Sharon Cohen-Levin

Practice Areas

White collar and regulatory enforcement defense, internal investigations, compliance counseling

Career

Sharon Cohen Levin is a leading authority on anti-money laundering (AML), Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), economic sanctions and asset forfeiture. She represents a diverse group of clients, including financial institutions, multinational companies, and individuals in connection with criminal, regulatory, and civil enforcement actions. Ms. Levin’s matters often involve multiple government agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), FinCEN, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Federal Reserve Board (FRB), Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) as well as foreign regulatory and law enforcement agencies.

Ms. Levin also represents collectors, dealers, galleries, auction houses, museums, and financial institutions in civil and criminal investigations and asset forfeiture proceedings related to the art market, including with respect to issues of ownership, theft, and fraud as well as the recovery of stolen and looted art and cultural property. In addition, Ms. Levin’s practice includes BSA/AML and sanctions compliance counseling.

Ms. Levin served for almost 20 years as Chief of the Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Unit in the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). Under her leadership, the SDNY was responsible for nearly 60% of all forfeitures in the United States, with most of the proceeds remitted to victims of crimes. During her tenure, Ms. Levin prosecuted and supervised many of the DOJ’s most complex and significant money laundering, sanctions and asset forfeiture cases. Ms. Levin has worked closely throughout her career with state and federal banking regulators, OFAC, FinCEN, SEC and NYDFS, giving her a broad understanding of how these agencies work together, especially in matters involving civil and criminal liability.

Personal

University of San Diego School of Law (J.D., 1985); Tulane University (B.A., 1982)