Sharon L. McCarthy, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, has extensive experience representing individuals and corporations in white-collar criminal matters as well as civil and criminal tax controversies. Her cases have included government investigations of:
- securities fraud, including insider trading and market manipulation;
- bank fraud;
- tax fraud;
- mail and wire fraud, including theft of honest services;
- accounting fraud;
- failure to file tax returns;
- antitrust violations;
- construction fraud relating to Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) certification; and
- attorney misconduct.
Ms. McCarthy also conducts sensitive internal investigations for corporate and institutional clients either facing potential criminal charges or whose officers or employees have engaged in misconduct. She has represented individuals who have been implicated, but not charged, in connection with recent major public corruption cases.
Ms. McCarthy assists clients in voluntarily disclosing off-shore assets and has successfully represented numerous clients in connection with both IRS and NYS tax audits involving sensitive matters, including undisclosed income and off-shore assets.
In 2013, Ms. McCarthy successfully represented Denis Field, the former CEO of BDO Seidman, in a major tax shelter trial in the Southern District of New York. After he had initially been convicted on all counts, Ms. McCarthy obtained Mr. Field’s acquittal on all counts in a re-trial, in a case described by the government as the largest criminal tax fraud in history.
Ms. McCarthy also has an extensive background in public service. In 2011, she was appointed by the New York City Police Commissioner to the Crime Reporting Review Committee, whose report was issued in April 2013. From May 2008 to March 2009, she served as Special Counsel to the New York State Attorney General in an investigation into whether there had been political interference with the New York State Police. From 1994 to 2006, Ms. McCarthy served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where she served as lead counsel and supervisor of dozens of federal criminal jury trials and argued numerous appeals before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. While in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ms. McCarthy served as Chief of the Violent Crimes Unit and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division and served in the Public Corruption Unit. Ms. McCarthy was the recipient of the Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant United States Attorney in both 1996 and 1999.
Prior to her service in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ms. McCarthy was an Associate at Lankler Siffert & Wohl and served as a Law Clerk to Judge John F. Keenan, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York.
Ms. McCarthy is actively involved in various professional associations. She is Chair of the Federal Criminal Procedure Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of its Downstate New York Committee. For over ten years, she served on the First Department’s Committee on Character and Fitness, was the first woman to serve as President of the Fordham Law Alumni Association, served as a Vice President of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and from 2012-2015 served as Chair of the City Bar’s Criminal Law Committee. She is also active in the Federal Bar Council and the New York Council of Defense Lawyers.
Since 2009, she has been recognized by “New York Super Lawyers” in the field of white-collar criminal defense. Since 2012, Ms. McCarthy has been listed in Best Lawyers in America. She is recognized in Chambers for New York White Collar Defense. She is AV Rated in Martindale-Hubbell.
Ms. McCarthy is a 1989 graduate of Fordham Law School, where she served as an Articles Editor on the Fordham Law Review. She received a B.A. in 1985 from Colgate University.
BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE
Special Counsel to the Attorney General for the New York State Police Investigation, Office of the New York State Attorney General (May 2008 – March 2009)
Served as lead counsel in an investigation into whether there had been political interference with the New York State Police. Supervised a team of attorneys and investigators.
Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (1994 – 2006)
Extensive experience as lead counsel and supervisor of numerous federal criminal jury trials, hearings, evidentiary hearings, oral arguments, plea proceedings, and sentencings. Briefed and argued numerous appeals before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Chief, Violent Crimes Unit
(July 2002 to September 2006)
Deputy Chief, Criminal Division
(January 2001 to July 2002)
Honors: Recipient, Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant United States Attorney (1996 and 1999)
Associate, Lankler Siffert & Wohl(1991-1994)
Law Clerk, Honorable John F. Keenan
United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York (1989 - 1991)
