Anne R. Yearwood is counsel at Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP.
Anne’s practice focuses on criminal defense, internal investigations, and complex civil litigation matters, while also maintaining broad public interest and pro bono practices. At KHF, she has represented individuals in several high profile, high stakes criminal prosecutions, including representing a former hedge fund manager in a criminal trial in the Southern District of New York in 2023. She has helped guide dozens of institutional and individual clients through regulatory investigations initiated by the SEC, CFTC, and DOJ, as well as state and international regulators and law enforcement agencies, and was part of the team that conducted a comprehensive review of gender equity issues in the NCAA championships. She has advised numerous clients involved in criminal investigations, preparing individuals for trial testimony and government proffers and negotiating the resolution of criminal matters with federal and state prosecutors. Additionally, Anne has represented large institutional clients in a range of complex civil litigation matters.
Anne also maintains a broad public interest practice. She represents indigent criminal defendants pro bono in both federal and state criminal prosecutions. Most notably, Anne was a member of the team that helped secure a dismissal of all charges against Tracy McCarter, a victim of domestic violence who was wrongfully charged with the murder of her husband. She also represents individuals in civil rights cases brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 involving police misconduct, including representing two state lawmakers who were assaulted and pepper sprayed by police officers during the 2020 racial justice protests, and in employment discrimination cases involving allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct. Anne also represents plaintiffs in #MeToo matters, litigating sexual assault claims in federal and state court as well as through mediation.
Anne joined the firm from Davis Polk & Wardwell, where she advised large financial institutions, law firms, corporations, and individuals in investigations by the DOJ, SEC, Federal Reserve, OFAC, and state and international financial regulators and law enforcement agencies involving inquiries into FCPA violations, money laundering, sanctions violations, and wire and securities fraud. Anne also represented institutional clients in complex civil litigation and arbitration, including in cases involving allegations of securities fraud, contract disputes, professional malpractice claims, and intellectual property disputes. Anne also represented numerous clients pro bono and achieved several successful outcomes, including obtaining a reversal in the 2d Circuit on denial of an asylum claim, vacating a state law conspiracy conviction in the Second Department, submitting a white paper in connection with the remedies phase of the stop-and-frisk class action settlements relating to Floyd v. City of New York that included recommendations ultimately adopted by the court, and winning summary judgment in a Hague Convention case on behalf of a refugee mother seeking to live with her children in the United States.
Before joining the firm, Anne clerked for the Hon. Kenneth M. Karas of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Prior to law school, Anne worked as a housing manager at Girls Educational and Mentoring Services, overseeing operation of a program which provides transitional independent living services for survivors of domestic and international human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
