Frank H. Wohl
Called “the best in class” by Chambers USA, Frank is a litigator who represents individuals and entities in complex civil litigation, regulatory enforcement, and white collar criminal matters. His clients include a wide range of for-profit and nonprofit entities, including financial institutions, public and private corporations, law firms, universities, and hospitals. Frank has also represented a broad spectrum of individuals, from business executives to financial market participants, lawyers, accountants, art dealers, and other professionals. Earlier in his career, Frank served in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where he was appointed Assistant Chief of the Criminal Division and subsequently Chief of the Civil Division. More recently, he served as the President of the Federal Bar Council.
A founding partner of LSW, Frank has appeared as prosecutor or defense counsel in numerous criminal trials and appeals and as plaintiff or defense counsel in civil cases. In many of these matters, he has helped clients avoid public charges and court proceedings. In others, he has acted as counsel in trials, arbitrations, and appeals. Frank has also acted as an arbitrator in commercial arbitrations and as independent counsel to boards of directors and board committees of both for-profit and nonprofit entities.
Frank has devoted a substantial portion of his practice to attorney ethics matters, defending lawyers and law firms and appearing as an expert witness and serving as a member of the Departmental Disciplinary Committee of the First Department of the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division, the Attorney Grievance Committee of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and on the Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committees of the New York City Bar Association. Beginning in 2006, Frank has chaired annual New York City Bar Association programs on current ethical and strategic issues in corporate investigations. Additionally, he has served as a panelist at American Law Institute-American Bar Association and American Conference Institute programs and as a faculty member for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy’s (NITA) trial practice and civil discovery programs.
Show More +Representative Matters
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of a consortium of major banks in litigation growing out of a $2 billion credit facility.
- Achieved appellate reversal of professional sanctions imposed on a major law firm.
- Obtained dismissal of malpractice claims asserted against a major law firm.
- Obtained acquittal, after a three-month jury trial, of a business executive charged with fraud and racketeering.
Publications
Articles
Show More +Recognition
- New York Council of Defense Lawyers
- Norman S. Ostrow Award for outstanding contribution to the defense of liberty and the preservation of individual rights (2018)
- Federal Bar Council
- Whitney North Seymour Award for outstanding public service by a private practitioner (2014)
- American College of Trial Lawyers
- Access to Justice Award for outstanding commitment to ensuring access to justice to parties in need (2000)
- Chambers USA
- “Senior Statesperson,” Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations – New York
- Who’s Who Legal
- Commercial Litigation
- Best Lawyers in America
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Activities
Professional Affiliations
- American College of Trial Lawyers
- Fellow
- Federal Bar Council
- President (2010-2012)
- New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board
- Chair (1998-2002)
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- Member, Attorney Panel, Grievance Committee
- New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department
- Member, Departmental Disciplinary Committee (2011-2016)
- New York City Bar Association
- Member, Professional Discipline Committee (2009-2010)
- Member, Professional and Judicial Ethics Committee (2006-2008)
- New York Council of Defense Lawyers
- Director (1998-2000)
Speaking Engagements
Cross-Border Internal Investigations: Online Seminar with Frank Wohl and Gabi Friedman, Lawline.com (May 27, 2021)
Gabi Friedman and Frank Wohl Host Program on Ethics in Corporate Internal Investigations, Lawline.com (December 17, 2020)
Frank Wohl Chairs “Ethical Considerations for Corporate Investigations in the World of COVID-19”, New York City Bar Association (September 16, 2020)
Frank Wohl Chairs City Bar’s Annual “Ethical Considerations for Corporate Investigations” Seminar, New York City Bar Association (September 18, 2019)
Frank Wohl Participates in Annual New York Fair Trial Free Press Conference, New York State Bar Association (October 22, 2018)
Frank Wohl Chairs City Bar’s Annual “Ethical Considerations for Corporate Investigations” Seminar, New York City Bar Association (October 4, 2018)
Frank Wohl Chairs City Bar’s Annual “Ethical Considerations for Corporate Investigations” Seminar, New York City Bar Association (September 10, 2015)
Frank Wohl Moderates Panel on Statutory Interpretation at FBC Winter Bench and Bar Conference, Federal Bar Council (February 6, 2015)
Frank Wohl Chairs City Bar’s Annual “Ethical Considerations for Corporate Investigations” Seminar, New York City Bar Association (September 30, 2014)
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