Martin Joel Auerbach

Martin Auerbach is a partner in the New York office of Withers and leads the firm's White Collar and Investigations practice. His practice focuses on white collar defense, securities enforcement, regulatory investigations, commercial litigation, internal investigations and crisis management matters. Based in New York, New York, Martin represents individuals, financial institutions, public companies and closely held businesses in complex, high-stakes disputes and government investigations across the United States.

Martin has served in the Judicial, Congressional and Executive branches of the US government, including as a member of the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, where he prosecuted Marc Rich in what was then the largest tax evasion case in US history. Over more than three decades in practice, he has represented clients in significant white collar and regulatory matters, parallel civil litigation and sensitive internal investigations involving allegations of securities fraud, insider trading, accounting fraud, mail and wire fraud, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters, money laundering, RICO claims, government contracting issues, campaign finance matters and tax-related investigations.

His representations have included matters connected to the Milken insider trading prosecution, the Mueller investigation, the JPMorgan “London Whale” matter, the Madoff investigation, the KPMG tax shelter prosecution, the SEC case involving Sam and Charles Wyly, and investigations involving market timing, research analysts, municipal GIC antitrust issues and offshore tax matters. Martin has also represented executives and companies in matters involving cybersecurity, workplace misconduct allegations and corporate compliance concerns.

Martin has advised prominent individuals, entrepreneurs and businesses across a range of industries, including financial services, private equity, gaming, media and consumer products. His clients have included Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, Sweet'N Low, and institutions such as Citigroup, Prudential, Lehman Brothers, JPMorgan Chase, Jefferies, Christie's, IMAX, Computer Associates and Conair/Cuisinart.

In addition to his litigation and investigations practice, Martin brings significant in-house and business experience to client matters. He has served in roles including General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, Cybersecurity Committee member and Compliance Committee member for a multi-billion-dollar private equity fund and a multi-jurisdictional gaming company, as well as Consulting Counsel for the world's largest equipment rental company. This experience informs his practical approach to advising clients on regulatory risk, governance, reputation management and business continuity issues.

Martin regularly works with clients to resolve matters discreetly and efficiently where appropriate, while also serving as trial counsel in contested proceedings. He collaborates closely with the firm's Media and Reputation team to help clients address the reputational and operational challenges that often accompany high-profile investigations and litigation.