Matt Mazur is an experienced American litigator based in London. He specializes in defense of corporate and individual clients in multi-agency and cross-border investigations involving a range of U.S. authorities, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), including related civil litigation. He also conducts internal investigations and litigates complex commercial disputes in U.S. federal and state courts, as well as commercial arbitrations. He is listed in The Legal 500 UK for Fraud: White-Collar Crime: Advice to Individuals (2024) and Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime (2024), with clients praising his "excellent technical subject matter knowledge, problem solving skills, and a real knack for explaining very complex aspects of the investigation in realistic terms."
Mr. Mazur has been lead defense counsel or co-counsel in over twenty jury trials and bench trials, and he has briefed and argued appeals before the New York Court of Appeals, the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second and Seventh Circuits. In 2015, Mr. Mazur was recognized as a "Rising Star" by the New York Law Journal, placing him among a select group of lawyers under age 40 who have established a record of accomplishments, as well as demonstrated that they are top contributors to the practice of law and their communities. In 2018, he moved from Dechert’s New York office to the London office to better serve European, Middle Eastern, and African clients in connection with U.S. investigations and litigation.
Before joining Dechert in 2011, Mr. Mazur served for seven years as a public defender, first in the trial division at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia and then the Office of the Appellate Defender in New York City. He regularly provides pro bono representation to indigent men and women in criminal matters in federal and state court. In March 2015, he won a complete acquittal after a two-week jury trial for a pro bono client charged with armed robbery in Queens Supreme Court. In November 2016, he won another complete dismissal of child abuse allegations after a bench trial for a pro bono client in the New York Family Court.
Mr. Mazur chairs the advisory board of the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, a community-based public defender in New York City. He is also one of Dechert’s diversity liaison partners.
Government Investigations and Related Litigation
- Energy Harbor Corp. in a criminal investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office arising out of an alleged bribery scheme in Ohio, and in several related civil lawsuits alleging RICO and securities law violations.
- Jon S. Corzine, former Governor of New Jersey, U.S. Senator, and CEO of MF Global, in investigations by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and the U.S. Congress, as well as all related civil litigation relating to the collapse of MF Global.
- Large Middle Eastern commercial bank in connection with an investigation by the CFTC and another foreign regulator into allegations of market manipulation.
- U.K. solicitor/in-house counsel in DOJ investigation of alleged violations of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and U.S. securities laws.
- U.K. reinsurance broker in parallel investigations by DOJ and the U.K. Serious Fraud Office (SFO) into suspected bribery in Ecuador.
- U.K. precious metals trader in DOJ and CFTC investigation of alleged wire fraud, market manipulation, and “spoofing.”
- U.K. bond broker in cross-border antitrust and fraud investigation by DOJ and U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- French hedge fund in market regulation investigation by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).
- Senior bank executive in a DOJ anti-money laundering and bribery investigation.
- Senior bank executives in a DOJ investigation of suspected Iran sanctions violations.
- Singapore-based executive in US government investigations relating to Binance cryptocurrency exchange.
- Senior cryptocurrency exchange executive in DOJ, SEC, and CFTC investigation relating to FTX.
- Owner and compliance executive for a large online crypto casino in connection with US government enforcement.
- Senior bank executive in DOJ antitrust investigation.
- Senior executive of Swiss bank in tax-related DOJ investigation.
- Swiss bankers in DOJ investigation of suspected tax evasion.
- CEO of a Dubai-based private equity firm in connection with DOJ and SEC investigations.
- CEO of a multinational financial services firm in connection with cross-border SEC investigation into valuation of private equity investments in Russia.
- CEO of publicly traded company in DOJ and SEC investigation of suspected accounting fraud.
- Chemical company employees in a DOJ investigation of environmental issues.
- Broker-dealer and employees in SEC investigation of trading activity and net capital.
- Boutique investment bank in an investigation by the New York District Attorney’s Office involving suspected misappropriation of trade secrets.
- 12 police union officials charged with "ticket-fixing" in New York State Supreme Court.
Internal Investigations
- Middle Eastern commercial bank in investigation of market manipulation allegations.
- Asset manager in investigation of suspected FCPA and U.K. Bribery Act violations.
- Special board committee in an investigation into bribery allegations against CEO.
- Credit union in an investigation of alleged financial misconduct by CEO.
- Large hospital in an investigation of alleged ethical and financial misconduct by senior executives.
Commercial Litigation and Arbitration
- Microsoft Corp. in litigation against Samsung Electronics Corp. and Acacia Research Corp. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
- U.K. independent oil traders in putative class action litigation under the Sherman Antitrust Act and the Commodity Exchange Act in the Northern District of Illinois.
- U.K. investment adviser in the Commercial Division of the New York State Supreme Court against allegations of participation in a "short and distort" scheme.
- Belgian investors in complex commercial litigation in the Southern District of New York over the sale of a US solar energy business.
- Sellers of a cash logistics company in the Commercial Division of the New York State Supreme Court against the buyer's allegations of fraud.
- U.K. manufacturer in the Southern District of New York in breach of contract action by a U.S. distributor.
- International law firm in employment litigation with former CFO alleging discrimination.
- Media company in employment litigation with former employees alleging discrimination.
- Nursing home operator in litigation and arbitration over partnership dispute.
- Investment adviser in AAA commercial arbitration brought by former marketing agent.
- Hedge fund in AAA commercial arbitration brought by retired partner.
- Market Manipulation, NYSBA 2022 London Global Conference (December 1, 2022)
- Managing Multijurisdictional Investigations and Effective Compliance, Dechert Seminar, Copenhagen (October 6, 2022)
- Enforcement Developments, ABA Futures and Derivates Law Committee Virtual Winter Meeting (January 26, 2022)
- ABC Global Outlook - Recent Trends and Developments, ABC Minds International Conference, London (November 9-10, 2021)
- Mask On/Mask Off: Trying a Case During a Pandemic, Webinar, Federal Defenders in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, London (October 21, 2020)
- Keeping It Confidential: Privilege FAQs from a UK and US Perspective, Webinar, Practicing Law Institute, London (July 15, 2020)
- Coffee Break Compliance Broadcast Series | Episode One: Values and Culture, Dechert Webinar, London (July 1, 2020)
- Navigating cooperation demands of SFO and DOJ in cross-border internal investigations, Lexology Webinar, London (January 9, 2020)
- Hedge Funds Nuts & Bolts: Insider Trading, Dechert Webinar, New York (December 13, 2017)
- Basic Written Discovery, Dechert Webinar, New York (October 23, 2017)
The Impact of Administrative Law on Criminal Sentencing - New York Law Journal, February 21, 2023
2nd Circ. Ruling May Help Foreign Nationals Fight Extradition- Law360, August 2021
Taking a Targeted Approach to Arbitration Discovery - New York Law Journal, November 2016
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- Yale University, B.A., 1998
- Harvard Law School, J.D., 2004
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- New York
- District of Columbia
- Registered Foreign Lawyer, England and Wales
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
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- New York Council of Defense Lawyers
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- New York Council of Defense Lawyers