Bob Cleary is Of Counsel in the firm’s Litigation department and is a member of its White Collar Defense and Investigations practice. Prior to private practice, Bob had a lengthy and distinguished career as a federal prosecutor, including service as the U.S. Attorney both in the District of New Jersey and the Southern District of Illinois. Bob concentrates his practice on white collar criminal defense, SEC and related enforcement matters, securities litigation, complex civil litigation, tax controversies, and internal investigations. He has extensive experience in international criminal matters, including money laundering investigations and foreign extradition proceedings.
Bob has over 30 years of courtroom experience as a trial lawyer and appellate advocate and has also been retained in numerous high-profile corporate criminal matters. He has repeatedly been recognized in various publications as a leading practitioner, including The Legal 500 United States Hall of Fame in the area of Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense, in which clients describe him as “cool, calm and collected” and a “master strategist.” He is also recognized in Chambers USA as “a go-to attorney for individuals and corporate clients facing high-stakes criminal proceedings and complex regulatory investigations.” Clients say, “He has stellar credentials, great experience and a phenomenal set of contacts in the legal profession. What sets him apart is the way that he is able to distill down complex situations for people.” The American College of Trial Lawyers recognized Bob’s trial expertise by inducting him as a Fellow in 2014. Bob was named in Who's Who Legal's Business Crime Defence 2024 in the areas of Corporates and Individuals and in Commercial Litigation 2024. He was also named to Lawdragon's 2025 List of 500 Leading Litigators in America.
Prior to joining Patterson Belknap, Bob served in various senior management positions of a major international law firm, including as Co-Chair of the firm’s global Litigation Department and as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.
In his capacity as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey and the Southern District of Illinois, Bob was the chief federal law enforcement officer in those districts, responsible for all federal prosecutions and lawsuits filed against the federal government. Prior to his appointment as U.S. Attorney, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York, ultimately becoming the Chief of the Major Crimes Unit. During his tenure as First Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of New Jersey, he was appointed the lead prosecutor in the Unabomber case, United States v. Theodore J. Kaczynski. Mr. Cleary began his prosecutorial career as a trial attorney for the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
The White House and the Department of Justice have consulted with Bob on homeland security and USA Patriot Act Issues on numerous occasions since he left government service.
Updated Oct 2024
