Call Us: 212-696-4848 About Attorneys Practice Areas Leasing Illustrated Contact True Legal Counsel Ira Lee Sorkin – Partner Ira Lee “Ike” Sorkin focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, SEC enforcement and other regulatory investigations and proceedings, internal investigations, corporate governance, FINRA defense, and civil litigation. His clients benefit from a professional background that very few lawyers can claim. Mr. Sorkin served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York (Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division), at the Securities & Exchange Commission (Director of the SEC’s New York office) and as the Chief Legal Officer of a member firm of the New York Stock Exchange (Nomura Holding America, Inc., and Nomura Securities International, Inc.). A graduate of Tulane University and the George Washington University Law School, Mr. Sorkin started his career in 1968 as a staff attorney with the New York Office of the SEC. In 1971, Mr. Sorkin was sworn in as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office. After one year having tried 15 cases to verdict, he moved to the Securities Frauds Unit and investigated and tried criminal violations of the federal securities laws. In approximately March 1976, Mr. Sorkin was appointed Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division. In that capacity he helped train new Assistant United States Attorneys, approved indictments, and authorized search warrants and arrest warrants. While a member of the Securities Frauds Unit, Mr. Sorkin helped formulate the legal theories that led to the first criminal insider trading case. On January 1, 1977, Mr. Sorkin entered private practice. His defense representations run the gamut, from insider trading and market manipulation, Regulation M and SHO, bribery, conspiracy, Ponzi schemes, derivatives, false filings, obstruction of justice, and accounting fraud. His clients include individuals, businesses, corporate committees, hedge funds, broker-dealers, and investment advisors. Mr. Sorkin has been recognized by Chambers USA; Leading Lawyers for Business; Who’s Who Legal: Business Crime Defense; Expert Guide to the World’s Leading White Collar Crime Lawyers; The Best Lawyers in America; and Super Lawyers. Mr. Sorkin is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Federal Bar Council, the New York Council of Defense Lawyers, and the Association of SEC Alumni. He is a former Chairman of the Board and President of the American Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a member of the university’s Board of Governors and Executive Committee. For many years, Mr. Sorkin has been a tutor for underprivileged inner-city elementary school students. In 2010 Mr. Sorkin was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Hebrew University. Mr. Sorkin is admitted to practice in New York State, the Supreme Court of the United States, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and the District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Representative Engagements Ike has represented many high-profile individuals and significant matters over the course of his career. Ike represents individuals, hedge funds, public and private corporations, registered entities such as broker/dealers, and audit committees of public corporations, among other parties. His practice runs the gamut of entities being investigated and prosecuted in areas such as: Insider trading Market manipulation Regulation M Regulation SHO Securities fraud Sale of unregistered securities Bribery Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Ponzi schemes Perjury Conspiracy Derivatives Valuations of securities False filings and obstruction of justice Accounting fraud Other Distinctions Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2012-2018) – Ike has been consistently praised by clients and peers as a “seriously strong player in the market.” He is also described as “an excellent lawyer,” who is noted for his “very good understanding of the SEC.” Who’s Who Legal: Business Crime Defense (2014) – Ike has been listed among the world’s leading business criminal defense attorneys. Expert Guide to the World’s Leading White Collar Crime Lawyers (2014 & 2016) – Ike has been listed among the leading white collar attorneys in the United States. The Best Lawyers in America (2008-2015) – Ike has been ranked in bet-the-company litigation, criminal defense-white collar and commercial litigation. Super Lawyers (2006-2019) – Ike has been acknowledged for his prowess in bet-the-company litigation, criminal defense-white collar and commercial litigation. Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2010) – Ike received an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy and was designated as Benefactor of the University for his many significant contributions to the university over the years. Publications Deterring SEC ‘Shoot From The Hip’ Enforcement Law 360, March 11, 2013 Recent Press Mentions Ike Sorkin is quoted in the New York Times regarding the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit’s denial of a request to reconsider a ruling that sharply narrowed the definition of insider trading. The New York Times , April 3, 2015 In an interview with Chambers Associate, Ike Sorkin discusses his law career and offers advice to students entering the field. Chambers Associate , 2014-2015 In an interview on Bloomberg TV, Ike Sorkin discusses reports of an insider-trading investigation involving billionaire investor Carl Icahn, professional golfer Phil Mickelson and sports gambler William Walters. Bloomberg TV , June 2, 2014 Ike Sorkin was quoted in The New York Times. The New York Times, January 30, 2014 In a New York Times article about how recent Wall Street scandals have increased the need for white collar criminal defense lawyers, Ike Sorkin is highlighted for representing a former Barclays trader. New York Times , September 24, 2012 In The New York Law Journal, Ike Sorkin comments on what constitutes white collar crime in light of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s investigation of Dewey & LeBoeuf’s former chairman. New York Law Journal , May 4, 2012 In a New York Times article, Ike Sorkin comments on defendants crying in court. New York Times , December 22, 2011 In Bloomberg, Ike Sorkin comments on standards for trading on inside information. Bloomberg , July 2011 Contact: sorkin@mintzandgold.com Ph 212-696-4848 Fx 212-696-1231 vCard PRACTICES White Collar Defense Broker-Dealer/Futures Regulatory Compliance & Advice Civil Litigation Self-Regulatory Investigations & Litigation Defense EDUCATION George Washington University Law School (J.D. ,1968) Tulane University (B.A., 1965) BAR ADMISSIONS New York COURT ADMISSIONS New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit U.S. Supreme Court AFFILIATIONS Member, Association of the Bar of the City of New York Member, New York County Lawyers Association Member, New York Council of Defense Lawyers Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Member, Association of SEC Alumni, and the American Bar Association Member, Dean’s Advisory Board, The George Washington University Law School Member, Advisory Board, the Center for Law, Economics and Finance at The George Washington University Law School 212-696-4848 600 Third Avenue, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10016 Attorney Website by Uptime JurisPage. © 2021 Mintz & Gold. 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