A partner in the White Collar Defense and Investigations practice in New York, Kenneth Breen has earned a national reputation as a leading advocate and trial lawyer on high-profile criminal and civil regulatory enforcement defense matters. He is regularly chosen to defend corporations and executives in high-stakes investigations and trials, and to conduct internal investigations, involving a myriad of issues including securities fraud, health care fraud, consumer protection issues, money laundering, and anti-corruption allegations. Many of these matters involve law enforcement and regulatory agencies from multiple jurisdictions and cross-border legal issues. He has handled numerous investigations that have led to favorable settlements or concluded investigations in which no charges were brought, often by leveraging his reputation as a successful advocate and, when necessary, a winning trial and appellate attorney. He has tried 48 cases to verdict and argued 12 appeals as a federal prosecutor and defense attorney.
Ken is the former global chair of the investigations and white collar practice at another leading U.S. law firm. In ranking Ken among the leaders in White Collar & Government Investigations, Chambers USA notes that his clients regard him as a "fantastically talented lawyer who is extremely strategic," and they hold him in "high esteem" and praise his "very shrewd mind," "exceptional legal vision," and "ability to look across the full spectrum of white-collar issues." According to Chambers, he impresses clients as "a very strong advocate," "an extremely clear thinker," "great communicator," "highly efficient, comprehensive and thoughtful," "very focused, incredibly direct and also really strategic," "dedicated, tireless and [someone who] can quickly and effectively understand legal issues and the business needs of his clients," and "phenomenal - [….] very good at his craft and […] a great strategist." Clients also describe him as an "extraordinarily effective trial counsel" who "comes with the experience, gravitas and intellect" that lets the other side know that he will be "really prepared to try the matter."
