Sarah Krissoff

Member

Recent News:

Trump's Own Lawyers Induce Fear, Faith at Justice Department [BLOOMBERG LAW]

Sarah Krissoff, a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, spoke with Bloomberg Law about Donald Trump’s nomination of his personal defense lawyers to lead the Justice Department in his new administration.

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.

 

Experience

News

Trump's Own Lawyers Induce Fear, Faith at Justice Department [BLOOMBERG LAW]

November 19, 2024

Sarah Krissoff, a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, spoke with Bloomberg Law about Donald Trump’s nomination of his personal defense lawyers to lead the Justice Department in his new administration.

Cuomo Helped Draft Nursing Home Report, House Committee Says [SPECTRUM NEWS 1]

October 31, 2024

Sarah Krissoff, a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, spoke with NY Spectrum News 1 about the House Coronavirus Pandemic Select Subcommittee’s criminal referral of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for providing false statements to Congress earlier this year about his role in crafting a state COVID report about nursing home deaths.

Will Hunter Biden Go to Prison?

September 06, 2024

Sarah Krissoff, a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, spoke with BBC News on September 6 about Hunter Biden’s guilty plea in a tax avoidance case.

City Councilwoman Is Charged With Biting Police Chief During Protest

July 17, 2024

Sarah Krissoff, a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, was quoted in New York Times and New York Post articles in connection with a recent arraignment of a New York Councilwoman in Brooklyn criminal court.

Sarah Krissoff Speaks with BBC About SCOTUS Immunity Ruling

July 02, 2024

Sarah Krissoff, a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, appeared on BBC News on July 2 to discuss the Supreme Court ruling that former presidents are entitled to absolute immunity from prosecution related to an indefinite list of official acts, thereby partially releasing Donald Trump from liability for allegedly interfering with the 2020 presidential election.

Sarah Krissoff Speaks with CNN/Max about AG Garland’s Congressional Testimony

June 04, 2024

Sarah Krissoff, a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, appeared on CNN/Max This Morning show on June 4 to discuss Attorney General Merrick Garland’s contentious testimony before the House Judiciary Committee.

Trump’s Lawyers Rested Their Case After Calling Just 2 Witnesses/ Experts Say That’s Not Unusual.

May 21, 2024

Sarah Krissoff, a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, was quoted in an Associated Press article in connection with the Trump legal team’s decision in his hush money trial to rest its case after calling just two witnesses.

Sarah Krissoff Speaks with BBC About Hush Money Trial

May 12, 2024

Sarah Krissoff, a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, appeared on BBC News on May 12 to discuss Michael Cohen’s testimony in the former President Trump's hush money trial.

Sarah Krissoff Speaks with MSNBC About Hush Money Trial

May 10, 2024

Sarah Krissoff, a member at the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, appeared on MSNBC’s Ana Cabrera show on May 10, to discuss the latest developments in the hush money trial of former President Trump.

Who is Todd Blanche, Donald Trump's Lawyer in his Stormy Daniel's Hush Money Trial?

April 24, 2024

Sarah Krissoff, a member at the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, spoke with Reuters on April 24, to talk about the background of Todd Blanche, a lawyer defending Trump in his trial on charges stemming from hush money paid to a porn star and handling several other criminal cases for Trump.

Sarah Krissoff Appears on CNN to Discuss Day 1 of Trump’s NY Hush Money Trial

April 22, 2024

Sarah Krissoff, a member at the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, was a guest on CNN’s Erin Burnett show on April 22 to discuss Day 1 of Donald Trump’s trial in New York for allegedly falsifying business records related to hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.

Sarah Krissoff Speaks with BBC about Jury Selection in Hush Money Trial of Donald Trump

April 19, 2024

Sarah Krissoff, a member at the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, was a guest on BBC News on April 19 to discuss the end of jury selection in Trump’s hush money trial, after a New York appeals court denied a last-ditch bid by the former president to delay the unprecedented case.

Sarah Krissoff Speaks with BBC about Trump’s Upcoming Trial in Manhattan

April 15, 2024

Sarah Krissoff, a member at the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, was a guest on BBC News on April 15 to discuss the latest developments in the Trump legal realm, including the expected opening statements in the historic criminal case against the former president.

Sarah Krissoff Speaks with PBS about Colorado’s Decision to Bar Trump from the Ballot

January 08, 2024

Sarah Krissoff, a member at the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, spoke with PBS’s PBS NewsHour on January 5 about the Colorado Supreme Court Dec. 19 decision that said Donald Trump engaged in insurrection, thereby forfeiting his right to appear on the presidential ballot again.

Sarah Krissoff Speaks with CNN about Trump’s Pressure on Michigan Canvassers in 2020 Elections

December 22, 2023

Sarah Krissoff, a member at the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, appeared on CNN’s CNN This Morning show on December 22 to discuss the potential implications of the newly released recording indicating that the former president had pressured two Republican canvassers in Michigan not to certify the 2020 presidential election results.

Sarah Krissoff Speaks with BBC about Jury Verdict in Giuliani Case

December 22, 2023

Sarah Krissoff, a member at the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, spoke with BBC News on December 22 to discuss the jury verdict in a high-profile defamation damages trial of Rudi Giuliani in Washington, D.C., ordering Giuliani to pay more than $148 million to two Georgia election workers for the harm caused by defamatory statements he made following the 2020 election.

Sarah Krissoff Speaks with BBC about Supreme Court’s Decision to Expedite Judgment on Trump’s Immunity Claim

December 11, 2023

Sarah Krissoff, a member at the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, was a guest on BBC News on December 11, to discuss the Supreme Court’s decision to consider Special Counsel’s request regarding Donald Trump’s claim that he is immune from prosecution and can’t face criminal charges related to efforts to overturn the November 2020 election, in an unusual effort to expedite a judgment crucial for moving the case speedily toward trial.

Sarah Krissoff Speaks with CNN about Special Counsel’s Petition for High Court to Fast-track Trump’s Immunity Claim

December 11, 2023

Sarah Krissoff, a member at the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, appeared on CNN’s CNN This Morning show on December 11, to discuss Special Counsel Jack Smith’s request for the Supreme Court to fast-track its consideration of Donald Trump’s claim he is immune from prosecution for alleged election obstruction in 2020.

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

The SDNY Pilots a New Program for Whistleblowers [Alert]

January 16, 2024

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York has launched a pilot program to incentivize individuals to come forward and report illegal activity.

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
  • 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