Blank Rome Welcomes White Collar Defense & Investigations Partner in Philadelphia
Blank Rome LLP announced that Mark M. Lee has joined the firm as a partner in the white collar Defense & investigations practice in the Philadelphia office. He joins from Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP where he was chair of the firm’s white collar defense and corporate investigations practice group.
In a news release, the firm said:
Formerly an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) for the District of Delaware, Lee has a traditional white collar defense practice, counseling his clients on everything from pre-indictment negotiations to plea negotiations and trials. He assists both private and public sector entities in internal investigations, and offers them compliance counseling. Mr. Lee regularly acts as an interface between his clients—both businesses and individuals—and the government agencies with which they come into contact.
“We are very excited to welcome Mark to the Firm,” said Alan J. Hoffman, Chairman and Managing Partner. “Mark has built a highly regarded practice and he is well-respected in the legal and business communities. Several of us at Blank Rome have known Mark for a number of years and I’m confident that his approachability and eagerness to collaborate across practices will further enhance our white collar group.”
As an AUSA, Mr. Lee organized and directed complex investigations. He has managed federal grand jury investigations and white collar criminal prosecutions in a wide variety of matters, including money laundering, public corruption, tax evasion, financial institution and mortgage fraud, and theft of identity, ERISA, and government funds. He has tried cases before the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and has successfully filed nine appellate briefs before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Notably, Mr. Lee recently defended a sitting U.S. congressman on multiple criminal charges, such as RICO, bank fraud, wire fraud, bribery, obstruction of justice, and money laundering.
Additionally, Mr. Lee has directed several federal investigations involving various technologies, including peer-to-peer software applications, social networking websites, and wireless and mobile networks and devices. His background also includes digital and computer forensic investigations.
“At his core, Mark is a problem solver,” said Shawn M. Wright, Co-Chair of the White Collar Defense & Investigations practice. “Whether at trial or in negotiations, Mark is a relentless advocate for clients, consulting with the respective agency or prosecutorial authority and resolving compliance issues under government scrutiny. Our group and our clients will undoubtedly benefit from Mark’s experience and perspective. We’re thrilled to have him on the team.”
In addition to his white collar practice, Mr. Lee also advises clients on matters concerning cybersecurity and data privacy, including assessments of policies and procedures, data breach preparation, and breach response and remediation.
“Blank Rome’s white collar defense & investigations practice group has a deep bench of exceptional attorneys,” said Mr. Lee. “I look forward to collaborating with attorneys across the Firm’s practices and offices to service my existing clients and strategically expand my practice. This is a perfect fit.”
Outside of his legal practice, Mr. Lee is a mentor to the youth in his community and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Black Child Development Institute. Mr. Lee’s pro bono and community investment activities center on education. For example, during his time as an AUSA, Mr. Lee coached a high school mock trial team in Delaware.
Mr. Lee earned his J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law, and his B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
