Hecker Fink LLP

Hecker Fink LLP has quickly grown into one of the country’s elite litigation boutiques, fusing a high-stakes, cutting edge litigation practice with a groundbreaking commitment to serving the public interest.

The Hecker Fink team is comprised of highly experienced litigators, trial lawyers, and operations professionals, including five former federal prosecutors, three former public defenders, six former U.S. Supreme Court clerks, and dozens of attorneys with experience clerking at all levels of state and federal courts. This uniquely talented pool of attorneys enables Hecker Fink to consistently produce exceptional outcomes and value to our clients, and also earned us the recognition of being named "Boutique Firm of the Year" by Benchmark Litigation for four of the past five years.

Hecker Fink is recognized by Chambers and Legal 500as having one of the country's top white collar defense practices. Our commercial litigation, FCPA, nationwide corporate crime and investigations, employment, and higher education practices are similarly ranked by Chambers. The legal guide noted that the Firm is "recognized for its excellence across an array of litigation-related matters" and is "respected by the market for its 'deep bench of heavy hitters with different backgrounds who are leaders in this area, and are smart, collaborative people." Hecker Fink lawyers have tried and won dozens of cases in state and federal courts across the country.

An anonymous peer noted to Benchmark Litigation that Hecker Fink lawyers "are unwaveringly committed to staring down injustice without blinking, and their work proves that. They are ambitious, feisty and fearless, especially tailor-made for these tumultuous times." Another noted that "they are all pretty young, and are already superstars, so really, if they keep that model and all wind up staying together, the sky is the limit."

Hecker Fink lawyers have extensive trial experience, with five former federal prosecutors and three former public defenders among our ranks. Our litigators have tried numerous civil and criminal cases to verdict in both federal and state courts, and our clients benefit from deep trial experience and a wide range of subject matter knowledge. We offer diverse perspectives and insights from opposite sides of the courtroom, enabling the kind of strategic flexibility that delivers results.

In what was recognized by Benchmark Litigation as "Impact Case of the Year" and Global Investigations Review as "Most Important Court Case of the Year," a team led by Sean Hecker secured a "rare" acquittal at trial in a market manipulation case against a former Barclays trader. Benchmark Litigation honored the Firm with a second "Impact Case of the Year" award for our representation of the plaintiffs in Sines v. Kessler, in which the team won a historic $26 million damages award in the groundbreaking lawsuit against twenty-four white supremacists and neo-Nazis for their roles in organizing the racial and religious-based violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Hecker Fink is committed to litigating cases that advance the public interest, treating each public interest case exactly the same as every other case. The Firm has taken on some of the most pressing and groundbreaking issues of today— suing the white supremacists who organized the violence in Charlottesville, challenging the Metropolitan Detention Center’s denial of access to counsel on behalf of the Federal Defenders of New York, Inc., protecting LGBTQ+ rights in Mississippi, suing Donald Trump and others for conspiring to defraud investors and successfully representing writer E. Jean Carroll in her sexual assault and defamation suits, securing two substantial jury verdicts of $5 million and $83.3 million, respectively—both in less than three hours. In 2024, we secured a settlement in a challenge to Florida’s "Don’t Say Gay" law that restored the ability of students, teachers, and others in Florida schools to speak and write freely about sexual orientation and gender identity in class participation and schoolwork.

Hecker Fink is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where lawyers and staff from diverse backgrounds feel valued, supported, and empowered to contribute, lead, and achieve their fullest potential. Firm clients can rely on receiving top-tier representation because we recruit and retain the most exceptional talent, irrespective of how they look, love, or pray. In today’s interconnected global economy, embracing diversity is not only a core value, but also a sound business practice. By cultivating diverse teams, Hecker Fink mirrors the rich tapestry of our clients and ensure that our lawyers possess the multifaceted perspectives and experiences needed to adeptly address our clients’ challenges.

Hecker Fink holds membership in both Bloomberg Law’s DEI Framework group and the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), highlighting our active engagement and commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within the legal industry. In 2022, the Firm received the LCLD Compass Award, and each year, we nominate diverse attorneys to participate in the council’s Fellow and Pathfinders programs.

In 2024, the firm was named “Outstanding Firm” for DEI by Chambers as part of its USA Awards and "North American Firm of the Year" by Legal Media Group as part of its Women in Business Law North America Awards. An anonymous peer noted to Benchmark Litigation that the Firm's "commitment to diversity and fair play is beyond question. Other firms talk the talk about diversity and equality, but this firm walks it, talks it, and lives it."