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Dispute resolution
Top Boutiques
Firm overview

Hecker Fink LLP has quickly grown into one of the country’s elite litigation boutiques, fusing a high-stakes, cutting edge litigation practice with a groundbreaking commitment to serving the public interest. The firm has offices in New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.

The Hecker Fink team is composed of highly experienced litigators, trial lawyers, and operations professionals, including eleven former federal prosecutors, four former public defenders, five former U.S. Supreme Court clerks, and dozens of attorneys with experience clerking at all levels of state and federal courts. This uniquely talented pool of attorneys enables Hecker Fink to consistently produce exceptional outcomes and value to our clients, and also earned us the recognition of being named “Boutique Firm of the Year” by Benchmark Litigation four times since 2019. 

Hecker Fink is recognized by Chambers and Legal 500 as having one of the country’s top white collar defense practices. Our commercial litigation, FCPA, nationwide corporate crime and investigations, employment, and higher education practices are similarly ranked by Chambers. The legal guide noted that the Firm is “recognized for its excellence across an array of litigation-related matters” and is “respected by the market for its ‘deep bench of heavy hitters with different backgrounds who are leaders in this area, and are smart, collaborative people.” Our lawyers have tried and won dozens of cases in state and federal courts across the country. 

Hecker Fink lawyers are also recognized among the leading litigators in the country, consistently earning awards from legal media and professional organizations. Consistent with our Firm’s values, our lawyers hold leadership roles in public service organizations and are widely published on a variety of topics. 

An anonymous peer noted to Benchmark Litigation that Hecker Fink lawyers “are unwaveringly committed to staring down injustice without blinking, and their work proves that. They are ambitious, feisty and fearless, especially tailor-made for these tumultuous times.” Another noted that “they are all pretty young, and are already superstars, so really, if they keep that model and all wind up staying together, the sky is the limit.”

Hecker Fink lawyers also have extensive trial experience, with eleven former federal prosecutors and four former public defenders among our ranks. Our litigators have tried numerous civil and criminal cases to verdict in both federal and state courts, and our clients benefit from deep trial experience and a wide range of subject matter knowledge. We offer diverse perspectives and insights from opposite sides of the courtroom, enabling the kind of strategic flexibility that delivers results. 

In what was recognized by Benchmark Litigation as “Impact Case of the Year” and Global Investigations Review as “Most Important Court Case of the Year,” a team led by Sean Hecker secured a “rare” acquittal at trial in a market manipulation case against a former Barclays trader. In 2022, Benchmark Litigation honored the Firm with a second “Impact Case of the Year” award for our representation of the plaintiffs in Sines v. Kessler, in which the team won a historic $26 million damages award in the groundbreaking lawsuit against twenty-four white supremacists and neo-Nazis for their roles in organizing the racial and religious-based violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Hecker Fink has built a track record of impressive results in high-stakes litigation, fueled by a small team of litigators with extensive trial experience and wide-ranging subject matter expertise. Its practice focuses on the following areas:

Commercial Litigation: Hecker Fink lawyers are highly-experienced commercial litigators with wide-ranging backgrounds. Clients range from large financial institutions and ratings agencies to Fortune 500 companies, tech companies and startups, and nationally prominent individuals – among numerous other categories. We are efficient, diverse, creative, collaborative, and focused on achieving the best possible results for our clients.

White-Collar Criminal Defense: The firm has extensive experience defending companies, boards of directors, and executives from criminal investigations and enforcement and regulatory proceedings across a range of practice areas, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and anti-corruption, whistleblower and False Claim Act claims, anti-money laundering, and various kinds of financial fraud, among many others.

Cybersecurity and Data Privacy: Hecker Fink lawyers have wide-ranging experience helping companies and executives navigate complex challenges involving cybersecurity, data privacy, and related regulatory compliance.

FCPA and Anti-Corruption: Hecker Fink lawyers have significant expertise representing clients in which the FCPA and other anti-corruption issues arise – including in internal investigations, representing companies and individuals in government enforcement matters, and advising companies on anti-corruption compliance.

Employment, Discrimination, and Sexual Misconduct: The firm has substantial experience representing organizations in sensitive employment and discrimination matters, including with respect to Title VII and Title IX claims and independent contractor and Fair Labor Standards Act classification. Hecker Fink has particular expertise representing top academic institutions in their most important Title VII and Title IX matters.

