A pair of experienced lawyers are defending FTX creator Sam Bankman-Fried. One of them has previously represented drug lord El Chapo and disgraced socialite Ghislaine Maxwell in high-profile criminal matters.
Former federal prosecutors Mark Cohen and Christian Everdell now work at Cohen & Gresser, a New York-based boutique company. According to attorneys who know the men, the two are recognized for their steady, roll-up-their-sleeves approach to cases and meticulous and tenacious prosecution. This pair of attorneys are fighting against prosecutors from the US Department of Justice. Especially the ones who indicted Mr. Bankman-Fried and hired two of his former top lieutenants as cooperating witnesses following the collapse of FTX.
SBF received charges of criminal impersonation this month from a Manhattan US attorney. Attorney claims Bankman-Fried defrauded FTX clients and deceived investors and creditors linked to his crypto-trading firm Alameda Research. In addition, he’s questioned for stealing billions of dollars from them. He pleaded not guilty last week to federal charges of fraud, conspiracy, money laundering, and campaign finance violations. SBF is one of the most high-profile white-collar criminal defendants in recent history due to the collapse of FTX and its implications for other cascading crypto platforms.
The Lawyers Have Played a Big Part in The Extradition Process
Before the federal allegations, attorneys from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP assisted SBF. People familiar with the situation said that since a dispute, he was referred to Mr. Cohen.
Local officials imprisoned SBF in the Bahamas following a request from the US Department of Justice. Cohen, 59 years old, and Everdell, 48, have already guided their client through difficult extradition.
While negotiating with federal prosecutors his pretrial release under a $250 million bond, the two attorneys collaborated with local counsel to secure the transfer to US custody. They are now reviewing vast and complex evidence, including papers connected to FTX investors, debtors, and political campaigns.
Meanwhile, Bankman-Fried has promised to assist borrowers in regaining their funds. That could conflict with his defense, according to some attorneys. On the other hand, his two lawyers stayed quiet on the matter.
