Leading individuals in all industries and realms of public life face greater scrutiny than ever before and Withers, the international law firm for successful people, has hired Martin Auerbach as head of white collar defense and investigation in New York.

Martin provides white collar and regulatory defense advice, as well as proactive and defensive investigative capabilities, working closely with media and reputation management colleagues to provide comprehensive crisis management services. Practicing in New York, Martin has successfully counselled and defended prominent individuals and leading companies in many of the highest profile white collar and regulatory matters of the past three decades, including Michael Milken, Paul Volker and Sweet'N Low.

Drawing on his experience as a Federal prosecutor, including the historic Marc Rich tax evasion case, a Congressional staffer, and a leading defense lawyer, Martin has discreetly resolved, or forcefully contested, securities fraud, tax, FCPA, Me Too, and a broad range of other US and cross-border matters before the Department of Justice, Federal and state courts, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Congress and a host of other regulatory and governmental bodies.

Martin has successfully represented clients in numerous complex litigation and arbitration proceedings and has effectively led sensitive internal investigations. Uniquely combining his litigation background with his experience as consulting counsel to the world’s largest equipment rental company, and as general counsel of a private equity fund and a multi-jurisdictional gaming company, Martin has developed sophisticated solutions for clients facing a range of business crises and challenges. Throughout his career, Martin has skilfully navigated the reputational implications of high visibility matters, achieving optimal outcomes with the utmost discretion.

Peter Wood, head of Withers' Dispute Resolution team, comments: "The most successful families, executives and leaders, and the institutions they work through, are facing new levels of threats around the world. Since the financial crisis in 2008, governmental and regulatory investigations are increasingly tenacious, alongside white collar prosecutions and the use of the media to attack and damage reputations. These can have a profound impact on those things our clients value most and have worked hardest to build – their families, businesses, assets, careers and reputations. Martin's arrival at Withers adds to our expansion of strengths and services in this area, including taking on white collar litigator Georges Lederman and welcoming media and reputation head Amber Melville-Brown to our US team, providing clients with the protection and reach they require."

Martin adds: "I am delighted to join Withers, to bring my skills and experience to bear for the benefit of Withers' clients. With the expansion of Withers' international white collar practice, we can now provide the highest level of professional experience and expertise to meet the most high-risk challenges our clients face, matched with a sensitivity to the need for maintaining privacy to the fullest extent possible. Investigations are increasingly cross border, whether by way of information gathering, or pursuing charges, and this makes our international network of white collar advisors all the more valuable to clients across the world."

Withers' white collar practice draws on teams in the US, east and west coasts, BVI, London, Milan, Singapore and Hong Kong. The teams' skills include advising on regulatory investigations and prosecutions, labor and employment issues, tax investigations, media and reputation management and commercial litigation and arbitration.

About Withers

Withers is an international law firm dedicated to entrepreneurs, successful people and their businesses.

With over 160 partners and more than 450 other lawyers, we have unparalleled expertise in commercial, tax, trusts, estate planning, financial services, litigation and arbitration, real estate, charities, philanthropy, employment, family law and other legal issues facing individuals and their families. The firm has advised 63% of the top 100 UK Sunday Times Rich List, 25% of the Forbes 400 List, 35% of the Hong Kong Forbes Rich List, and 35% of Forbes Asia's Richest Families list.

Withers has 17 offices worldwide in London, New York, New Haven, Greenwich (Connecticut), San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Rancho Santa Fe, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, the British Virgin Islands, Geneva, Milan, Padua and Cambridge.

For more, visit withersworldwide.com