Labs in connection with class action litigation, in multiple federal courts across the country, concerning whether Ripple’s distributions of XRP constitute “investment contracts” subject to regulation under federal securities laws.

Advising major financial institution on application of federal banking laws and regulations to state-chartered banks and trust companies affiliated with cryptocurrency exchanges or otherwise focused on digital assets.

Representing major hedge fund in connection with internal review of trading in digital assets, to ensure compliance with federal laws and regulation.

Securities/Commodities/Unfair Trade Practices

Representing HSBC in investigations and civil litigation relating to issuance of subprime RMBS, obtaining favorable settlements of DOJ investigation under FIRREA and civil claims asserted by FHFA

Representing HSBC in connection with a variety of regulatory investigations by the SEC and/or State AGs

Representing BNP Paribas in connection with the successful recovery of nearly $150 million from an SEC Fair Fund distribution

Representing a financial services company in connection with CFPB investigation relating to fee disclosures and data security

Representing Barclays in investigations relating to ISDAFIX, obtaining favorable settlement with CFTC and civil plaintiffs

Representing a major ride hailing company in connection with investigations by State AGs relating to representations to investors, resulting in no action

Representing a substantial hedge fund (>$20 billion in AUM) and its CEO in connection with SEC insider trading investigation, resulting in no action

Representing Barclays in connection with CFTC investigation into potential insider trading, resulting in no action

Representing a public, Silicon Valley-based Fintech company in connection with investigation by a State Attorney General concerning app-based securities trading.

Corruption/FCPA

Representing NIKE in connection with DOJ investigation into corruption in NCAA basketball

Representing a Fortune 100 company in connection with DOJ investigation relating to bribery in South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the U.S.

Antitrust

Representing ValueAct in connection with an unprecedented antitrust litigation filed by the DOJ relating to Hart-Scott-Rodino’s “Investment-Only Exemption”

Representing Target Corp. in connection with opt-out antitrust litigation relating to a price-fixing in packaged seafood industry

Data Privacy

Representing a Fortune 100, Silicon Valley-based technology company in connection with an internal inquiry relating to data privacy controls

Individuals

Representing president of public company in connection with SEC investigation into public representations regarding foreign operations

Representing CEO in connection with SEC investigation into accounting of purchases and sales of data

Representing executive in connection with SEC FCPA investigation involving Russia, Turkey and Brazil

Representing CEO in connection with internal investigation by the Board of Directors

Representing numerous traders in connection with SEC and internal investigations relating to FX trading, pre-release ADRs, and other matters

Representing trader in connection with CFTC inquiry into potential insider trading

Credentials

J.D., Harvard Law School, cum laude

A.B., Princeton University, cum laude

New York

Law Clerk, Hon. Sarah S. Vance, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Top Ranked Lawyer: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations


Chambers USA, New York (2019-2022)

Named Up and Coming Practitioner


Chambers (2019)

Named New York-Metro Super Lawyer


Super Lawyers (2013-2015, 2017-2019)

Named to 500 Leading Lawyers in America


Lawdragon

Close

Recognition

Top Ranked Lawyer: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations


Chambers USA, New York (2019-2022)

Named Up and Coming Practitioner


Chambers (2019)

Named New York-Metro Super Lawyer


Super Lawyers (2013-2015, 2017-2019)

Named to 500 Leading Lawyers in America


Lawdragon