On October 6, 2017, Arent Fox LLP announced the expansion of its New York office with the addition of former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York (2015-2017) Robert L. Capers. Following a public service career that included prosecuting high-profile cases involving public corruption, racketeering, and international narcotics trafficking, Capers will co-lead Arent Fox’s Government Enforcement & White Collar practice. Capers is also one of NAFUSA’s newest members.

Capers served as a prosecutor for over two decades. He began his career in 1996 at the New York County District Attorney’s Office under the legendary Robert M. Morgenthau, one of NAFUSA’s longest standing members. In 2003, Capers joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, where as a line and supervisory prosecutor he led a number of complex investigations and prosecutions involving a wide range of crimes, such as racketeering, international money laundering, and public corruption.

He also tried and second-chaired to verdict more than two dozen criminal trials, including serving as co-lead counsel on the jury trial and conviction of a then sitting New York State Assemblyman for engaging in complex bribery and extortion schemes and the theft of government funds, which resulted in the longest sentence for a sitting New York State politician in recent history.

President Barack Obama nominated Capers in October 2015 to serve as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. He was confirmed by the US Senate in December 2015. Mr. Capers received his JD from Albany Law School and his BA from New York University.

During his tenure as United States Attorney, Capers gained international recognition for headline grabbing work that included: overseeing the extradition of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the head of the Sinaloa Cartel; obtaining the indictments and extraditions of nearly 30 FIFA officials; bringing groundbreaking FCPA investigations, including the investigation of a large Brazilian construction conglomerate and a Brazilian petrochemical company for engaging in a massive-in-scale bribery scheme involving government officials around the world; the investigation of a major US financial institution for its corrupt hiring practices in the Asia-Pacific region and the investigation of a US hedge fund for corrupt hiring practices in Africa; and overseeing the agreement by a large German bank to pay a record fine for misleading investors in its sale of residential mortgage-backed securities, which contributed to the 2008 financial collapse in the US.

“Rob has distinguished himself as one of the top prosecutors in the country and is a great addition to our world-class Government Enforcement & White-Collar group that now includes two former US Attorneys,” said Chairman Mark M. Katz. “With Rob’s exceptional background and reputation, his options were limitless. He chose Arent Fox because of our unique culture and outstanding group of partners. Rob’s innovative thinking and experience managing one of the busiest US Attorney’s Offices in the country will be an invaluable service for clients.”

“I am very excited to join the partners at Arent Fox,” said Mr. Capers. “The firm’s tremendous depth of talent, its culture of collegiality and collaboration, and commitment to public service through its robust pro bono practice make it a perfect fit for me. Arent Fox’s integrity, compliance, and white-collar work is second to none, and I am looking forward to working with such a vibrant and dynamic team to build upon its already impressive success.”

Arent Fox is the only law firm to carry out multiple compliance monitorships for the World Bank and is routinely selected for monitorships by the Department of Justice and the New York State Department of Financial Services.