A partner and co-chair of Kramer Levin's White Collar Defense and SEC Regulatory practice, Barry H. Berke is a nationally-recognized trial lawyer, who has represented individuals and corporations in many sensitive and high-profile investigations and proceedings, and has tried dozens of cases before juries and judges. He has handled major matters involving all aspects of white collar crime, including allegations of securities, accounting and bank fraud, RICO and FCPA violations, tax offenses, bribery, bid-rigging, and embezzlement. Mr. Berke also has represented prominent corporations and individuals in class action and other complex litigation.
Mr. Berke is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was selected in 2010 as one of the "Top 10 Lawyers in New York" by Super Lawyers, and as one of the "Top 100" by Super Lawyers from 2008-2011. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America (2007-2012), Chambers USA (2008?2012), Legal 500 US (2009-2012), and Benchmark Litigation (2009?2012) as one of the leading trial lawyers and white-collar criminal defense lawyers in the United States. In 2012, Chambers USA ranked Mr. Berke in its top band for his success as both a trial lawyer nationwide and white collar criminal defense lawyer, recognizing him to be "the cream of the crop" for trial work, "an incredibly sharp legal mind and an awesome trial lawyer," who is known for his "great connection with juries." Legal 500 in 2011 cited Mr. Berke as "one of the most high-profile and sought after white-collar attorneys in New York." Benchmark Litigation has consistently named him a litigation star, citing him "for his white collar and securities achievements" and as "the go-to guy for white collar trial work." The National Law Journal recently profiled Mr. Berke as part of a special report on five winning trial attorneys for 2011. He also was included in Law360's 2011 Most Valuable Player list, one of only four named nationally in the area of white collar criminal defense. In 2007 he was profiled in The American Lawyer's "Young Litigators Fab Fifty" as one of the 50 leading litigation attorneys in the United States under the age of 45.
Mr. Berke is co-author of the textbook The Practice of Federal Criminal Law: Prosecution and Defense, published in January 2006 by Thomson/West as part of its American Casebook Series. Mr. Berke has taught courses on criminal law and professional responsibility at New York University School of Law, and lectures frequently on criminal justice issues in a variety of forums. Additionally, he is chairman of the board of directors of the Coalition for the Homeless and a member of the board of directors of the Federal Defenders of New York, Inc. Mr. Berke is also a member of the firm's governing executive committee.
Prior to joining Kramer Levin, Mr. Berke was a trial lawyer with the Federal Defenders' Office for the Southern District of New York for four years. Mr. Berke graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School and served as a law clerk to Judge Mary Johnson Lowe of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.