Nicholas Ickovic is an experienced commercial litigator focused on representing institutional and individual clients in complex cross-border disputes involving financial products and services. He has experience in matters dealing with debt and equity securities issuances, contract disputes and shareholder disputes. Mr. Ickovic also handles insolvency disputes and restructuring actions in bankruptcy court.

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr. Ickovic practiced at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he focused on commercial litigation.

Sydney S. Johnson is an experienced white-collar litigator and trial lawyer who serves as counsel in high-stakes complex litigation as well as in government enforcement defense matters against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. In particular, Ms. Johnson has extensive experience representing clients in the cryptocurrency industry, including individuals being investigated by the DOJ and CFTC on allegations of fraud, market manipulation, and money laundering, and proprietary trading firms subject to SEC enforcement actions.

In addition to her significant trial experience, Ms. Johnson has conducted numerous internal investigations on behalf of major financial institutions and their boards of directors.

Ms. Johnson began her practice at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.  Prior to that, she clerked for the Honorable Robert B. Kugler of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Daisy Joo specializes in government enforcement defense matters and complex commercial litigation. Ms. Joo has defended clients against allegations of fraud or other misconduct in regulatory matters involving state and federal government authorities, and in civil suits alleging violations of federal antitrust and securities laws. She has particular experience in disputes involving complex financial instruments and other regulated products, including pharmaceuticals, insurance, and consumer goods.

Prior to joining Kobre & Kim, Ms. Joo practiced at a national U.S. law firm. Earlier in her career, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Bruce M. Selya in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and to the Honorable Lorna G. Schofield in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Mikhail Kalinin represents clients in high-stakes international arbitration, litigation and enforcement proceedings, with significant experience in commercial and investment disputes under the ICSID, ICC and LCIA arbitration rules. He also advises clients involved in complex sanctions matters, investigations and contentious restructuring proceedings. Mr. Kalinin represents clients in the U.S., Europe, Russia and the broader Commonwealth of Independent States area in a variety of industries, including energy, construction and financial services.

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr. Kalinin practiced at King & Spalding.

Paul Kanellopoulos is an experienced trial lawyer who represents individual and institutional clients in complex commercial litigation. Mr. Kanellopoulos has extensive experience in white-collar, securities, intellectual property, insolvency and antitrust disputes before federal and state courts, as well as domestic alternative dispute resolution and international arbitration panels. Mr. Kanellopoulos is well-versed in all phases of litigation, including pre-suit investigations, pleadings, discovery, motion practice, depositions and trial.

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr. Kanellopoulos clerked for the Honorable Arthur D. Spatt of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Before that, he practiced complex commercial and antitrust litigation at Winston & Strawn LLP.

Jason Kang is a China-focused litigator who focuses on international judgment and award enforcement and other complex cross-border disputes. Mr. Kang has acted in a wide range of China-related disputes involving governments, state-owned enterprises, multinational corporations and high-net-worth individuals, including litigations in Hong Kong, the United States, the United Kingdom and other offshore jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands, as well as arbitrations under the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center (HKIAC) and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

Mr. Kang is particularly experienced in creating and implementing global strategies for enforcement of high-stakes judgments and awards.

Mr. Kang also has extensive experience working with Asia-based clients in navigating complex international regulatory schemes, including matters involving allegations of fraud, FCPA violations, corruption and other wrongdoings.

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr. Kang worked at the Hong Kong office of Stephenson Harwood, where he advised clients in complex commercial and intellectual property disputes.

Udi Karklinsky is an experienced litigator who represents companies and individuals in complex cross-border commercial litigation, including contractual, tort, securities, and other disputes, often with a nexus to Israel and the broader Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. He also advises clients in multi-regulator and internal investigations, including in relation to economic sanctions, anti-money laundering and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr. Karklinsky practiced at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in New York. He clerked for the Honorable Justice Zvi Zylbertal of the Supreme Court of Israel.

Michael Keilty provides ultra-high-net worth individuals and institutional clients with strategic advice on international government investigations and enforcement actions. Mr. Keilty has extensive experience working with senior international law enforcement officials, prosecutors, intelligence agencies and government departments on matters related to cybercrime, digital currency, money laundering, securities fraud, espionage, export control violations and national security.

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr. Keilty served as Assistant Special Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice. In coordination with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, intelligence agencies, Department of State and other agencies, Mr. Keilty oversaw and carried out wide-ranging investigative activities into high-profile individuals, companies and organizations, and conducted two jury trials in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. 

Prior to serving in the Special Counsel’s Office, Mr. Keilty acted as Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General. In this role, he advised the Deputy Attorney General on all cyber-related matters, from criminal investigations to data privacy issues and cybersecurity of federal networks. Mr. Keilty also shared oversight of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Division and was a member of the Attorney General’s Review Committee on Capital Cases.

