Susan Brune

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Susan Brune’s practice focuses on white-collar defense, commercial litigation, and internal investigations.  Ms. Brune has been consistently recognized for excellence in the practice of law.  Superlawyers has identified her as one of the "Top 100 Lawyers in New York." 

Ms. Brune successfully represents clients in white-collar criminal investigations and prosecutions, and in civil proceedings.  She has repeatedly warded off indictment and regulatory charges, through sound strategic choices, meticulous preparation and forceful advocacy. Her criminal and civil cases have included allegations of securities fraud, accounting fraud, insider trading, health care and other government contract fraud, tax-related fraud, money laundering, antitrust violations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations, customs violations, and bank fraud.  She practices in federal and state court, and before the SEC, FINRA and other enforcement agencies.

Experienced in the courtroom, she most recently obtained the acquittal of a Bear Stearns hedge fund manager in a federal jury trial.  She also recently obtained the dismissal of a civil suit against a hedge fund manager related to short selling.

Other representative public matters include:

• Defense of a securities broker in a criminal case, and in multiple civil cases and arbitrations across the country concerning tax-related transactions
  
• Defense of a chief accounting officer in criminal and civil matters relating to stock options backdating
  
• Defense of securities firm executives and brokers in SEC and NYSE investigative and enforcement matters relating to mutual fund market timing and late trading
  
• Defense of an NYSE specialist in an enforcement matter concerning alleged interpositioning and trading ahead
• Defense of a law firm partner in a civil suit alleging breach of fiduciary duty
  
• Representation of various bankers, analysts and Enron employees in investigative and civil matters relating to the collapse of Enron

Ms. Brune also handles internal investigations in both private and public settings. She has served as counsel to a special litigation committee and as counsel to the future claimants' representative related to a large-scale bankruptcy. She has often served as a court-appointed SEC receiver and as a monitor. Over the years, she has served as receiver for, among other entities, a broker-dealer, a hedge fund, trading entities, a disgorgement fund, and an entertainment company. She has served as an outside monitor for a large seafood concern and for an electrical contractor.

From 1990 to 1997, Ms. Brune served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where she prosecuted numerous white-collar matters, including significant fraud, public corruption, embezzlement and healthcare fraud cases. While an Assistant U.S. Attorney, she taught trial techniques at the U.S. Department of Justice's Advanced Civil Trial Advocacy.

From 1988 through 1990, Ms. Brune served as a law clerk to Judge Whitman Knapp in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Ms. Brune is a 1988 honors graduate of Harvard Law School. In 1985, she received an M.A. in American history from Columbia University.  In 1983, she received a B.A. from the Honors College of the University of Michigan.

Ms. Brune speaks frequently on topics related to white-collar defense.  Speaking engagements include:

• Defending the White Collar Case: In and Out of Court, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers White Collar Crime Conference, October 2009
• Ethics for Commercial Litigators, Practicing Law Institute, July 2009
• The Future of Corporate Criminal Liability, International Bar Association Transnational Crime Conference, June 2009
• Managing Complex Litigation: Legal Strategies and Best Practices in "High Stakes" Cases, Practicing Law Institute, November 2008
• Direct & Cross Examination of Witnesses and Navigating Objections, CitiBar Center for Continuing Legal Education, September 2007
  
• Privileges in Regulatory & Criminal Investigations: Legal & Ethical Issues, CitiBar Center for Continuing Legal Education, June 2006
  
• Federal Criminal Practice Institute, New York County Lawyers’ Association, April 2000, May 2001, October 2004, and October 2007
• ABC’s of Federal Criminal Practice: A Practical Primer, CitiBar Center for Continuing Legal Education,  April 1999, September 2004, October 2005, and October 2007.

In January 2009, the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers conferred on Ms. Brune the Honorable S. Thurgood Marshall Award for Outstanding Practitioner.

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