Katie Lemire, an accomplished trial lawyer as well as former federal prosecutor and regulatory agency official, has experience in a wide variety of government enforcement and financial services regulatory matters. A seasoned litigator who has first-chaired dozens of criminal and civil trials, she has unique expertise in the enforcement issues surrounding banking, insurance, cryptocurrency, and AML compliance.
Ms. Lemire’s expertise stems partly from her time as Executive Deputy Superintendent at the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), where she oversaw the Consumer Protection and Financial Enforcement Division. In that role, she supervised regulatory and enforcement actions brought against international banks, insurance companies and cryptocurrency businesses as well as money transmitters, mortgage servicers, student lenders, fintech companies, and other financial services providers. She also led initial enforcement investigations into violations of DFS cybersecurity regulations. While at DFS, Ms. Lemire served as a member of the Virtual Currency Licensing Committee. Under her leadership, DFS initiated multiple enforcement investigations into cryptocurrency businesses.
Since joining Quinn Emanuel in 2022, numerous clients have turned to Ms. Lemire to lead teams on high-profile matters calling for her unique expertise. In that role, she has led multiple investigations into possible fraud, corporate malfeasance and other misconduct, resulting in substantial claims. Ms. Lemire served as a leader of the Special Counsel team to provide independent advice to the Independent Directors of Voyager Digital LLC, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges to file for Chapter 11 relief.
Ms. Lemire is presently serving as Special Counsel to the FTX debtors and affiliated entities. In that role, Ms. Lemire has led multiple investigations into possible fraud, corporate malfeasance, and other misconduct, including those that have resulted in causes of action.
Ms. Lemire has also represented clients in matters involving cross-border insurance fraud, DOJ inquiries into e-commerce platforms and international bank AML issues, money transmitter regulatory issues, and labor and employment claims. She has represented clients before the U.S. Department of Justice, the SEC, the FDA, DFS, and other state and federal agencies.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Lemire served as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York and as a prosecutor in the New York County (Manhattan) District Attorney's Office. In those roles, Ms. Lemire prosecuted racketeering, public corruption, money laundering, bank fraud, and numerous other crimes. She has also briefed and argued appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Ms. Lemire was appointed in 2009 to serve as Counsel to the Police Commissioner, Raymond W. Kelly. In that role, she managed a broad portfolio of operational and legal matters for the New York City Police Department, an agency comprised of more than 53,000 employees.
Ms. Lemire has extensive monitorship and government oversight experience. As the CEO of a compliance and investigations firm, she has served as a court-appointed Special Master in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and was appointed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an Independent Consultant in connection with a settlement between the SEC and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Most recently Ms. Lemire has been named Law360 MVP in Fintech for 2023.
- Northwestern University School of Law
(J.D., 1997)- Dean's List
- Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business
- New York University School of Law
(1997) - Brown University
(B.A., 1989)
- The State Bar of New York
- United States District Courts:
- Southern District of New York
- Eastern District of New York
- French
- New York State Department of Financial Services:
- Executive Deputy Superintendent, 2019-2022
- Executive Deputy Superintendent, 2019-2022
- StoneTurn:
- Partner, 2018-2019
- Partner, 2018-2019
- Lemire LLC:
- President & CEO, 2013-2018
- U.S. Attorney’s Office – Southern District of New York:
- Assistant United States Attorney, 2002-2009
- New York County Attorney’s Office:
- Assistant District Attorney, 1997-2002
- Lawdragon, 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers, Securities Litigation, Investigations, 2024
- Law360 MVP Fintech, 2023
- Above & Beyond Award for Outstanding Women in Business, presented by City & State NY (2017)
- New York Federal Executive Board Award, presented by Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey (2008)
Presentations
- “Case Study on Crypto-Sanctions Evasion and Public-Private Partnership,” panel member, Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists, June 28, 2022
- “Latest in Landscape of Crypto Regulation,” panel member, American Conference Institute, June 13, 2023
- “Data Security and Privacy Issues in 2022,” panel member, Practicing Law Institute, March 28, 2022
- “Managing Cybersecurity Incidents,” panel member, Practicing Law Institute, September 27, 2021
- “Regulatory Perspectives in Innovation in FinCrime Compliance,” panel member, Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists, August 4, 2021
- “KYC/AML Requirements: Meeting Enhanced Social and Legal Requirements for Knowing your Customer and the New AML Act,” panel member, Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, June 9, 2021
- “Women Leaders in Financial Services,” panel member, American Conference Institute, December 4, 2020
- “Financial Inclusion Roundtable: Tax Preparation, Filing Services, and Consumer Protection,” moderator, New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and the New York State Department of Financial Services, October 20, 2020
- “Preparing for Bank Investigations, Enforcement and Litigation Regarding the PPP and Other CARES Act Programs,” panel member, Risk Management Association, June 9, 2020
- “Resisting Temptation in a Crisis: How to Make Sure Ethics and Compliance Don’t Get Diluted Under Financial Strain,” panel member, New York City Bar Association, May 28, 2020
- “Balancing a Simultaneous Government Investigation and Class Action Following a Data Breach,” panel member, Federal Bar Council, January 23, 2020
- “Evolving Issues in AML Compliance and Cybersecurity,” keynote speaker, New York League of Independent Bankers, December 5, 2019
- “Current Vision and Priorities of the Department of Financial Services,” panel member, New York Law School event, December 3, 2019
- “Straight Talk: Learning from the Past -- How to Avoid the High Cost of AML Compliance Failures,” panel member, New York Society of CPAs, November 20, 2019
- “Cyber Incident Response,” panel member, Leaders Council, October 28, 2019
- “Regulatory Expectations and New Sanctions on the Horizon,” panel member, Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists, October 17, 2019
- “Government Regulators Weigh in on Financial Crime Enforcement,” panel member, American Conference Institute, September 30, 2019
- “Obstruction of Justice,” panel member, Federal Bar Council, 2018 Fall Bench & Bar Retreat, October 1921, 2018
- “Women in Investigations,” Global Investigations Review (GIR), London, June 28, 2018
- “Handling Government Investigations and Crisis Management,” panel member, New York State Bar Association, November 2, 2017
- “Construction Industry Investigations & Prosecutions,” panel member, New York City Bar, February 24, 2015
Publications
- Banks Must Take New York’s Advice on Executive Vetting Seriously, Bloomberg Law (March 5, 2024)
- Cryptocurrency and Anti-Money Laundering Enforcement, Reuters (September 26, 2022)
- Cryptocurrency & AML Enforcement: Who’s in Charge, Chambers USA (2022)
- Correspondent Banking: A Gateway to Money Laundering Requires Heightened Scrutiny, co-author with Caroline A. Fornos, National Law Journal (September 2016)
- Cybersecurity Remains an Industry Priority, Katherine Lemire interview, The Secured Lender (November 2017)
- When a Monitor Arrives at Your Firm: What is Expected of You?, Compliance & Ethics Professional, September 2018
- Conducting a Sexual Harassment Investigation: A Practical Guide, co-author with Amy R. Foote, American Bar Association Guide for Corporate Counsel (October 2018)
- Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS)