education
-
American Univeristy of Paris, B.A.
-
Fordham University Law School, J.D., Magna Cum Laude
Admitted In
-
New York
julie withers
partner
Julie Withers has a lengthy track record of success defending individuals and corporate clients in white-collar criminal cases and in governmental and internal investigations and representing plaintiffs and defendants in complex commercial litigation.
Criminal Practice
In her criminal practice, Ms. Withers focuses on defending clients being investigated for or charged with financial crimes. She has represented clients in investigations and trials involving essentially all major governmental and self-regulatory investigatory agencies, including, the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Criminal Section of the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division, the SEC, FINRA, and the CFA Board, on allegations such as fraud, violations of the securities laws, insider-trading, antitrust, and OFAC violations.
Julie was recently a key part of a winning trial team that secured a complete defense verdict in a high-profile criminal antitrust price-fixing trial brought by the Department of Justice following three lengthy jury trials. The DOJ charged ten executives from the poultry industry with criminal violations of the Sherman Act, alleging a price-fixing scheme in the $28 billion-per-year broiler chicken market. As one of three lead trial attorneys representing a former Vice President of Pilgrim’s Pride, she obtained two mistrials and ultimately a full acquittal. The trial win earned the defense teams The AmLaw Litigation Daily’s “Litigator of the Week” first runners-up recognition, and the case garnered extensive national attention from major news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Reuters, Politico, and CNBC, among others.
Julie was a member of the HSW trial team that obtained the complete exoneration against the SEC for a prominent financial advisor charged with fraud, and the team that successfully resolved a “Black Friday” internet gambling action brought by the United States Department of Justice against a world-renowned poker player.
Civil and Employment Practice
Julie also represents individuals and companies in complex business disputes and employment matters. Among other matters, she negotiated a $13 million settlement for an entrepreneur in a failed acquisition; negotiated the return of all lost monies for an investor in a dispute with a bank; and was a member of the HSW team that won a federal jury verdict of over $20 million in a business dispute.
Pro Bono
Julie’s pro bono representations have included 10 individuals imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay, and the clemency appeal of Stanley Tookie Williams.
Past Experience and Education
Previously, Ms. Withers was an associate at Allen & Overy LLP, a leading international firm, where she focused on defending financial institutions and individuals in white-collar criminal and regulatory investigations. Julie began her career at Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, in the white-collar defense group led by renowned criminal defense attorney, Peter Fleming, Jr.
Julie graduated magna cum laude from Fordham University Law School in 2003 and clerked for Judge Kevin Thomas Duffy in the Southern District of New York.