Investigations and Crisis Management: Hecker Fink helps its clients navigate every aspect of sensitive internal investigations: conducting the investigation, developing internal and external communications strategies, advising on public disclosures, and reviewing and revamping compliance structures.

Regulatory and Securities Matters and Litigation: The firm has represented some of the nation’s leading financial institutions and commercial businesses in regulatory proceedings, including securities enforcement proceedings and anti-money laundering investigations, helping clients navigate the ongoing challenges to relationships with regulators, investors, and shareholders that these proceedings can cause.

Public Interest Litigation: Hecker Fink takes on some of the most pressing and groundbreaking public interest litigation in the country.

Appellate Litigation: The firm’s appellate practice spans all areas of its work. Hecker Fink team of lawyers, which includes three former Supreme Court clerks, have litigated cases in all levels of state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

Updated Feb 2026

Address:
350 Fifth Avenue, 63rd Fl.
New York, NY 10118
Tel:+1 212 763 0883 Web Address:https://www.heckerfink.com
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Linked Reviews
Dispute Resolution
Operating at the center of some of the most closely watched disputes, investigations, and enforcement matters in the market, Hecker Fink has earned a reputation for handling complex, high-pressure engagements across the litigation spectrum.
The firm is particularly noted for their "ability to navigate sensitive matters at the intersection of criminal, regulatory, and civil risk" combining trial-ready advocacy with strategic counsel for corporate and individual clients alike.

At the forefront of the practice is Sean Hecker, a leading New York trial lawyer whose work spans white collar defense, government investigations, regulatory enforcement, cryptocurrency disputes, public interest litigation, and complex commercial matters. His recent engagements include representing the founder of Terraform Labs in parallel criminal and regulatory proceedings, defending a client in a closely watched constitutional and criminal matter, and acting in significant securities, commodities, and enforcement actions. Market sources are emphatic in their praise, describing him as " the king. He's an incredible trial lawyer and strategist. He's respected by everyone for good reason." Another source adds: "Excellent lawyer, great judgement, courtroom skills, knows how to deal with opposing counsel in government or private."

Also active in the firm's white collar and investigations practice is Shawn Crowley, whose work focuses on criminal defense, government investigations, regulatory matters, and trial advocacy. He recently secured the dismissal of federal bribery and honest services fraud charges against a Miami attorney following extensive advocacy with federal prosecutors and remains active in high-stakes investigations and criminal defense matters. A peer remarked: "Shawn is pound-for-pound the best trial lawyer in NYC."

Mike Ferrara maintains a broad practice encompassing white collar investigations, securities enforcement, cryptocurrency matters, commercial litigation, and public interest work. He has represented clients in major cryptocurrency proceedings, regulatory enforcement matters, financial market investigations, and civil rights and immigration-related litigation. One source commented: "Mike Ferrara is somehow feared and loved by everyone in NYC. He's a great lawyer and a great person. He's got terrific judgment and impeccable trial skills."

Among the firm's most prominent trial lawyers, David Patton is widely recognized for his work in white collar criminal defense, cryptocurrency litigation, and high-profile investigations. His recent matters include landmark cryptocurrency prosecutions, significant federal criminal cases, and securities-related disputes, alongside a steady stream of government investigations and complex regulatory matters. Clients and peers note his strengths, describing him as a "Terrific and experienced trial lawyer, good judgement, excellent co-counsel."

Marshall Miller rounds out the firm's deep bench of investigations talent. His practice focuses on government investigations, higher education matters, civil rights issues, compliance counseling, and national security-related inquiries. He is regularly involved in significant investigations and litigation concerning higher education institutions, government enforcement actions, and complex regulatory matters. Reflecting on his experience and insight, one source observed: "Very smart, excellent working knowledge of how decisions are made in the government -- especially but not limited to DOJ."

The firm's reputation is reinforced by strong client feedback highlighting both its substantive expertise and collaborative approach. One client noted: "They are very knowledgeable about the civil and criminal investigative process and the relevant securities and other laws at issue in the matter, produced documents and information to the government as requested in a timely and complete manner, and advocated on behalf of their clients to the government and the company. Hecker Fink was a team player and cooperated with the company to the extent appropriate and was responsive to our inquiries." When asked what the firm does particularly well, clients pointed to its strengths in "Legal analysis, strategic advice, factual development."


Updated October 2026
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