Firm overview
Since its founding in 2017, Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP (Kaplan Hecker) 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. Kaplan Hecker’s highly-experienced litigators help clients navigate their most pressing legal challenges; from complex commercial litigation for some of the country’s biggest companies, to high-profile white-collar criminal defense, to sensitive internal investigations and intricate regulatory and securities matters. The firm leads some of the nation’s most prominent public interest litigation and also frequently files amicus briefs – at all levels of the judiciary – to support the most vulnerable. Kaplan Hecker’s team of New York and Washington, DC-based litigators share a mission to provide the highest level of client service and advocacy, while at the same time maintaining a deep commitment to principles of integrity, fairness, and public service.
Kaplan Hecker has been named by Benchmark Litigation as “Boutique Firm of the Year” in 2022, 2021, and 2020. Since 2019, Benchmark Litigation has also recognized us as one of the “Top Boutiques” in the country. The publication has also consistently given the firm its highest ranking as a “Highly Recommended Law Firm – New York,” making Kaplan Hecker one of the very few litigation boutiques – and the only firm founded by women – to achieve that top designation. Kaplan Hecker is routinely recognized in Chambers, Legal 500, Crain’s New York, National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, New York Law Journal, among many others.
Kaplan Hecker is recognized for the extensive trial experience of its lawyers, who have tried numerous civil and criminal cases to verdict in both federal and state court. The team includes four former federal prosecutors and three former public defenders – experience that uniquely positions the firm to take any case to trial and secure the best possible results for its clients. In what has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a 2020 “Impact Case” and by Global Investigations Review as “Most Important Court Case of the Year,” Kaplan Hecker secured a “rare” acquittal at trial in a market manipulation case against a former Barclays trader in early 2019. Kaplan Hecker was also recently honored at the 2022 Benchmark Litigation East Coast Awards with “Impact Case of the Year” for our work on Sines v. Kessler. Kaplan Hecker won a history $26 million settlement for our clients, representing ten plaintiffs in a groundbreaking lawsuit against twenty-five white supremacists and neo-Nazis, bringing claims based on their roles in organizing the racial and religious-based violence in Charlottesville during the summer of 2017.
Kaplan Hecker lawyers have consistently been individually recognized as among the leading litigators in the country, including partners Roberta Kaplan and Sean Hecker having been consistently honored as two of the nation’s top litigators in commercial litigation and white-collar criminal defense respectively.
As a peer noted to Benchmark Litigation, Kaplan Hecker’s 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.”
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is more than a value of our firm, it is who we are. Our firm was founded by women and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Today, over 80% of our attorneys identify as women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, or some combination thereof. We strive to make sure that our policies, the way we practice, and opportunities for advancement at our firm all actively reflect our prioritization of building an equitable and inclusive workplace. We are extremely proud that The American Lawyer has recognized this work, naming Kaplan Hecker its 2021 inaugural “Best Diversity Initiative” award recipient.
Kaplan Hecker 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: Kaplan Hecker 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: Kaplan Hecker lawyers have wide-ranging experience helping companies and executives navigate complex challenges involving cybersecurity, data privacy, and related regulatory compliance.
FCPA and Anti-Corruption: Kaplan Hecker 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. Kaplan Hecker has particular expertise representing top academic institutions in their most important Title VII and Title IX matters.
Investigations and Crisis Management: Kaplan Hecker 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: Kaplan Hecker 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. Kaplan Hecker 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 Sep 2022
