Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP today announced the promotions of David Gopstein to partner and Max Feldman, Christopher Le Coney, Mahrah M. Taufique, and Anne R. Yearwood to counsel, all effective January 1, 2024.

David Gopstein is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer. Since joining Kaplan Hecker from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) in 2022, Gopstein has established himself as a key figure in the firm’s white collar defense, investigations, and complex civil litigation practices. He successfully represents corporate and individual clients across a wide range of matters, including those involving allegations of securities, commodities and wire fraud, cryptocurrency and cyber hacking matters, and complex internal and government-led investigations. He also represents multiple institutional clients in complex civil litigation matters.

“David is a stand-out trial lawyer and litigator who has quickly excelled in helping our firm represent clients in a wide range of high-stakes and sensitive matters,” said partner Sean Hecker. “He is an invaluable colleague who makes us an even stronger trial team.”

Prior to joining the firm, Gopstein served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the EDNY, where he was Deputy Chief of the Business and Securities Fraud Section, Healthcare Fraud Coordinator, Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Coordinator, and Environmental Crimes Coordinator. He twice received the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation’s Prosecutor of the Year award, as well as the IRS’s Deputy Commissioner award and the Federal Drug Agents Foundation True American Hero award.

Gopstein clerked for the Hon. Naomi Reice Buchwald of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) and was an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Kaplan Hecker Founding Partner Roberta Kaplan noted, “David is yet another fantastic trial lawyer, with a long record of victories at the EDNY, who we are so delighted to be adding to our partnership ranks."

In addition to Gopstein’s election to the partnership, Kaplan Hecker today also announced four promotions to counsel. Max Feldman, Christopher Le Coney, Mahrah M. Taufique, and Anne R. Yearwood are all based in the firm’s New York office.

Managing Partner Julie Fink remarked, “Anne, Chris, Mahrah, and Max represent the very best of Kaplan Hecker. They are each exceptional lawyers with a strong commitment to working in the public interest. They are outstanding colleagues, mentors, and friends, who we know will continue to strengthen and grow the firm.”

Feldman’s practice focuses on complex civil litigation, criminal, and regulatory matters. At Kaplan Hecker, Feldman successfully represented an insurance company in a complex arbitration, has represented the DNC in a variety of matters, and has successfully represented a range of individuals and entities in criminal and regulatory proceedings. Feldman joined Kaplan Hecker from NYU’s Brennan Center for Justice where he litigated high-profile voting rights cases in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate level. He clerked for the Hon. Bruce M. Selya on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and is a graduate of NYU School of Law and Harvard College.

Le Coney’s practice focuses on domestic and international investigations, regulatory proceedings, and complex civil litigation. At Kaplan Hecker, Le Coney represents an array of corporate and financial clients in complex civil litigation in addition to maintaining an active public interest docket and pro bono practice, with a focus on indigent criminal defense and matters affecting the LGBTQ+ community. Prior to joining Kaplan Hecker he was an associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. He is a graduate of Yale Law School and Harvard College.

Taufique’s practice focuses on white collar defense and investigations, regulatory proceedings, and complex civil litigation. At Kaplan Hecker, she has represented large financial institutions facing regulatory scrutiny, was part of the team representing several professional golfers in connection with antitrust litigation, and regularly assists in the representation of indigent criminal defendants. Taufique joined Kaplan Hecker after completing a clerkship with the Hon. Deborah A. Batts of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Prior to clerking, she was an attorney at the ACLU’s Immigrant Rights Project, where she worked on litigation to protect the rights of immigrant communities, including challenges to unlawful detention, the Trump Administration’s travel bans, and family separation. Taufique is a graduate of Columbia Law School and Columbia University.

Yearwood’s practice focuses on criminal defense, internal investigations, and complex civil litigation matters, while also maintaining broad public interest and pro bono practices. At Kaplan Hecker, she has represented large financial institutions facing regulatory scrutiny, served as counsel at a recent criminal trial in the Southern District of New York, has represented large institutional clients in a range of complex civil litigation matters, and was part of the team that conducted a comprehensive review of gender equity issues in the NCAA championships. She joined the firm from Davis Polk & Wardwell and previously clerked for the Hon. Kenneth M. Karas of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. In 2022, Yearwood was named to The National Black Lawyers’ Top 40 under 40 list. Yearwood is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and Georgetown University.

Kaplan added, “We are also excited to be promoting Anne, Chris, Mahrah, and Max to the position of counsel at KHF. Each of them is already an accomplished lawyer in their own right and together, they help to complement our already very strong bench of senior litigation talent on our commercial, civil rights, and white collar matters."