People

Overview

Lewis is routinely engaged to provide clients with practical and efficient solutions to complex litigation, compliance, investigation and enforcement matters across a wide range of subject matter areas and industries including financial services, technology, energy, transportation and healthcare. In addition to his federal clerkship and top-tier private practice experience, Lewis spent 10 years in executive level in-house counsel positions at two Fortune 50 global companies operating in the financial services, energy and technology sectors. In these leadership roles, Lewis regularly interfaced with the board of directors and outside regulatory agencies and managed global compliance programs, high-stakes litigation, government and internal investigations and regulatory affairs.

Lewis is skilled in complex commercial litigation, white collar defense and regulatory enforcement and counsels clients on wide range of matters across several industries. Lewis’ in-house experience makes him particularly skilled at defining the specific needs of his clients at the front-end of each engagement. He works closely with his clients to fully understand business objectives in order to design a legal strategy that is appropriately risk-based and tailored to maximize efficiency and minimize the disruption caused by litigation and regulatory issues.

Lewis has appeared in the U.S. Supreme Court and federal and state trial and appellate courts and has conducted investigations in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe. He also holds advanced industry certifications in the areas of anti-corruption compliance, anti-money laundering compliance, fintech compliance and cybersecurity risk management.

Admission & Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas
  • State Bar of California
  • New York State Bar
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • Honorable Richard M. Berman, U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York, August 2004 to July 2005
  • Honorable Mark D. Fox, U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York, September 2003 to August 2004
  • Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (ACAMS)
  • Fintech Compliance (ACAMS)
  • Cybersecurity Risk Management (Harvard University)
  • Prior Steering Committee Member, Chief Compliance Officers Forum - Cambridge Forums
  • Member, Association of Certified Anti-Money-Laundering Specialists (ACAMS)
  • Member, Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA)
  • J.D., Hofstra University School of Law 2001
  • B.A., Psychology, Adelphi University 1998

Experience

White Collar Defense & Regulatory Enforcement

  • Represent business executive in criminal public bribery matter brought in the Eastern District of New York
  • Represent executive of a foreign automaker in connection with an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
  • Represent financial services firm in a fair lending discrimination investigation initiated by the New York State Department of Financial Services
  • Represented a Big Four Accounting Firm Engagement Partner in Wells Proceeding before the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)
  • Represented a pharmaceutical company in a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation
  • Represented a NYMEX floor broker for a global energy company in Wells proceeding before the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in connection with alleged natural gas market manipulation
  • Represented a multimillion-dollar hedge fund in SEC fraud investigation
  • Represented an investment banker in a federal criminal case prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York involving insider trading

Commercial Litigation

  • Represent commercial real estate investor and developer in a multi-million-dollar fraud claim brought by publicly traded technology company in the Northern District of California
  • Represent several investors in early stage technology start-ups in civil litigation filed in the New York and California
  • Represent global technology company in fraud and breach of contract action in California Superior Court, Alameda County
  • Represent global education software company in fraud and breach of contract action in California Superior Court, San Mateo County
  • Represent global private equity firm in $25 million breach of contract action against foreign-owned conglomerate in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • Represent global logistics company in litigation arising from acquisition post-closing adjustments in the U.S. District Court, District of Delaware
  • Represented several lawyers of the former Dreier LLP law firm in connection with civil proceedings arising out of the release of client escrow accounts in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • Represented a foreign financial institution in civil money laundering action brought by the Department of Justice in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • Represented, at trial, Robert Cohen (Chairman of Hudson News) in a high-profile estate litigation brought by Ron Perelman in New Jersey Chancery Court, Bergen County
  • Represented a Big Four accounting firm in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York in litigation arising out of one of the largest accounting frauds in Europe
  • Represented Appellant Irwin Eisenstein before the United States Supreme Court in United States ex rel. Eisenstein v. City of New York, No. 08-660 (2010)

Compliance Program & Internal Investigations

  • Represent publicly-traded technology company in the development of comprehensive Enterprise Risk Management Framework and Compliance Program at the direction of the Board of Directors
  • Conducted internal investigation on behalf of one of the largest medical provider groups in the United States involving allegations of bribery and corruption
  • Conducted internal investigation on behalf of a global software company involving alleged breaches of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) involving third-party partner payments
  • Developed AML/OFAC compliance program for money services business (“MSB”) registered with FinCEN
  • Advised fintech company on AML compliance requirements including potential filing of suspicious activity reports (“SARs”)
  • Advised financial services firm on enhancements to its fair lending and customer complaint policies procedures and training
  • Conducted global internal investigation on behalf of a publicly traded financial services firm involving alleged breaches (FCPA) and local anti-corruption laws and regulations
  • Conducted internal investigation on behalf of a global energy company in connection with the development of a gas pipeline project in Mexico involving alleged breaches of the FCPA
  • Conducted comprehensive anti-corruption due diligence on behalf of international waste management company in connection with its potential acquisition of a Latin American subsidiary of a U.S. publicly traded company under an FCPA investigation by the U.S. DOJ and U.S. SEC
  • Represented numerous private equity portfolio companies in the development and implementation of global corporate compliance programs including in the areas of risk assessments, policies and procedures, training and communication, monitoring and auditing
  • Conducted an internal investigation on behalf of publicly traded financial services firm involving alleged breach of Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations

Awards and Community

Recognized for Commercial Litigation by The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward White, Inc.), 2025