From 2015, Mr. Keilty was Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York, working in the National Security and Cybercrime Section and the Organized Crime and Gangs Section. He conducted multiple criminal jury trials, including two murder and racketeering trials, and led long-term investigations involving terrorism, espionage, Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) violations, export control violations, cybercrime, money laundering, securities fraud, racketeering, firearms trafficking, narcotics distribution and other crimes.

Before serving in the U.S. DOJ, Mr. Keilty practiced at two national U.S. law firms. He clerked for the Honorable Robert P. Patterson, Jr., of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Keilty was an infantry officer in the United States Army and served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait.

Kim Kennedy is an experienced litigator focused on representing clients in the life sciences, pharmaceutical and other high-tech industries in high-stakes intellectual property disputes. In particular, she focuses on patent disputes, including in U.S. federal court and in inter partes review proceedings before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Ms. Kennedy also represents clients in trademark infringement, copyright infringement, trade dress infringement and unfair competition litigation.

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Ms. Kennedy practiced at Desmarais, LLP and Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP, where she focused on patent litigation.

Jacob Kirkham is an experienced trial litigator who focuses his practice on complex corporate and commercial disputes, deal litigation, “busted” mergers, expedited litigation and other corporate and commercial litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery and the Delaware Supreme Court. He also has deep experience litigating statutory actions under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the LLC Act and the Partnership Act including appraisal, advancement and indemnification, books and records demands, and director election contests.

Mr. Kirkham has extensive expertise in advising both international and domestic boards, special committees and independent board members in investigations and litigation under Delaware law. He also has substantial experience representing private equity funds and investors in both defensive and offensive actions, with a strong track record in Delaware’s federal and state courts.

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr. Kirkham practiced at Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP, where he focused on complex corporate litigation, including statutory actions, mergers and acquisitions litigation and internal investigations.

Jef Klazen focuses on international asset recovery, including the enforcement of judgments and arbitration awards. He advises companies and individuals on how to monetize their legal claims and judgments and has particular experience with enforcement efforts arising from investor-state disputes that may involve state immunity. The publishers of Global Arbitration Review describe him as “renowned for his deep expertise in asset recovery” and “excellent written advocacy,” and Chambers and Partners quotes sources praising him as “extremely efficient” with “lots of ideas” and “on top of his game.”

With degrees in both U.S. and international law, Mr. Klazen is able to help clients develop and execute a global asset-tracing and recovery strategy, which may include the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and offshore jurisdictions.

Mr. Klazen also litigates commercial disputes in New York courts and across the United States and is an aggressive advocate for clients in matters involving complex financial products at both the trial and appeal levels.

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr. Klazen worked at the International Court of Justice and at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands. He also practiced with Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York. Mr. Klazen served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Betty B. Fletcher of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Calvin Koo counsels financial technology and Web3 clients in high-stakes international litigation and investigations. This includes leading global dispute resolution campaigns that require highly coordinated multi-jurisdictional activity. For claim monetization cases, his strategies synthesize tracing digital assets on blockchains and advocating in courtrooms around the world to maximize recovery value. He also applies similar techniques on behalf of victims of fraud to recover cryptocurrency or traditional assets, as well as secure significant damages.

Mr. Koo additionally represents clients, including ultra-high-net-worth individuals, pursuing offensive and defensive strategies related to cross-border government enforcement matters and regulatory enforcement actions. He advises clients throughout Asia in sensitive international investigations by government and regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; the U.S. Department of Justice; the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption; and the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission.

Mr. Koo is admitted in Hong Kong as a Solicitor Advocate and in New York. Before joining Kobre & Kim, he practiced at Winston & Strawn LLP, where he represented corporations and their executives in white-collar investigations, class-action securities disputes, bankruptcy and other related litigation.

Adam Lavine represents debtors, creditors, board members and other stakeholders in insolvency-related disputes and investigations, often serving as special litigation counsel to participants in cross-border Chapter 11 and Chapter 15 proceedings. He also represents distressed debt funds, private equity funds, and other institutional investors in high-stakes civil disputes concerning distressed transactions, secured and unsecured debt, and other litigation in the financial markets.

In cases involving fraud, misconduct or asset concealment, Mr. Lavine frequently works with the firm’s asset recovery specialists on the monetization and pursuit of high-value claims against principals and stakeholders, often on behalf of bankruptcy trustees or other insolvency administrators.

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr. Lavine practiced in Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s restructuring group where he focused on representing debtors in out-of-court and chapter 11 restructurings and also advised on distressed M&A transactions.

With significant experience as a U.S. federal prosecutor, Daniel Lee focuses his practice on representing institutions and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in international investigations and enforcement actions involving allegations of fraud, bribery, money laundering and other forms of misconducts. Mr. Lee has represented multinational companies and their corporate executives and directors in civil and criminal proceedings including whistleblower investigations, bid-rigging, extradition, export/import control, ITAR, trade secret theft, INTERPOL and multijurisdictional asset forfeiture and tracing. He has in-depth experience managing parallel investigations by law enforcement agencies in the U.S., Far East and Southeast Asia, and regularly counsels clients on navigating international sanctions regimes set up by the U.S., UK and EU. Mr. Lee also has extensive experience coordinating legal strategies for reputation and investors-relations risk management as well as private clients' dispute resolutions in matters involving high-value-assets including fine art and national heritage artifacts.

