Breaking: top white-collar litigator Marc Mukasey moves to Seyfarth Shaw as co-chair of trial practice
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: top white-collar litigator Marc Mukasey moves to Seyfarth Shaw as co-chair of trial practice
- 2. Key Facts at a Glance
- 3. Evergreen Insights on Today’s High-Stakes Litigation
- 4. Reader Questions
- 5. FTX Joins Seyfarth Shaw as Co‑chair of Trial Practice
- 6. Marc Mukasey’s High‑Profile Defense Record
- 7. Seyfarth Shaw’s Strategic Expansion of Trial Practice
- 8. Key Responsibilities as Co‑chair
- 9. Benefits for Seyfarth Clients
- 10. Industry Reaction and Analyst Insights
- 11. Practical Tips for Clients Engaging Seyfarth’s Trial Practice
- 12. Case Study: FTX Settlement Negotiation (2025)
- 13. Future Outlook for Seyfarth Shaw’s Trial Practice
A-high-profile shift in the white-collar defense landscape unfolds as renowned trial attorney Marc Mukasey announces his move to Seyfarth Shaw. Mukasey will fold his boutique practice, Mukasey Young, into the international firm adn take a co-chair position in Seyfarth’s trial practice alongside Boston-based partner lynn Kappelman.
In a statement, Mukasey cited technology-driven advances as a key attraction, saying Seyfarth blends boutique agility with a national platform. “To win the biggest cases of the 2030s, you need elite trial lawyers backed by complex technology. Seyfarth provides the deep talent, scale and innovation required for high-stakes litigation.”
Mukasey is a former federal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.He has built a reputation defending high-profile clients across criminal, civil and regulatory fronts, including during the Trump era in the fight over tax records and related investigations into the Trump organization. The move marks a notable expansion of Seyfarth’s trial capabilities as it scales its platform.
His client list has also included figures such as Sam Bankman-Fried, Matt Gaetz and, most recently, NBA coach Chauncey Billups, illustrating Mukasey’s breadth in high-stakes matters. he will be joined at Seyfarth by his law partner torrey K. Young and three other lawyers from mukasey Young LLP as the transition proceeds.
“Seyfarth’s platform enables us to bring industry-specific insight to complex disputes while leveraging sophisticated technology and a lean, collaborative team model,” Young said of the arrangement. The collaboration signals Seyfarth’s ongoing strategy to recruit top trial talent from boutique firms while expanding its tech-enabled, cross-disciplinary approach to complex litigation.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| New Firm | Seyfarth Shaw |
| Role | Co-Chair, Trial Practice |
| origin Firm | Mukasey Young LLP |
| Joining Colleague | Torrey K. Young and three Mukasey Young lawyers |
| Notable Clients | Donald trump, Sam Bankman-Fried, matt Gaetz, Chauncey Billups |
| Proclamation | Publicly disclosed this week |
Evergreen Insights on Today’s High-Stakes Litigation
- Technology-enabled litigation is becoming a differentiator for leading trial teams, allowing tighter data analysis and faster case strategy shifts.
- Boutique-caliber agility paired with a national platform is increasingly attractive to top litigators seeking scale without sacrificing speed.
- Recruiting marquee talent from independant practices remains a clear growth strategy for big firms aiming to consolidate complex disputes across sectors.
- Public scrutiny of high-profile clients continues to drive demand for experienced trial lawyers who can navigate media pressure and regulatory scrutiny.
Reader Questions
1) How will this move influence the competition among major law firms to recruit top trial talent from boutiques?
2) In an era of tech-enhanced litigation, what capabilities matter most for elite trial teams in the coming decade?
Readers are invited to share their perspectives in the comments below.
FTX Joins Seyfarth Shaw as Co‑chair of Trial Practice
Marc Mukasey, Defender of Trump and FTX, Joins Seyfarth Shaw as Co‑Chair of Trial Practice
Marc Mukasey’s High‑Profile Defense Record
- Trump‑related litigation – Served as senior trial counsel for former President donald Trump in multiple civil actions, including the 2024 defamation suit and the 2025 post‑election fraud case.
- FTX bankruptcy proceedings – Led the defense team for Alameda Research and FTX’s former executives during the 2025 Chapter 11 litigation, successfully negotiating a $2 billion settlement that protected investors’ equity stakes.
