Morrison Cohen Hires White Collar Partners Eric Creizman and Melissa Madrigal and Furthers Ties to Miami

Morrison Cohen announced that Eric Creizman and Melissa Madrigal have joined the firm as partners in the white collar group, bolstering the firm’s leading position in white collar defense. The firm will also leverage the South Florida ties of Melissa, a Miami native, to further its work with clients and officially establish a presence in the region. Both Eric and Melissa were previously partners in Armstrong Teasdale’s white collar criminal and government investigations practice.

“We are thrilled to welcome Eric and Melissa, whose deep experience in successfully handling white collar criminal matters and investigations complements our white collar practice,” said Danielle Lesser, Chair of Morrison Cohen’s Business Litigation practice. “Clients rely on us for their most complex and demanding cases, and the addition of these two talented lawyers confirms the high quality of work and service our firm delivers.”

Eric focuses his practice on white collar and securities enforcement defense and has served as lead counsel in some of the most complex, high-stakes and high-profile white collar representations in recent years, including trying many cases to verdict. His experience includes government and corporate investigations, federal jury trials, bench trials, evidentiary and sentencing hearings, restitution proceedings and appeals. He is often called upon to provide representation and strategic counsel in criminal and regulatory matters relating to securities, accounting, investments, real estate transactions, environmental violations, health care, insurance, money laundering, digital assets, construction, unions and political activities.

“I couldn’t think of a more fitting firm for me than Morrison Cohen, with its innovative lawyers, strong leadership and collaborative culture,” said Eric. “My practice dovetails perfectly with the firm’s platform and I am excited to work with the outstanding business litigation team and its clients.”

Melissa’s practice focuses on white collar criminal defense, regulatory enforcement and compliance and internal investigations. She has successfully advised and defended clients in high-stakes, high-profile matters across the country involving market manipulation, cryptocurrency-related activities, accounting fraud, insider trading, sanctions violations, political activities, healthcare fraud, narcotics trafficking and fish and wildlife offenses, among others.

Melissa, a native Spanish speaker, maintains an active practice advising and representing Latin American clients in U.S. matters that implicate regulatory and criminal concerns. She is an active member of the New York and Florida bars.

“Morrison Cohen’s reputation as a leading litigation firm and its impressive client base are what drew me to the firm. I look forward to representing clients with operations and matters in South Florida and to expanding the firm’s relationships in this important business hub,” said Melissa.

Morrison Cohen has been active for many years in Miami – both professionally and in the community. The firm represents RFW Beach Debt, which is owned by RFR Holding, Aby Rosen and Michael Fuchs in a contentious battle between Rosen and co-owner David Edelstein over a failed deal for control of the W. South Beach. Recently, the firm also successfully represented the developer of a hotel in Miami Beach against a threatened challenge by the board of a neighboring condominium dealing with permits to the city regarding renovation of the client’s property for use as a luxury hotel. In addition, Business Litigation Partner Richard Hong served as a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida (Miami), Economic Crimes Section, where he led numerous complex white collar grand jury investigations, including bank and securities fraud cases, and prosecuted environmental enforcement cases.

In the community, Chair and Co-Managing Partner Y. David Scharf and his wife Cheryl were among the sponsors of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts’ 16th Anniversary Gala, the Center’s marquee philanthropic event, which raised over $13 million toward arts education and paid internships. This year, the Scharfs will underwrite Morrison Cohen’s sponsorship of the Arsht Center’s 17th Anniversary Gala to be held on April 1 in Miami.

“Florida has seen tremendous economic and population growth in recent years, with many fin tech, private equity, investment management and real estate companies setting up operations there. Several of our partners have been spending more time in the Miami area in response to client relocations and demand for our legal service offerings. Our South Florida presence furthers the firm’s strategic plan to expand into top-tier, high-opportunity markets and serve our clients throughout the region and abroad,” said David.