Kaye Scholer

Prior to joining Kaye Scholer, Mr. Sussman was Deputy Chief of the Financial Crimes and Special Prosecutions Section for U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois, where he supervised the successful prosecution of a wide array of cases, including complex securities fraud, tax offenses, regulatory violations, money laundering, racketeering, and computer-related investigations.

Mr. Sussman was also the Food & Drug Administration Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where he worked with officials at the FDA and USDA to investigate and prosecute numerous criminal enforcement actions. He served as the lead prosecutor for a broad range of complex corporate fraud and regulatory investigations involving securities violations, corporate tax offenses, bank fraud, violations of food safety laws and workplace safety laws. Mr. Sussman has tried 29 federal cases, serving as first chair in 23 of them, and has briefed and argued multiple appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Among the cases that Mr. Sussman handled personally were the successful corporate securities and tax fraud prosecution of Conrad Black and other top executives of Hollinger International, relating to the embezzlement of millions of dollars from the corporation; the successful prosecution of one of the largest electrical contracting companies in the country for willfully violating OSHA regulations; the successful prosecution of the largest food-storage warehouse company in the Midwest and its president for fraud and food safety violations for their storing of tons of adulterated food products; and the successful prosecution of the former Chicago Police Department’s chief of detectives and other organized crime associates who were convicted of operating a multi-million dollar jewelry theft ring.

Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Sussman served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable George M. Marovich, N.D. of Illinois.

Mr. Sussman began his legal career at Sidley & Austin in the Product Liability Litigation Group, where he coordinated the defense of multi-district state and federal AIDS/Hemophilia litigation.

Representative Matters

Some of Mr. Sussman’s recent or current matters include:

• FCPA counseling and training for international pharmaceutical companies and private equity funds.
  
  
• Representation of international health care company in two separate FCPA investigations in Russia and Italy.
  
  
• Representation of international hedge fund in connection with SEC and Department of Justice securities fraud proceedings against New York attorney, Marc Dreier, and related bankruptcy litigation.
  
  
• Representation of senior executive of multi-national insurance conglomerate in Department of Justice and SEC subprime investigation.
  
  
• Representation of several Chicago-based financial services firms in connection with multiple SEC investigations of potential fraud and abuse.
  
  
• Representation of worldwide commercial lender in complex civil litigation involving allegations of financial fraud by senior executives at debtor companies.
  
  
• Representation of corporation and senior executives in Department of Justice criminal investigation involving alleged IEEPA violations for sales of products to Iran.
  
  
• Representation of senior foreign executive charged by Department of Justice with illegal arms trafficking in violation of AECA.
  
  
• Representation of wholesale food-distribution company in Department of Justice criminal investigation.
  
  
• Representation of corporate employee in Department of Justice investigation of suspected theft of sensitive government information.
  
  
• Advising hedge fund owners and managers on issues relating to disclosure obligations and potential liabilities.
  
  
• Representation of multi-national company in Department of Justice government contracting investigation.
  
  
• Representation of health products retail company in connection with FDA and Department of Justice criminal investigation.
  
  
• Representation of New York-based construction firm in connection with Department of Justice investigation of alleged minority business fraud.

Honors and Awards

• Seven Honor Awards for Excellence and Integrity from the USDA.
  
  
• Two Certificates of Recognition from the Director of the FBI.
  
  
• The Cook County Crime Prevention Award of Excellence in Law Enforcement.

Professional Activities

• Member of Illinois Supreme Court Character and Fitness Committee.
  
  
• Adjunct Professor of Law at Northwestern University Law School (Trial Advocacy).
  
  
• Trial instructor at National Advocacy Center for the Department of Justice.
  
  
• Trial Instructor at the University of Chicago Law School (Intensive Trial Advocacy).