Katherine Lemire has extensive financial services regulatory and enforcement experience. She most recently served as Executive Deputy Superintendent at the New York State Department of Financial Services, overseeing the Consumer Protection and Financial Enforcement Division. In that role, Ms. Lemire oversaw regulatory and enforcement actions brought against international banks, insurance companies, cryptocurrency businesses, as well as money transmitters, mortgage servicers, student lenders, fintech companies, and other financial services providers. Katherine also led the initial enforcement investigations into violations of the DFS cybersecurity regulations.
At DFS, Katherine was a member of the Virtual Currency Licensing Committee, and advised the Superintendent on pending license applications. Under her leadership, DFS initiated multiple enforcement investigations into cryptocurrency businesses.
Katherine previously 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. Katherine is a veteran trial lawyer, and has led more than 20 jury trials. She has also authored multiple appellate briefs and argued appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She serves as a leader of the firm’s in-house trial advocacy trainings for associates.
Katherine also has extensive monitorship and government oversight experience. She has served as a court-appointed Special Master in the U.S. District Court in 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. She also led an investigative team reviewing the activities of a Swiss bank in the course of a regulatory monitorship. She oversaw compliance reviews for one of the largest construction unions in the United States, pursuant to a federal monitorship. She has also supervised investigative and audit teams to conduct oversight reviews on behalf of multiple New York City agencies.
- 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
- 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
- “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
- 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)