Kenneth M. Breen 

Partner – New York
T.+1 212 504 6240
kenneth.breen@cwt.com
200 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10281 V-CARD

A partner in the White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice in New York, Kenneth Breen has earned a national reputation as a leading advocate and trial lawyer on high-profile criminal, regulatory enforcement, civil matters, and internal investigations. He is regularly chosen to defend corporations and executives in high-stakes investigations and trials, and to conduct internal investigations, involving a myriad of issues including securities fraud, health care fraud, consumer protection issues, money laundering, and anti-corruption allegations. Many of these matters involve law enforcement and regulatory agencies from multiple jurisdictions and cross-border legal issues. He has handled numerous investigations that have led to favorable settlements or concluded investigations in which no charges were brought, often by leveraging his reputation as a successful advocate and, when necessary, a winning trial and appellate attorney. He has tried 48 cases to verdict and argued 12 appeals as a federal prosecutor and defense attorney.

In ranking Ken among the leaders in White Collar & Government Investigations, Chambers USA notes that his clients regard him as a "fantastically talented lawyer who is extremely strategic," and they hold him in "high esteem" and praise his "very shrewd mind," "exceptional legal vision," and "ability to look across the full spectrum of white-collar issues." According to Chambers, he impresses clients as "a very strong advocate," "an extremely clear thinker," "great communicator," "highly focused and results-oriented," "able to manage large and complex cases seamlessly," "highly efficient, comprehensive and thoughtful," "very focused, incredibly direct and also really strategic," "dedicated, tireless and [someone who] can quickly and effectively understand legal issues and the business needs of his clients," and "phenomenal - [….] very good at his craft and […] a great strategist." Clients also describe him as an "extraordinarily effective trial counsel" who "comes with the experience, gravitas and intellect" that lets the other side know that he will be "really prepared to try the matter."

In January 2022, having achieved a split verdict at trial for Matt Connolly, the lead defendant in the Southern District of New York’s Deutsche Bank LIBOR manipulation case, Ken won a precedent-setting appellate victory in the Second Circuit in U.S. v. Connolly, et al., where all counts of conviction against Connolly were overturned and judgments of acquittal were directed. Connolly was the first U.S.-based trader to be charged with alleged manipulation of LIBOR. This win for Connolly and his co-defendant represents the only LIBOR-related criminal case in the U.S. or U.K. to be overturned on sufficiency of the evidence grounds and has received world-wide attention.

In January 2021, having served as trial counsel for David Gibson, the lead defendant in the District of Delaware‘s Wilmington Trust Corporation securities and accounting fraud case, Ken secured a landmark appellate ruling in the Third Circuit in U.S. v. Gibson, et al., where all counts of conviction against Gibson, the former Chief Financial Officer of Wilmington Trust Corp., were overturned on sufficiency grounds. Judgments of acquittal were directed as to 8 counts, and the 2 remaining remanded counts were subsequently dismissed. The American Lawyer deemed it "a stunning reversal of criminal convictions for four executives of Wilmington Trust Corp. in a case dating back to the Great Recession. Ken also successfully resolved the parallel SEC case against Gibson.

Ken’s work in U.S. v. Connolly, et al., was shortlisted by Global Investigations Review as the Most Important Case of the Year for its impact on future government investigations, and led to his recognition by Law360 as a "Legal Lion" following Connolly’s no prison time sentencing, though facing 15 years. The subsequent appellate reversal in U.S. v. Connolly, et al. led to Ken's recognition as The American Lawyer's "Litigator of the Week," which described the win as a "remarkable turnaround" and acknowledged it as the second white-collar appellate reversal obtained by Ken in as many years. Ken was previously nominated for "Litigator of the Week" by The American Lawyer for his more than 10 years of work in U.S. v. Gibson, et al.

Prior to private practice, Ken served as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, where he was Deputy Chief of the Business and Securities Fraud Section, and, prior to that, in the U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division.

Ken is the former global chair of the investigations and white collar practice at another leading U.S. law firm.

Accolades and Recognitions

  • Chambers USA Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations (2010-2024)
  • The Legal 500, Dispute Resolution-Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Corporates, Dispute Resolution-Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Individuals, Dispute Resolution-Financial Services Litigation, Dispute Resolution-Securities Litigation: Defense (2015-2024)
  • Lawdragon, Selected to the “500 Leading Lawyers in America” guide (2023, 2024), Selected to the “500 Leading Litigators in America” guide (2022, 2024), Selected to the “500 Leading Global Litigators” guide (2023)
  • National Law Journal, Selected to the "Trailblazers" list recognizing the nation's leading attorneys in criminal law (2020)
  • The American Lawyer, Litigator of the Week for securing a "remarkable turnaround" and complete appellate victory in U.S. v. Connolly, et al. (Second Circuit) with a precedent-setting opinion (2022), Litigator of the Week Nominee for work as trial and appellate counsel securing a landmark appellate victory in U.S. v. Gibson, et al. (Third Circuit) and following the dismissal of the remaining remanded counts (2021)
  • Law360, Recognized as a "Legal Lion" for securing a sentencing ruling without any period of incarceration in U.S. v. Connolly, et al. (S.D.N.Y.) (2019)
  • Global Investigations Review (GIR), Recognized as lead trial counsel in U.S. v. Connolly, et al. (S.D.N.Y.), shortlisted by GIR as "Most Important Case of the Year" for its impact on future government investigations (2019)
  • Benchmark Litigation, Named a Litigation Star in White Collar Crime

 

Ken has advised clients on and represented clients in numerous significant matters, including:

Internal Investigations

  • Conducted an internal investigation for the Audit Committee of a public international pharmaceutical company of allegations related to the Company’s financial statements, public statements, and management integrity.
  • Conducted an internal investigation for the Audit Committee of a public real estate development and management company of whistleblower allegations related to the Company’s financial statements and corporate expenditures.
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a multi-billion dollar fund related to potential fraud and conversion by a former executive officer.
  • Conducted an internal investigation of a public automotive supply company involving whistleblower allegations of accounting fraud.
  • Conducted internal investigations for a leading state university system involving issues of accounting, disclosures and documentation.
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a not-for-profit institution involving alleged misuse of charitable resources.
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a major financial institution involving allegations of fraud relating to the institution’s credit lending and audit practices.
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a not-for-profit corporation involving allegations of accounting fraud.

Regulatory Enforcement, Criminal Investigations, Trials and Appeals

  • Represented a Middle Eastern oil and gas company in large-scale and well-publicized FCPA investigations by the SEC and DOJ.
  • Represented a prominent proprietary trading firm and registered broker-dealer in SEC v. Galleon Management, LP, et al. and SEC v. Cutillo, et al., insider trading cases in the SDNY.
  • Represented a major construction company in an EDNY U.S. Attorney's Office investigation of the company's billing practices, which was resolved by a deferred prosecution agreement, as well as in related state and federal cases which were dismissed on motion after briefing and argument.
  • Represented the Swiss banking operations of a major international bank as Independent Examiner in connection with a DOJ Tax Division Program offering Non-Prosecution Agreements for Swiss banks.
  • Represented a multinational Latin American conglomerate with U.S. operations in an investigation relating to accrual accounting issues. The matter was resolved confidentially.
  • Represented an international financial services company in an investigation by the CFPB regarding its loan servicing platform and other technology services provided. The investigation was concluded without any charges being brought against our client.
  • Represented a hotel owner in an investigation by the Department of Justice Fraud Section involving alleged mortgage fraud in excess of $500 million.
  • Represented multiple fintech apps in investigations by the CFPB, NY Department of Financial Services, and other state regulators on issues involving online lending, interest rates categorized as "tips," monthly memberships at lending companies, and other consumer fees.
  • Represents a former senior executive of a financial institution in an investigation by U.S. and global law enforcement authorities of potential criminal conduct involving the alleged theft of over $3.5 billion from the Malaysian government-owned 1MDB investment company.
  • Represented Matthew Connolly, former manager at Deutsche Bank, in U.S. v. Connolly, et al. as lead counsel at trial and appeal in a matter involving allegations of wire fraud in connection with LIBOR submissions brought by the Department of Justice in the Southern District of New York. Following a split jury verdict, our client was not sentenced to any term of incarceration after a significant sentencing departure. The Second Circuit ultimately overturned all counts of conviction and directed judgments of acquittal. Our victory was recognized by The American Lawyer as a "remarkable turnaround" and has received world-wide coverage for its significance. Our work in this case was previously nominated by Global Investigations Review (GIR) as Most Important Case of the Year in 2019 for its impact on future investigations and by Law360 for securing a sentencing ruling without any period of incarceration.
  • Represented David Gibson, former Chief Financial Officer of Wilmington Trust Corporation, in U.S. v. Gibson, et al. as lead counsel at trial and appeal in a matter involving allegations of accounting and securities fraud brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware. Our client's conviction was overturned on all counts in a matter of first impression for the Third Circuit and the remanded counts were dismissed by the District of Delaware. The related SEC litigation was settled favorably. Our victories in this case have been recognized by The American Lawyer.
  • Represented former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik in criminal cases in the Bronx and U.S. District Court for the SDNY.

Pro Bono Counsel

  • Pro bono counsel to Kaiser's Room, a non-profit organization focused on providing arts programming to children with varying developmental profiles.

*Certain representations occurred prior to Ken's association with Cadwalader.

 

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