Howard Schiffman is a partner in the Litigation Group at Schulte Roth & Zabel. Nationally known in the area of securities litigation and regulatory developments, Howard focuses on investigations and enforcement proceedings brought by various exchanges and government agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Justice and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, as well as a diverse array of civil litigation, including securities class actions and arbitrations. A corporate problem solver, Howard is as adept at dispute containment and resolution as he is at arguing to a jury. He counsels clients, including major financial institutions and investment banks, leading Nasdaq market-makers, institutional and retail brokerage firms and their registered representatives, trade execution and clearing firms, prime brokers, national accounting firms, hedge funds, multi-level marketing firms, ICOs and other crypto businesses and public and private companies and their senior officers in risk analysis and litigation avoidance. Still, with his extensive trial experience and solid record of success in numerous Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement actions, SRO proceedings and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority arbitrations, Howard has the confidence to take a case to trial when necessary. He successfully obtained a defensive verdict in a jury trial in the Southern District of New York for a hedge fund partner being sued by his investors. He also represented the former CEO of the largest Nasdaq market-making firm, Knight Securities, in a federal court action brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission. After a 14-day bench trial, all parties were completely cleared of wrongdoing.
Howard began his career as a trial attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Enforcement. In private practice for almost 30 years, he has long been at the forefront of securities litigation and regulatory developments, including his current representation of hedge funds, leading prime brokers, clearance firms, multi-level marketing firms, ICOs and other crypto businesses, in regulatory and civil litigation. Howard was included in Washingtonian’s “Washington’s Top Lawyers” list and has been recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, The Legal 500 US and Benchmark Litigation as a leading individual in the securities regulation area. He is a member of American Bar Association Sections on Litigation, Corporation, Finance and Securities Law and a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. He is also a director and former president of the Association of Securities and Exchange Commission Alumni Inc. Howard is a former co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Group. He holds a J.D., cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law and a B.A., cum laude, from Colgate University.
Updated Sep 2023