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr. Lee was a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutor as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. While serving in that capacity, Mr. Lee focused on white-collar criminal cases involving public corruption, investment fraud, money laundering, tax fraud and False Claims Act violations. Mr. Lee also led numerous investigations along with the Department of Homeland Security (HSI/ICE) for various customs violations, asylum, immigration fraud and art and cultural properties theft cases. Earlier in his career, he was a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Defense, litigating major crimes for the Pacific region with special emphasis on defense contractor fraud and misconducts against U.S. Armed Forces in Korea, Japan, Guam and Alaska.

In recognition of Mr. Lee’s expertise in cross-border investigations and enforcement, he is regularly invited to educate law enforcement agents around the globe and various international organizations including the United Nations.  

Carolina Leung has extensive experience representing clients in all stages of an investigation by U.S. government and regulatory agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of Foreign Assets Control, on matters ranging from alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act to money laundering and fraud. Ms. Leung also has experience handling internal investigations for companies allegedly violating U.S. law and ensuring proper compliance, procedures and controls.

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Ms. Leung practiced at Jones Day, where she represented high net executives in complex multijurisdictional investigations of bribery, including those involved in Operation Car Wash. She also represented several companies in internal investigations related to money laundering, fraud and employee misconduct.

Lara Levinson is an experienced and dual-qualified English solicitor and U.S. lawyer who focuses her practice on complex civil and appellate litigation, regulatory and internal investigations, and asset forfeiture and recovery matters. In particular, Ms. Levinson regularly represents clients in financial products and services litigation in both English and U.S. courts. Ms. Levinson has briefed several civil appellate matters before the U.S. Courts of Appeals, including for the Second, Fourth and District of Columbia Circuits. 

Prior to joining Kobre & Kim, Ms. Levinson was an attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch in Washington DC, where she received the Civil Division Special Commendation Award. While serving there, Ms. Levinson briefed and argued over 30 federal appellate cases, including en banc matters in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit involving government contract disputes, money claims against the government and federal employment disputes. She also served in the Office of the Counsel to the President at the White House and as associate general counsel at the National Gallery of Art.

After law school, Ms. Levinson served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Anita B. Brody of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and worked on appeals for a sitting by designation on the United State Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Kun Hang Li focuses her practice on high-stakes commercial disputes with a nexus to the Asia Pacific region. She has experience in asset tracing and recovery, fraud investigations, as well as shipping and admiralty matters.

Ms. Li has successfully represented liquidators, financial institutions, multinational corporations, and individual stakeholders in complex cross-border litigations and in insolvency proceedings. She has also served as counsel in high-value arbitrations under SIAC, SCMA, and LMAA rules.

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Ms. Li practiced at Rajah & Tann Singapore’s dispute resolution group.

Mengshi (Emma) Li represents multinational companies and individual clients with substantial business ties to Greater China and Asia Pacific in cross-border government investigations and enforcement actions, including from U.S. enforcement and regulatory agencies. She assists clients in responding to matters involving bribery, corruption, money laundering, fraud, sanctions and export controls, antitrust, insider trading and other misconduct. 

Ms. Li has particular experience in assisting companies in the life sciences, automotive, gaming, manufacturing, investment funds, telecommunications, education and other sectors. She has also represented audit and special committees of U.S.-listed Chinese companies in response to government investigations. Ms. Li also has experience navigating inquiries and compliance from Chinese authorities.

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Ms. Li practiced at the Shanghai office of Kirkland & Ellis, focusing on white-collar crime investigations and defense. Ms. Li passed the Chinese bar exam in 2015.

Ms. Li received her LLM degree from Harvard Law School, where she served as the Vice President of External Affairs of the Harvard Law School China Law Association and a routine contributor to the Global Anticorruption Blog.  

Michelle Li is a litigator who focuses her practice on commercial proceedings, including shareholder and joint venture disputes, contractual disputes, land disputes, defamation, and employment disputes. Ms. Li has experience representing high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients in cross-border litigation and arbitration, including the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards.

In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Li advises on regulatory proceedings and investigations, helping clients navigate complex regulatory environments and mitigate risks associated with enforcement actions.

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Ms. Li practiced at Deacons in Hong Kong.

Sophie Lipman represents clients in complex commercial litigation in federal and state courts across the country. Her clients have included, among others, financial services and investment firms, media companies and high-net-worth individuals.

Before joining Kobre & Kim, Ms. Lipman practiced at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, focusing on commercial litigation. She also clerked for the Honorable Sarah S. Vance of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.