Sarah Krissoff

Member

Recent News:

Sam Bankman-Fried’s Trial has Ended, but the Fallout Has Just Begun

Sarah Krissoff, a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations group, spoke with Fast Company about the prison sentence that Sam Bankman-Fried, the fallen leader of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, will likely receive at his sentencing in March next year.

Sarah is a highly sought after white collar defense attorney and seasoned former federal prosecutor. She has an impressive track record of vigorously representing companies and individuals in government and internal investigations, criminal cases, and complex civil litigation in federal and state courts.

Sarah served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) from 2008 to 2021 and led numerous high-profile government investigations that required coordination of law enforcement agencies across multiple jurisdictions. Sarah is an experienced courtroom advocate who has led a dozen criminal and civil jury trials and has briefed and/or argued many cases before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.   

Her caseload in the SDNY included investigations into complex financial fraud and money laundering, racketeering, health care fraud, cyber crime, and violent crime. Sarah gained particularly deep experience in the public corruption and asset forfeiture units, and served as acting deputy chief counsel of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in Washington, D.C., in 2015, overseeing a team of 80 ATF attorneys across the country.

Sarah now focuses on defending clients against criminal and civil fraud allegations, as well as responding to a broad range of government enforcement actions by state and federal agencies, including the Securities Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and Federal Trade Commission. Both before and after her tenure at the SDNY, Sarah practiced for several years at two other sophisticated Am Law firms.

Sarah is a respected source for major media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, BBC World News, CNN, ABC News, National Public Radio, MSNBC, Reuters, Bloomberg News, New York Post, and NBC News, among others. She publishes regularly on asset forfeiture, business litigation, and trial practice.

Sarah earned her B.A. in political science from Brown University and her J.D. from Columbia University’s School of Law, where she was on the staff of the Columbia Business Law Review.

 

News

Sam Bankman-Fried’s Trial has Ended, but the Fallout Has Just Begun

November 08, 2023

Sarah Krissoff, a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations group, spoke with Fast Company about the prison sentence that Sam Bankman-Fried, the fallen leader of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, will likely receive at his sentencing in March next year.

Bankman-Fried’s Pre-Trial Antics Haunt Him Before Sentencing

November 03, 2023

Sarah Krissoff, a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations group, spoke with Bloomberg Law about Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the fallen cryptocurrency exchange FTX leader whom a federal jury in the U.S. District for the Southern District of New York found guilty of seven counts of fraud and conspiracy, following a month-long trial.

Pleas in Trump’s Georgia Racketeering Case Show ‘Dam Breaking’

October 25, 2023

Sarah Krissoff spoke with Bloomberg Law about a trio of guilty pleas over the past week from lawyers charged in the 2020 election racketeering case in Georgia that show prosecutors circling closer to Donald Trump and his inner sanctum of post-election advisers ahead of a trial.

Will Sam Bankman-Fried Take the Witness Stand? It Would be Dangerous — but He Has Little to Lose.

October 19, 2023

Sarah Krissoff, a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations group, spoke with Business Insider about the criminal trial of crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), who is accused of running a multibillion-dollar fraud at cryptocurrency exchange FTX

Trump Special Counsel Plays Cards Close on What Makes a Witness

October 17, 2023

Sarah Krissoff, a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations group, spoke with Bloomberg Law about the special counsel’s election conspiracy investigation of Donald Trump and defense lawyers’ frustration with murky DOJ guidance about whether a prospective cooperator can be a defined as a “subject” or a mere witness.

FTC, CFTC Sue Ex-CEO Of Bankrupt Crypto Lender Voyager

October 12, 2023

Sarah Krissoff, a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations group, spoke with Law360 about the FTC and CFTC lawsuit against the former CEO of bankrupt crypto lender Voyager, alleging that the former executive failed to register the crypto lender as a commodity pool and falsely told investors that the platform was a "safe haven" to park their funds and generate high returns.

