Martin S. Bell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to Join Simpson Thacher
06/15/2021
Martin S. Bell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to Join Simpson Thacher
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP announced today that Martin S. Bell will join the Firm’s Litigation Department as a Partner based in the New York office.
“Martin has outstanding trial and investigative expertise and we are delighted to welcome him to the Firm,” said Bill Dougherty, Chairman of Simpson Thacher’s Executive Committee. “His wide range of experience will further bolster our ability to advise clients on some of their most important matters.”
Martin joins the Firm from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for more than a decade. Martin served as a senior member of the Securities and Commodities Task Force, before that serving as a member of the Public Corruption Unit and the Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Unit. While at the SDNY, Martin investigated and prosecuted a variety of financial and corruption-related crimes, including: securities, accounting and other financial fraud; spoofing; bribery, obstruction of justice and honest services fraud; and money laundering and sanctions violations. In addition, he has worked on cases involving criminal civil rights violations. Martin was honored with several awards for his service, including the Assistant Attorney General’s Exceptional Service Award and the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation Prosecutor of the Year Award.
“With more than a decade of experience at the SDNY, Martin has gained a reputation for securing results and he will be a wonderful addition to our deep bench of former federal prosecutors, senior government officials and seasoned trial lawyers,” said Jonathan Youngwood, Co-Head of Simpson Thacher’s Litigation Department. “Martin joining follows the addition of Marc Berger, who joined us this month and was most recently the Acting Director of the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.”
As a federal prosecutor, Martin served as lead counsel on behalf of the United States in fourteen jury trials. Among his standout cases, Martin obtained convictions of a hedge fund founder and a union executive in connection with allegations of bribery. Martin also litigated the forfeiture of a Manhattan skyscraper controlled by Iranian government entities in violation of U.S. sanctions, which included the largest-ever civil asset forfeiture trial in U.S. history. In addition, Martin secured convictions of individuals in cases related to investor misrepresentations and a case that involved the smuggling of dinosaur fossils, and was a member of the team that secured the multi-billion dollar resolution of a sanctions case against the world’s sixth-largest bank. Martin also argued before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals on nine occasions.
“Martin is an excellent and versatile litigator who has led numerous significant, often cross-border, investigations and prosecutions,” said Steve Cutler, Global Head of the Firm’s Government and Internal Investigations Practice. “We are excited to welcome him to the team.”
“In the last decade, Simpson Thacher has built a formidable Government and Internal Investigations Practice,” said Martin. “The Firm is well known not only for its talented lawyers, but also for its collaborative culture and I’m looking forward to working with such a wonderful group as we assist clients on some of their most critical and challenging issues.”
Prior to joining the SDNY, Martin was associated with another international law firm and was a law clerk to the Hon. Eric N. Vitaliano, United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A., cum laude, from Harvard University.
Simpson Thacher’s Global Litigation Department represents a wide range of sophisticated clients, including financial institutions, corporations, boards, audit and special committees, and senior executives in their most significant matters. The Firm leverages its substantial bench of talent and broad experience to effectively handle litigations, government and internal investigations, arbitrations and cross-border disputes in North and South America, Asia and Europe.
Martin S. Bell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to Join Simpson Thacher
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP announced today that Martin S. Bell will join the Firm’s Litigation Department as a Partner based in the New York office.
Martin joins the Firm from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for more than a decade. Martin served as a senior member of the Securities and Commodities Task Force, before that serving as a member of the Public Corruption Unit and the Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Unit. While at the SDNY, Martin investigated and prosecuted a variety of financial and corruption-related crimes, including: securities, accounting and other financial fraud; spoofing; bribery, obstruction of justice and honest services fraud; and money laundering and sanctions violations. In addition, he has worked on cases involving criminal civil rights violations. Martin was honored with several awards for his service, including the Assistant Attorney General’s Exceptional Service Award and the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation Prosecutor of the Year Award.
“With more than a decade of experience at the SDNY, Martin has gained a reputation for securing results and he will be a wonderful addition to our deep bench of former federal prosecutors, senior government officials and seasoned trial lawyers,” said Jonathan Youngwood, Co-Head of Simpson Thacher’s Litigation Department. “Martin joining follows the addition of Marc Berger, who joined us this month and was most recently the Acting Director of the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.”
As a federal prosecutor, Martin served as lead counsel on behalf of the United States in fourteen jury trials. Among his standout cases, Martin obtained convictions of a hedge fund founder and a union executive in connection with allegations of bribery. Martin also litigated the forfeiture of a Manhattan skyscraper controlled by Iranian government entities in violation of U.S. sanctions, which included the largest-ever civil asset forfeiture trial in U.S. history. In addition, Martin secured convictions of individuals in cases related to investor misrepresentations and a case that involved the smuggling of dinosaur fossils, and was a member of the team that secured the multi-billion dollar resolution of a sanctions case against the world’s sixth-largest bank. Martin also argued before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals on nine occasions.
“Martin is an excellent and versatile litigator who has led numerous significant, often cross-border, investigations and prosecutions,” said Steve Cutler, Global Head of the Firm’s Government and Internal Investigations Practice. “We are excited to welcome him to the team.”
“In the last decade, Simpson Thacher has built a formidable Government and Internal Investigations Practice,” said Martin. “The Firm is well known not only for its talented lawyers, but also for its collaborative culture and I’m looking forward to working with such a wonderful group as we assist clients on some of their most critical and challenging issues.”
Prior to joining the SDNY, Martin was associated with another international law firm and was a law clerk to the Hon. Eric N. Vitaliano, United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A., cum laude, from Harvard University.
Simpson Thacher’s Global Litigation Department represents a wide range of sophisticated clients, including financial institutions, corporations, boards, audit and special committees, and senior executives in their most significant matters. The Firm leverages its substantial bench of talent and broad experience to effectively handle litigations, government and internal investigations, arbitrations and cross-border disputes in North and South America, Asia and Europe.
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