Debevoise & Plimpton LLP today announced that Winston M. Paes, former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) and Chief of the Business and Securities Fraud Section, is joining the firm’s New York office as a counsel in the White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group.
Mr. Paes has been a federal prosecutor for the past nine years, investigating and prosecuting an impressive share of notable cases relating to securities and accounting frauds, foreign bribery matters, insider trading and Ponzi and kickback schemes. As a supervisor, Mr. Paes significantly expanded the office’s white collar practice and investigated and prosecuted a wide range of fraud involving publicly traded companies, large financial institutions, corporate executives, hedge funds, investment advisers, broker-dealers, offshore tax havens, violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). During his tenure at the Office, Mr. Paes successfully tried 10 jury trials and argued 12 appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
“Winston’s tremendous experience in leading the Eastern District Business and Securities Fraud Section and his role in numerous high-profile and significant securities cases, including cases investigated in parallel with the SEC, will be invaluable to clients seeking to navigate this current challenging regulatory environment,” said Andrew J. Ceresney, Co-Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department. “We’re pleased to have Winston join the Debevoise team, as he will further bolster an already exceptionally strong White Collar practice.”
Debevoise’s White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group excels in complex representations for clients facing corporate crises. The Group’s depth of experience and global reach allows for effective and strategic counsel with international and domestic clients, from defending against criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions, to conducting internal investigations, negotiating complex global settlements and facilitating cooperation with government regulators.
Mr. Paes joining the firm follows the recent return of Mary Jo White, former Chair of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and Andrew J. Ceresney, former Director of the Division of Enforcement at the SEC.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Debevoise. It is an exceptional firm with a remarkable group of lawyers whose talent, experience and reputation, especially in the white-collar practice area, is unmatched,” said Mr. Paes. “I am excited to begin the next phase of my career at a firm that values and promotes collegiality and a team-oriented approach to client service.”
Mr. Paes earned his J.D. in 2003 from Brooklyn Law School, magna cum laude, and received his B.A. from the State University of New York, Stony Brook, magna cum laude, in 1998.
About the White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group
The White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group is made up of highly experienced career defense lawyers, as well as former federal prosecutors, judges and regulators. Debevoise lawyers are recognized as leaders in the field, and several partners in the group have held prominent positions at key governmental agencies, including the SEC and DOJ, among many others. With years of experience successfully representing companies, boards of directors and individual executives in a wide range of securities-related matters, including FCPA, insider trading, financial fraud, accounting fraud and investment advisor liability, Debevoise lawyers have the skills and experience to develop strategies to respond to regulatory inquiries in an efficient and effective manner and to reach favorable resolutions for clients, in some cases even before investigations are made public.
About Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a premier law firm with market-leading practices, a global perspective and strong New York roots. We deliver effective solutions to our clients’ most important legal challenges, applying clear commercial judgment and a distinctively collaborative approach.