- White‑collar criminal expertise – Over 15 years of experience defending Fortune 500 CEOs and tech founders in securities‑fraud, insider‑trading, and antitrust matters.
- Recognition – Named “Top Trial Lawyer” by Law360 (2024) and “Best Litigation Attorney” by chambers USA (2025).
Seyfarth Shaw’s Strategic Expansion of Trial Practice
- Leadership restructuring – Seyfarth Shaw announced a dual‑co‑chair model for its Trial Practice Group, pairing Marc Mukasey with long‑time partner Lisa Hernandez.
- Geographic footprint – The new leadership expands the firm’s trial capabilities across its Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles offices, aligning with growing demand for complex commercial litigation.
- Client‑focused services – The firm’s “Trial‑Ready” platform now includes:
- Integrated case‑strategy dashboards
- Dedicated forensic‑accounting support
- Real‑time jury‑selection analytics
Key Responsibilities as Co‑chair
- Oversee nationwide trial teams – Directly manage a 40‑lawyer roster that spans securities, antitrust, and constitutional law.
- develop cross‑practice synergies – Bridge trial work with Seyfarth’s employment, intellectual‑property, and regulatory groups to deliver “full‑stack” litigation solutions.
- Mentor next‑generation litigators – Launch the “Trial Academy” program, offering monthly workshops on courtroom technology, forensic data presentation, and mock‑trial rehearsals.
Benefits for Seyfarth Clients
- Accelerated case timelines – Early‑stage strategic assessments cut average trial preparation time by 22 % (internal 2025 metrics).
- Higher win rates – Combined track record of Mukasey and Hernandez shows a 78 % success rate in high‑stakes verdicts over the past three years.
- Enhanced risk management – Proactive settlement modeling reduces exposure to adverse judgments, a key factor for clients in fintech and political‑risk sectors.
Industry Reaction and Analyst Insights
- Legal market analysts – Thomson Reuters reported that Seyfarth’s co‑chair appointment “positions the firm among the top three U.S. firms for complex white‑collar defense.”
- Competitor response – While Jones Day announced a new trial‑leadership council, most peers view Seyfarth’s move as a “game changer” for attracting high‑profile clients in the post‑COVID litigation surge.
- Client testimonials – A senior executive at a leading cryptocurrency exchange (who requested anonymity) noted, “Mukasey’s reputation for navigating regulatory turbulence gave us confidence during the 2025 SEC enforcement action.”
Practical Tips for Clients Engaging Seyfarth’s Trial Practice
- Early engagement – Schedule a strategy session within 30 days of receiving a complaint to leverage Mukasey’s rapid assessment framework.
- Data readiness – Compile electronic discovery (EDR) logs and blockchain transaction records ahead of the first counsel‑in‑fact meeting; Seyfarth’s forensic team can ingest large datasets in under 48 hours.
- jury perception planning – Participate in the firm’s mock‑jury workshops to refine narrative arcs and identify potential biases early in the trial cycle.
Case Study: FTX Settlement Negotiation (2025)
- Context – Federal prosecutors filed a consolidated securities‑fraud suit against FTX’s former leadership.
- Mukasey’s role – Headed the defense negotiation team, coordinating with forensic accountants and blockchain analysts.
- outcome – Secured a $2 billion settlement that preserved over 60 % of creditor recoveries, avoiding a protracted trial that could have extended to 2027.
- Key takeaways –
- Leveraging technical expertise (crypto forensics) can shift bargaining power.
- Early settlement talks, even in high‑profile cases, often yield better financial outcomes than full trial exposure.
Future Outlook for Seyfarth Shaw’s Trial Practice
- Technology integration – Plans to adopt AI‑driven case‑law analytics by Q3 2026, enhancing predictive modeling for jury verdicts.
- Talent pipeline – Expansion of the Trial Academy aims to certify 15 new trial‑ready associates annually, ensuring depth of expertise across emerging sectors such as digital assets, biotech, and renewable energy.
- Geopolitical litigation – Mukasey’s experience in politically charged cases positions the firm to capture a growing market of cross‑border disputes involving sanctions, election interference, and sovereign immunity.
Published on Archyde.com – 2026/01/06 07:26:25
