Melinda Sarafa

Partner

A seasoned defense attorney known for her creative case analysis, strategic use of the law to drive results, and tireless client advocacy, Melinda represents individuals, companies, and organizations at all stages of criminal proceedings and related civil litigation. For nearly three decades she has protected client interests in high-stakes federal, state and international investigations, enforcement actions, trials and appeals, and deftly navigated complex, sensitive, and high-profile matters both in and out of the courtroom.

Melinda possesses a rare combination of federal criminal defense experience, firsthand knowledge of the financial industry, and global agility that uniquely positions her to represent companies and individuals facing all types of government scrutiny. After mastering Mandarin Chinese and completing two federal clerkships, Melinda began her legal career as an assistant federal public defender in Texas handling felony trials and appeals involving offenses ranging from fraud and firearms to drugs and immigration. She entered private practice at a prominent criminal defense firm in New York City and later became a partner at a premier litigation boutique focusing on white collar criminal defense and complex civil litigation. For several years Melinda led her own criminal defense firm before transitioning to in-house counsel at a multi-billion-dollar SEC-registered investment adviser where she established a comprehensive program to mitigate insider trading risk, handled regulatory inquiries, and advised on countless internal matters including anti-money laundering, privacy, and cybersecurity.

Melinda’s current practice encompasses the full spectrum of white collar matters including insider trading, securities fraud, money laundering, bribery, tax fraud, sanctions violations, wire fraud, obstruction of justice, online gaming, and forfeiture, as well as general criminal matters such as RICO, terrorism, treason, and sexual misconduct. She has conducted internal investigations, defended related civil litigation, and undertaken overseas investigation and litigation. Melinda consistently maintains a client-centered approach grounded in mastery of the client’s full circumstances. That understanding is central to her ability to obtain outstanding results, whether through behind-the-scenes negotiation, pretrial motion practice, trial, or sentencing advocacy.

Melinda graduated with distinction from Stanford Law School and holds an A.B. summa cum laude from Princeton University. She has been elected by her peers to serve on the Board of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, where she has also chaired several committees. Recognized by Super Lawyers, New York Magazine, and Martindale Hubbell for her excellence in white collar defense, Melinda is a frequent lecturer on legal ethics, trial advocacy and substantive aspects of criminal law.

Professional Associations and Affiliations

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
- Director, Board of Directors (third term)
- Co-Chair, White Collar Crime Committee
- Chair, Investment Committee
- Past Chair, Women in Criminal Defense Committee
- Past Member, Nominating Committee
- Former Vice Chair for Quarterly Meetings, CLE Institute
New York Council of Defense Lawyers (NYCDL)
- Member, Rapid Response Team
Women’s White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA)
New York State Bar Association (NYSBA)
- Member, White Collar Committee
New York City Bar
- Past Member, Criminal Advocacy Committee
American Bar Association
- Former Regional Co-Chair, White Collar Committee
White Collar Criminal Defense College at Stetson
- Former Advisory Board Member

Teaching and Presentations

Sentencing Panel Moderator, White Collar Criminal Defense College at Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, FL (2025)
Presenter, “Evidence Disclosure: A Perspective from the United States,” Taipei Bar Association, Taipei, Taiwan (2018)
Presentation to National Prosecutors College of the People's Republic of China on Ensuring Voluntariness of Guilty Pleas, organized by the Yale China Law Center, Beijing China (2017)
Instructor, Cardozo Law School Intensive Trial Advocacy Program, New York, NY (2010-2015)
Panelist, “Client Retention and Accompanying Ethical Issues,” White Collar Criminal Defense College at Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, FL (2013-2015)
Visiting Lecturer, Conflict of Laws, Cornell Law School, Conflict of Laws, Ithaca, NY (2010, 2011)
Guest Lecturer, Criminal Law Seminar, Cornell University Pre-Law Program, New York, NY (2007-2014)
Lecturer, “Understanding the National Academy of Sciences Report & Filing Pretrial Motions to Attack the Government’s Introduction of Expert Testimony,” Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Office of Defender Services, Training Branch Multi-Track Seminar, Chicago, IL (2012)
Presenter, “Cross of Expert Witnesses,” NACDL Defending Drug Cases Seminar, Las Vegas, NV (2011)
Presenter, “Cooperation: When to Shut Up and How to Put Up,” NACDL White Collar Crime Conference, New York, NY (2011)
Presenter, “Defending a Criminal Trial in the Republic of Georgia,” NYSBA White Collar Criminal Litigation Committee, New York, NY (2008)
Presenter, “The Long Arm of the Law: Extraterritorial Application of U.S. Criminal Liability,” NACDL Conference, New York, NY (2008)

Representative Cases

WHITE COLLAR DEFENSE

Obtained declination of prosecution for alleged tipper in insider trading case and favorably resolved parallel SEC matter.
Negotiated non-prosecution agreement for underwriter investigated by the New York State Attorney General and other law enforcement agencies for alleged bid-rigging activities.
Obtained probationary sentence for school administrator charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud and theft of federal funds.
Negotiated favorable case resolution and obtained probationary sentence for Hollywood talent agent under investigation in the Southern District of New York for converting vast sums of client earnings to personal use.
Counsel to Sudanese national accused of money laundering and violating U.S. sanctions against Sudan. Negotiated speedy resolution involving single false statement charge, time served, and expedited return to home country.
Obtained probationary sentence for sales professional charged in the Southern District of New York with conspiring to import and sell counterfeit hip-hop clothing.
Counsel to former employee of regulated utility company accused by federal government of accepting bribes in connection with construction contracts.
Obtained non-incarceration sentence for loan processor charged in Southern District of New York prosecution for multimillion dollar mortgage fraud scheme.
Represented founder of World Sports Exchange throughout federal prosecution for operating an offshore internet-based sports betting business allegedly in violation of the federal Wire Act.
Represented individual under investigation by New York County District Attorney’s Office in connection with indictment charging multiple defendants with nearly fifty counts of identity theft and grand larceny. Averted indictment and resolved matter with conditional discharge following plea to single count of possession of stolen property.

