Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP > New York, United States > Firm Profile

Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP > Firm Profile

Since its founding in 2017, Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP (KHF) has quickly grown into one of the country’s elite litigation boutiques, fusing a high-stakes, cutting edge litigation practice with a groundbreaking commitment to serving the public interest. KHF’s highly experienced litigators help clients navigate their most pressing legal challenges: from complex commercial litigation for some of the country’s biggest companies, to high-profile white-collar criminal defense, to sensitive internal investigations and intricate regulatory and securities matters. The firm leads some of the nation’s most prominent public interest litigation and also frequently files amicus briefs – at all levels of the judiciary – to support the most vulnerable. KHF’s team of New York and Washington, DC-based litigators share a mission to provide the highest level of client service and advocacy, while at the same time maintaining a deep commitment to principles of integrity, fairness, and public service.

KHF has been named by Benchmark Litigation as “Boutique Firm of the Year” for four of the last five years. The publication has also consistently given the firm its highest ranking as a “Highly Recommended Law Firm – New York,” making KHF one of the very few litigation boutiques – and the only firm founded by women – to achieve that top designation. KHF is routinely recognized in Chambers, Legal 500, Crain’s New York, National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, New York Law Journal, among many others.

KHF is recognized for the extensive trial experience of its lawyers, who have tried numerous civil and criminal cases to verdict in both federal and state court. The team includes five former federal prosecutors and four former public defenders – experience that uniquely positions the firm to take any case to trial and secure the best possible results for its clients. In what has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a 2020 “Impact Case” and by Global Investigations Review as “Most Important Court Case of the Year,” KHF secured a “rare” acquittal at trial in a market manipulation case against a former Barclays trader in early 2019. KHF was also honored at the 2022 Benchmark Litigation East Coast Awards with “Impact Case of the Year” for our work on Sines v Kessler. KHF won a history $26m settlement for our clients, representing ten plaintiffs in a groundbreaking lawsuit against twenty-five white supremacists and neo-Nazis, bringing claims based on their roles in organizing the racial and religious-based violence in Charlottesville during the summer of 2017.

KHF successfully represented writer E. Jean Carroll in her sexual assault and defamation suits, securing two substantial jury verdicts of $5m and $83.3m, respectively—both in less than three hours. In 2024, KHF secured a settlement in a challenge to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law that restored the ability of students, teachers, and others in Florida schools to speak and write freely about sexual orientation and gender identity in class participation and schoolwork.

KHF lawyers have consistently been recognized as among the leading litigators in the country, with partners Roberta Kaplan and Sean Hecker having been honored as two of the nation’s top litigators in commercial litigation and white-collar criminal defense respectively.

As a peer noted to Benchmark Litigation, KHF’s lawyers “are unwaveringly committed to staring down injustice without blinking, and their work proves that. They are ambitious, feisty and fearless, especially tailor-made for these tumultuous times.”

Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is more than a value of our firm, it is who we are. Our firm was founded by women and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Over 70% of our attorneys identify as women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, or some combination thereof. We strive to make sure that our policies, the way we practice, and opportunities for advancement at our firm all actively reflect our prioritization of building an equitable and inclusive workplace.

KHF holds membership in both Bloomberg Law’s DEI Framework group and the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), highlighting our active engagement and commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within the legal industry. In 2022, the firm received the LCLD Compass Award, and each year, we nominate diverse attorneys to participate in the council’s Fellow and Pathfinders programs. In 2023, KHF was named “North American Firm of the Year” by Legal Media Group as part of its Women in Business Law North America Awards and shortlisted for both Crain’s New York’s “Diversity Champion” and Chambers’ “Diversity and Inclusion Outstanding Firm” awards.

KHF has built a track record of impressive results in high-stakes litigation, fueled by a small team of litigators with extensive trial experience and wide-ranging subject matter expertise. Its practice focuses on the following areas:

Commercial litigation: KHF lawyers are highly experienced commercial litigators with wide-ranging backgrounds. Clients range from large financial institutions and ratings agencies to Fortune 500 companies, tech companies and startups, and nationally prominent individuals. We are efficient, diverse, creative, collaborative, and focused on achieving the best possible results for our clients.

White-collar criminal defense: The firm has extensive experience defending companies, boards of directors, and executives in criminal investigations and enforcement and regulatory proceedings across a range of areas. We have particular expertise in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and anti-corruption, False Claims Act and whistleblower actions, anti-money laundering, and various kinds of financial fraud.

Cybersecurity and data privacy: KHF lawyers have wide-ranging experience helping companies and executives navigate complex challenges involving cybersecurity, data privacy, and related regulatory compliance.

FCPA and anti-corruption: KHF lawyers have significant expertise representing clients in which the FCPA and other anti-corruption issues arise – including in internal investigations, representing companies and individuals in government enforcement matters, and advising companies on anti-corruption compliance.

Employment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct: The firm has extensive experience representing organizations in sensitive employment and discrimination matters, including with respect to Title VII and Title IX claims and independent contractor and Fair Labor Standards Act classification. KHF has particular expertise representing top academic institutions in their most important Title VII and Title IX matters.

Investigations and crisis management: KHF helps its clients navigate every aspect of sensitive internal investigations: conducting the investigation, developing internal and external communications strategies, advising on public disclosures, and reviewing and revamping compliance structures.

Regulatory and securities matters and litigation: The firm has represented some of the nation’s leading financial institutions and commercial businesses in regulatory proceedings, including securities enforcement proceedings and anti-money laundering investigations, helping clients navigate the ongoing challenges in relationships with regulators, investors, and shareholders that these proceedings can cause.

Public interest litigation: KHF takes on some of the most pressing and groundbreaking public interest litigation in the country.

Appellate litigation: The firm’s appellate practice spans all areas of its work. Kaplan Hecker’s team of lawyers, which includes seven former Supreme Court clerks, have litigated cases in all levels of state and federal courts, including the US Supreme Court.

Lawyer Profiles

Photo	Name	Position	Profile
	Shawn Crowley	Partner	View Profile
	Jenna Dabbs	Partner	View Profile
	Kate Doniger	Partner	View Profile
	Michael Ferrara	Partner	View Profile
	Julie Fink	Partner	View Profile
	Mr David Gopstein	Partner	View Profile
	Sean Hecker	Partner	View Profile
	Roberta Kaplan	Partner	View Profile
	Timothy Martin	Partner	View Profile
	Joshua Matz	Partner	View Profile
	Mr David Patton	Partner	View Profile
	John Quinn	Partner	View Profile
	Gabrielle Tenzer	Partner	View Profile