The Robert M. Morgenthau Award

James A. Mitchell

Ballard Spahr LLP

James A. Mitchell focuses on criminal and civil litigation as well as regulatory matters within the securities industry. Jim's criminal representations encompass securities fraud, tax evasion, antitrust, commercial bribery, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters, government procurement fraud, money laundering, bank fraud, and environmental crime. He also handles a broad spectrum of civil litigation, including commercial contract disputes, defense of § 1983 civil rights claims, securities fraud, defense of claims made under New York’s Child Victims Act, and claims of employment discrimination and sexual harassment.

Beyond these traditional white collar matters, Jim has represented a woman charged with assault when her dog allegedly attacked another person, a well-known supermarket chain in a coupon fraud investigation, and a prominent recording artist in extensive bail litigation in the New York State appellate courts.

Civil matters in which Jim has been involved include participation in an arbitration over the renovation of a prominent New York hotel, the defense of several municipal officials accused of civil rights violations, and the representation of a national medical products manufacturer in a products liability suit.

 

The Robert M. Morgenthau Award

Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. 

Baker McKenzie, LLP

2025 Leegal HonoreeCy has earned an international reputation as a trial attorney with a proven track record in high-stakes litigation and global investigations. As Co-Chair of Baker McKenzie's North America Government Enforcement Practice, he is known for his expertise in white collar investigations, complex litigation, sanctions enforcement, compliance, and cybersecurity.  

Cy served three consecutive four-year terms as Manhattan District Attorney, overseeing a team of over 600 prosecutors, and managed more than 100,000 cases annually. He handled landmark criminal prosecutions, including the successful litigation before the U.S. Supreme, the prosecution of Harvey Weinstein, and multiple successful prosecutions of cases involving state terrorism, international cybercrime, and investigations and prosecutions of foreign banks for major sanctions violations. Cy regularly collaborated with regulatory and crime-fighting partners such as the City of London Police, Paris Prosecutors' Office, Singapore Attorney General, Europol and Interpol, and is known for his ability to build and manage teams collaboratively across borders and agencies.

 

EVENT CHAIRS  
CHARLES A. STILLMAN
Ballard Spahr LLP
CHAUNCEY PARKER
Executive Director, HIDTA NY/NJ
 
PLEASE JOIN US!!  
JOHN A. CATSIMATIDIS
PAL Chairman
ROBERT J. McGUIRE
PAL Chairman
 
BART M. SCHWARTZ
Guidepost Solutions LLC
PAL President
 
EVENT HONORARY CHAIRS  
CRAIG A. EATON
Eaton & Torrenzano Attorneys at Law
PAL Board
LISA M. FRIEL
National Football League
PAL Board
 
HON. BARBARA S. JONES (ret.)
Bracewell LLP
PAL Board
STEPHEN E. KAUFMAN
Stephen E. Kaufman, P.C.
PAL Board
 
VINCENT F. PITTA
Pitta LLP
PAL Board
   

$20,000

 

BAKER MCKENZIE, LLP  / CYRUS R. VANCE, JR.

 

BENEFACTOR
$15,000

 

BALLARD SPAHR LLP / CHARLES A. STILLMAN

 
DANIEL S. CONNOLLY / HON. BARBARA S. JONES
Bracewell LLP
 

PATRON
$10,000

 
MARK R. DeFAZIO
Metropolitan Commercial Bank
JOHN FITZPATRICK
Fitzpatrick Hotel Group
 
BRAD S. KARP
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
LARRY GERSCHWER
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
 
LANKLER SIFFERT & WOHL LLP ROBERT P. MORGENTHAU
Cannell & Spears
 
MORVILLO ABRAMOWITZ GRAND IASON & ANELLO PC GARY P. NAFTALIS
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
 
GUY PETRILLO
Petrillo Klein & Boxer LLP
VINCENT F. PITTA
Pitta LLP
 
CHERYL M. & BART M. SCHWARTZ THEODORE V. WELLS
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
 
FRIENDS
$7,500
 

JAMES A. AND JENNIFER MITCHELL

 

 
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