GENERAL CRIMINAL DEFENSE

Persuaded federal prosecutors to dismiss charges against business owner accused of stealing and re-selling U.S. military equipment.
Persuaded federal prosecutors to defer and ultimately decline prosecution of client arrested and charged in multi-defendant drug case where client was subjected to unlawful custodial interrogation, unlawful search and seizure, and detained without counsel or charges for extended period of time.
Counsel to individual charged in high-profile multi-defendant federal indictment with RICO, money laundering, and extortion offenses; resolved case with a single tax misdemeanor, a nominal fine, and zero detention or supervision.
Won suppression of client’s post-arrest statements after evidentiary hearing in federal firearms prosecution revealed unlawful two-step interrogation procedure.
Obtained full dismissal of rape charges against client as well as dismissal of probation violation allegations in New York County.
Negotiated reduction of federal sex trafficking conspiracy charges against foreign national to single count of misprision of felony and obtained sentence of time served as well as expedited removal to home country.
Successfully defended against federal narco-terrorism charges on behalf of foreign national targeted by DEA informants posing as representatives of the FARC in Honduras.
Obtained sentence of time served for client facing potential life sentence in federal RICO prosecution.
Counsel to lead defendant in high-profile trial of political opposition leaders charged with treason and weapons offenses in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Counsel to offshore internet gaming service provider seeking comprehensive analysis of state and federal gaming laws, as applied to poker, casino, sportsbook and other offerings.
Obtained sentence of time served for client facing more than ten years’ imprisonment in federal prosecution for distribution of methamphetamine.
Negotiated favorable resolution and obtained sentence of time served on behalf of client originally charged in the Southern District of New York with murder-for-hire and facing life imprisonment.
Won dismissal in New York Criminal Court of complaint charging client with resisting arrest, assault, disorderly conduct, and harassment based on facial insufficiency.

INVESTIGATIONS & WITNESS REPRESENTATION

Negotiated non-prosecution agreement on behalf of publicly traded company under investigation for processing U.S.-originating online gaming transactions.
Counsel to major financial institution under federal investigation for alleged antitrust violations. Conducted internal investigation and defended corporation vis-à-vis various regulatory agencies.

Obtained favorable resolution with no monetary penalties or grant exclusion for non-profit organization facing civil and criminal investigations for alleged improprieties in handling federal grant monies.
Represented New York-based alternative asset manager served with out-of-state federal grand jury subpoena.
Represented bank employee served with federal grand jury subpoena as part of investigation into bank accounts potentially associated with money laundering, internet gaming, and wire fraud.
Represented former employee of contracting company subpoenaed in connection with federal investigation of bribery, money laundering, and wire fraud involving client’s former employer.

Negotiated immunity and safe passage for foreign nationals subpoenaed in connection with federal investigation of internet gaming and related payment processing.
Represented labor foreman subpoenaed in connection with federal investigation of overbilling and fraud by client’s construction company employer.
Negotiated immunity for employee subpoenaed in connection with federal criminal investigation of financial improprieties at company selling heavy construction equipment.
Represented former bookkeeper subpoenaed by both the SEC and the DOJ in connection with parallel investigations of former employer; ensured that client’s potential civil and criminal exposure did not result in any charges or financial penalties.

CIVIL LITIGATION

Defending multiple individuals named in civil lawsuits with violating the New York City Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law.
Successfully pursued Federal Tort Claims Act on behalf of inmate who was sexually assaulted while an inmate in a federal correctional facility.
Successfully defended former federal prosecutor accused by convicted ex-CIA agent of constitutional violations in connection with trial for unlawful weapons shipments.
Successfully defended former chair of the New York Stock Exchange compensation committee in New York State civil case alleging improprieties in executive compensation awards.
Successfully pursued medical malpractice claim on behalf of client who was injured during routine medical visit to local hospital while in federal custody.
Investigated and pursued adversary proceeding against accounting firm on behalf of unsecured creditors’ committee in bankruptcy of international retail corporation.
Counsel to founder and former officer of commodities broker in securities class action and other litigation arising from corporation’s collapse following allegations of fraud.

Awards & Recognition

New York Metro Super Lawyers (multiple years)
SEGGIE Award: Selected by colleagues for embodying core principle of Originality – generating fresh ideas and never deploying common practice without skepticism (2019)
President’s Commendation for exemplifying the mission and beliefs of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (2018)
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, Martindale Hubbell (throughout practice)
Women Leaders in Law, New York Magazine (2013)
New York Top-Rated Lawyers for White Collar Criminal Defense & Criminal Law, ALM Media (2013)

“Understanding one’s role as a counselor helps to ensure that lawyers really listen well to their clients and are able to focus on and respond to the clients’ needs most effectively.”