Mike Ferrara is a partner at Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP. A decorated former federal prosecutor, Mike has extensive experience as a trial and appellate lawyer across a career of public service that includes over a decade as an Assistant US Attorney in the Southern District of New York.
Mike maintains a broad-based white-collar practice, representing companies, boards of directors, and individuals in connection with white-collar criminal defense, government investigations, and complex civil litigation. Mike leverages his extensive public sector experience to help clients navigate responding to criminal prosecutions and regulatory enforcement proceedings; and conducts internal investigations and provides counsel on compliance to help them avoid such prosecutions and proceedings in the first place. His particular expertise in securities fraud, corruption (including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act), and cybercrime – combined with his familiarity and comfort with intricate, multinational settings – equips him to deliver compelling results for clients as they face their most critical legal challenges.
At the SDNY US Attorney’s Office, Mike served as Co-Chief of both the Complex Fraud & Cybercrime, and Terrorism & International Narcotics Units, as Deputy Chief of the Appeals Unit, and was a member of the Securities & Commodities Fraud Task Force. Before that, he was as Trial Attorney in the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice. Across his 14 years in government, Mike was counsel in eleven federal criminal jury trials, one federal bench trial, and over twenty misdemeanor bench trials; briefed over forty and argued nine federal appeals.
Mike has received significant recognition for his public service, both from within the government and from beyond. He is the recipient of the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award, the Director’s Award for Superior Performance by a Litigative Team, the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation’s Federal Prosecutor Award, and the Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Ensuring the Integrity of Government. Most recently, Mike was honored with the Henry L. Stimson Medal, awarded by the New York City Bar to outstanding Assistant US Attorneys in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
Updated Sep 2023