Bankman-Fried’s Legal Woes Extend Far Beyond Criminal Trial

October 10, 2023

Sarah Krissoff, a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations group, and Joseph Dever, a member of the White Collar Defense & Investigations and Securities Litigation & SEC Enforcement groups, spoke with Bloomberg Law about the many civil and regulatory lawsuits crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), who is accused of running a multibillion-dollar fraud at cryptocurrency exchange FTX, may be facing even if he beats the criminal charges.

Sarah Krissoff Speaks with CNN About NY AG Lawsuit Against Donald Trump

September 27, 2023

Sarah Krissoff, a member at the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, was a guest on CNN’s CNN This Morning show on September 27, to discuss New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur F. Engoron’s ruling in the New York Attorney General’s civil fraud investigation into the former president’s business practices.

Sarah Krissoff Speaks with BBC About Georgia Election Interference Case

September 20, 2023

Sarah Krissoff, a member at the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, appeared on BBC News on September 30, to discuss the potential ramifications of the first guilty plea in the Georgia election interference case, which alleges a widespread racketeering conspiracy to overturn Donald Trump’s 2020 electoral loss to Joe Biden.

Steel Mogul Settles $48M Award Fight After 1st Day of Trial

September 19, 2023

Law360 discusses a confidential, high-profile settlement a group of Brazilian pig iron producers reached with Hans Mende, a global steel magnate and founder of American Metals & Coal International Inc. following the first day of a Manhattan jury trial in the more than decade-old dispute over the enforcement of the arbitral award against Mende.

Sarah Krissoff Speaks with CBS About Potential Legal Consequences of Trump’s Social Media Attacks

August 25, 2023

Sarah Krissoff, a member at the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, speaks with CBS News about the consequences the former president could face if his social media attacks against his critics and political opponents violate his pre-trial release conditions.

Sarah Krissoff Speaks with CNN about Superseding Indictment Against Donald Trump

July 31, 2023

Sarah Krissoff, a member at the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, was a guest on CNN’s CNN This Morning show on July 31, to discuss the superseding indictment filed against the former president in the classified documents investigation last week.

Sarah Krissoff Discusses Hunter Biden’s and Donald Trump’s Legal Cases on BBC

July 27, 2023

Sarah Krissoff, a member at the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, appeared as a guest on BBC’s World News show on July 26.

Sarah Krissoff Discusses the Former President’s Legal Cases

July 21, 2023

Sarah Krissoff, a member at the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, was a guest on CNN’s CNN Tonight show on July 21 to discuss the many state and federal lawsuits and prosecutions involving Donald Trump.

Cozen O’Connor Adds Litigator and Former Federal Prosecutor Sarah Krissoff to its White Collar Defense Group

July 17, 2023

Krissoff comes to the firm from Day Pitney LLP, and joins Cozen O’Connor as a member. She will work out of the New York City office.

Publications

Trump's 3rd Indictment is a Winnable Case for Special Counsel Jack Smith - But It Won't be a Slam Dunk, Former Federal Prosecutors Say

August 03, 2023

Sarah Krissoff speaks with Insider about the criminal indictment of former President Trump in connection with his role in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Education

  • Columbia University School of Law, J.D., 2002
  • Brown University, B.A., 1999

Awards & Honors

  • Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Service, Department of Justice, 2017
  • Nominee, Prosecutor of the Year, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, 2021
  • Decorated by the Kingdom of Cambodia as a Commander in the Royal Order of Sahemetri, in connection with work on a case which resulted in the return of a priceless statue to Cambodia, 2014
  • Federal Prosecutor of the Year Award, Federal Law Enforcement Foundation, 2012
  • Legal Aid Society's Pro Bono Award, 2006
  • Fried Frank's Pro Bono Recognition Award, 2004
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court -- Southern District of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Federal Bar Council

New York City Bar Association

Women's White Collar Defense Association