Bracewell Adds Two Prominent White Collar Partners in New York

NEW YORK, New York – Bracewell LLP is pleased to announce that Judge Barbara S. Jones and Paul Shechtman have joined the firm in New York as partners in the white collar practice. Theresa J. Lee and Maggie Lynaugh will also join the firm as associates in New York.

Bracewell’s white collar practice has been one of the firm’s core practices for more than a decade. The addition of these distinguished lawyers brings this practice to a new level and will allow the firm to expand its representation in this critical area in New York and throughout the United States.

In addition to her advisory role in white collar cases, Jones will continue her arbitration and mediation practice and service as a court appointed officer for special master, receivership and monitorship positions. Shechtman will continue his practice as one of the nation’s most highly regarded white collar lawyers.

“New York is the firm’s second largest office, and the white collar practice has been part of its foundation from the beginning,” said Bracewell Managing Partner Mark C. Evans. “The addition of Barbara, Paul and their team could not be a better fit for our clients and the New York office.”

“I have known Barbara and Paul for many years and respect them both tremendously,” said Daniel S. Connolly, managing partner of Bracewell’s New York office. “They are among the most elite in the New York bar, and I couldn’t be more excited to have them join the firm as my partners.”

“Paul and I are excited that Bracewell has asked us, and two talented associates, to join its New York office,” said Judge Barbara S. Jones. “We look forward to contributing to a firm that has a reputation for zealous advocacy and professional excellence.”

“The opportunity to add such an outstanding team to our New York office and white collar practice is unparalleled,” said Gregory M. Bopp, head of Bracewell’s lateral recruiting committee and incoming managing partner.

Barbara S. Jones– for 16 years served as a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She presided over cases relating to accounting and securities fraud, antitrust, fraud and corruption involving city contracts and federal loan programs, labor racketeering and terrorism. She also spent more than 20 years as a prosecutor. Prior to her nomination to the bench in 1995, she was the Chief Assistant to Robert M. Morgenthau, then the District Attorney of New York County. She began her career as a special attorney in the Honors Program of the U.S. Department of Justice assigned to the organized crime unit of the Criminal Division.

Paul Shechtman– has more than 30 years of experience drawn from government service and private practice. He represents individuals, corporations, and municipal agencies in federal and state criminal and regulatory investigations. He has experience in matters relating to antitrust law, health care fraud, insider trading, and other complex criminal cases. He frequently argues before federal and state appellate courts. His work has clarified law and set important precedents that continue to shape the legal and political landscape in New York and beyond. He has been recognized by Chambers & Partners in its Chambers USA guide for Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations since 2011 and in 2015 was noted by Best Lawyers as its New York City White-Collar Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year.

The lawyers in Bracewell's white collar defense, internal investigations and regulatory enforcement practice possess the skill and experience critical to conduct internal investigations for companies and their audit or special board committees, to defend clients in the face of a criminal, civil or regulatory investigation or prosecution and to develop, review and audit corporate compliance programs to minimize the risk of violations of laws or regulations and, if subject to a government investigation, to reduce the likelihood of prosecution.