Debevoise & Plimpton LLP announces that litigation partner Lisa Zornberg has been appointed by the Mayor of New York City as Chief Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall.
“Lisa has made substantial contributions to the firm and our clients over the years, and we congratulate her on her new position, which extends the firm’s tradition of public service,” said Presiding Partner Peter Furci. “During her time at Debevoise, Lisa has brought integrity, energy and dedication to her role – qualities that will serve her well as she confronts the many challenges faced by the city. We wish her great success in this next endeavor.”
Ms. Zornberg is a partner and member of the firm’s White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group. She focuses her practice on white collar defense, regulatory enforcement actions and internal investigations—including cyber investigations—for corporations and financial institutions as well as complex civil litigation. Ms. Zornberg also co-heads associate training for the firm’s litigation department.
Prior to joining Debevoise in 2019, Ms. Zornberg was the Chief of the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s office in the Southern District of New York. Ms. Zornberg first joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 1998, where, over the next 14 years, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney in both the Civil and Criminal Divisions, rising to supervisory ranks in each division. From 2004 to 2005, she was Deputy Chief of Appeals in the Civil Division, and from 2011 to 2012, she was Co-Chief of the Complex Frauds Unit in the Criminal Division.
Ms. Zornberg is Co-Chair of the United Jewish Appeal’s White Collar & Securities Enforcement Executive Committee, a Board member of the Federal Bar Council, a Board member of The Office of the Appellate Defender, and a former national vice chair of the American Bar Association’s White Collar Committee. She is a recipient of the Department of Justice Marshall Award, the department’s highest award given to attorneys for excellence in legal performance, and the recipient of the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation’s Federal Prosecutor of the Year award.
Ms. Zornberg graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1991 and cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1994. Early in her legal career, Ms. Zornberg clerked for the Hon. Sonia Sotomayor, when Justice Sotomayor served as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York.