Anjula Prasad

Federal Criminal Trials

• United States v. Manuel Chang (E.D.N.Y.) — Represented the former Minister of Finance of the Republic of Mozambique, charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and FCPA violations in connection with the “tuna bonds” scandal, one of the largest FCPA prosecutions in history. Tried over four weeks before a federal jury in Brooklyn.
• United States v. Brijesh Goel (S.D.N.Y.) — Represented a Goldman Sachs Managing Director charged with insider trading and securities fraud arising from the alleged misuse of confidential information about mergers and acquisitions.
• United States v. SanFilippo (Platinum Partners) (E.D.N.Y.) — Obtained a full acquittal on all five felony counts, including securities fraud, investment adviser fraud, and conspiracy, for the former CFO of Platinum Partners after a nine-week federal jury trial.

Civil Forfeiture & International Matters

• Motor Yacht Amadea Forfeiture (S.D.N.Y.) — Represents the claimant in the civil forfeiture proceeding over the $300 million superyacht Amadea, seized by the Department of Justice as part of its enforcement actions against sanctioned Russian interests.
• Beirut Port Explosion Litigation — Represents plaintiffs, victims, and survivors of the August 2020 explosion at the Port of Beirut against a U.S.-Norwegian company alleged to have facilitated the transport of ammonium nitrate to the port as part of a bribery scheme involving Hezbollah.

Regulatory Enforcement & SEC Matters

• Represents individuals and companies under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with securities fraud, insider trading, and market manipulation inquiries.
• Obtained reversal by the Second Circuit of more than $7 million in disgorgement awards imposed against the CEO of a public company in an SEC enforcement action alleging misappropriation of private-offering proceeds.
• Negotiated the withdrawal of all SEC claims for disgorgement and civil penalties in an enforcement action alleging a $20 million securities fraud.
• Obtained dismissal of a federal indictment charging a $17 million pump-and-dump scheme.
• Represents the CEO of a public company in SEC civil litigation alleging a $27 million pump-and-dump scheme.
• Represents individuals in three separate civil litigations alleging violations of the short-swing profit rule under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Investigations & Advisory

• Represents defendants in state and federal courts in every phase of white-collar prosecutions and regulatory enforcement actions, from investigation through appeal, in matters involving securities, wire, mail, and accounting fraud, money laundering, FCPA and OFAC violations, insider trading, obstruction of justice, false statements, food and drug misbranding, and tax offenses.
• Has guided clients through investigations and enforcement proceedings brought by the SEC, FINRA, CFTC, Department of Justice, state Attorneys General, District Attorneys’ offices, the Federal Reserve Board, and state tax departments.
• Conducted internal investigations for corporations and institutions, including a comprehensive review of disclosures about Puerto Rico municipal bond holdings in the lead-up to Puerto Rico’s financial crisis.
• Persuaded the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office to decline all charges against a large financial advisory firm following a two-year investigation into the sufficiency of its Puerto Rico municipal bond disclosures.

Defamation, Reputation Management & Employment

• William Husel Defamation Action — Represents Dr. William Husel, a physician falsely accused of murdering twenty-five patients and acquitted of all criminal charges, in a nationally covered defamation action against the hospital system and executives whose conduct gave rise to the false allegations.
• McNeil, et al. v. Mount Carmel Health System (Franklin County, Ohio) — Represented eight former Mount Carmel nurses and a pharmacist in defamation and wrongful termination claims against the hospital system and its parent, Trinity Health, which had publicly blamed them for patient deaths. The firm reached a successful settlement for all nine plaintiffs on the eve of trial.
• Has prosecuted and defended high-profile defamation claims for individuals and professionals harmed by false public statements, institutional misconduct, and bad-faith disinformation campaigns, including litigation against prolific short sellers.
• Former Members of Cornell University’s Chi Phi Fraternity — Represents several former Chi Phi members falsely linked online to a fraternity group chat at the center of a 2024 sexual assault lawsuit, even though they had graduated before the alleged incident. Following cease-and-desist demands, their names were removed from the websites and social media posts that had identified them.
• Internationally Renowned Wellness Expert — Has represented an internationally renowned wellness and longevity expert, author, and podcaster in employment matters.