Ira Lee Sorkin

Ira Lee “Ike” Sorkin focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, SEC enforcement and other regulatory investigations and proceedings, internal investigations, corporate governance, FINRA defense, and civil litigation.

His clients benefit from a professional background that very few lawyers can claim. Mr. Sorkin served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York (Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division), at the Securities & Exchange Commission (Director of the SEC’s New York office) and as the Chief Legal Officer of a member firm of the New York Stock Exchange (Nomura Holding America, Inc., and Nomura Securities International, Inc.).

A graduate of Tulane University and the George Washington University Law School, Mr. Sorkin started his career in 1968 as a staff attorney with the New York Office of the SEC.

In 1971, Mr. Sorkin was sworn in as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office. After one year having tried 15 cases to verdict, he moved to the Securities Frauds Unit and investigated and tried criminal violations of the federal securities laws.

In approximately March 1976, Mr. Sorkin was appointed Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division. In that capacity he helped train new Assistant United States Attorneys, approved indictments, and authorized search warrants and arrest warrants.

While a member of the Securities Frauds Unit, Mr. Sorkin helped formulate the legal theories that led to the first criminal insider trading case. On January 1, 1977, Mr. Sorkin entered private practice.

His defense representations run the gamut, from insider trading and market manipulation, Regulation M and SHO, bribery, conspiracy, Ponzi schemes, derivatives, false filings, obstruction of justice, and accounting fraud. His clients include individuals, businesses, corporate committees, hedge funds, broker-dealers, and investment advisors.

Mr. Sorkin has been recognized by Chambers USA; Leading Lawyers for Business; Who’s Who Legal: Business Crime Defense; Expert Guide to the World’s Leading White Collar Crime Lawyers; The Best Lawyers in America; and Super Lawyers.

Mr. Sorkin is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Federal Bar Council, the New York Council of Defense Lawyers, and the Association of SEC Alumni. He is a former Chairman of the Board and President of the American Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a member of the university’s Board of Governors and Executive Committee. For many years, Mr. Sorkin has been a tutor for underprivileged inner-city elementary school students. In 2010 Mr. Sorkin was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Hebrew University. Mr. Sorkin is admitted to practice in New York State, the Supreme Court of the United States, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and the District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.