Larry H. Krantz

Larry Krantz is a former federal prosecutor with decades of trial and appellate litigation experience in complex commercial and white-collar criminal matters.  He has successfully tried over 25 cases before juries, judges and arbitration panels, and has argued over 25 appeals in federal and New York State appellate courts.

He was described in Forbes as “among the most eminent defense lawyers in New York’s criminal bar.” His cross-examination of the government’s star witness at a trial arising out of the Madoff fraud was described in Forbes as “hitting it off the façade of the New York Stock exchange.” He prides himself on representing his clients with tenacity, creativity, compassion and integrity.

Mr. Krantz is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (American College of Trial Lawyers), an invitation only Fellowship composed of the best of the trial bar from the U.S. and Canada, and previously served on its Board of Regents.  He is also listed in many peer-reviewed publications including: Chambers USA 2022, Superlawyers 2022, and Global Investigations Review 2022: Who’s Who Legal.  He has guest lectured on trial advocacy for Brooklyn Law School, NYU School of Law, Cornell Law School, the Federal Bar Council and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.  He also provides consulting services  for other lawyers preparing for trial.

In criminal and regulatory matters, Mr. Krantz represents corporate executives and others drawn into investigations conducted by federal and state authorities including: the United States Attorney’s Offices, the District Attorney’s Offices, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), FINRA and various other regulators. Over the past four decades, he has been involved in many of the highest profile white-collar criminal cases and investigations including the Enron case, the Madoff fraud, alleged LIBOR manipulation, alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election and alleged corruption in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. He has also handled several cases involving alleged healthcare fraud and antitrust violations.

In commercial matters, Mr. Krantz regularly represents public and private companies (including financial institutions and insurers) in the prosecution and defense of complex business disputes including claims of:  breach of contract; fraud; breach of fiduciary duty; antitrust and unfair competition violations; RICO Act violations; and professional malpractice claims.  He has particular expertise representing life insurance carriers in disputes concerning life insurance policies.

He also represents individual investors, brokers and brokerage houses in FINRA arbitrations and proceedings concerning alleged broker misconduct.

Honors and Activities

• Fellow and Member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
• Ranked in Chambers USA 2022 for White-Collar Criminal Defense and Government Investigations.
• Listed in Global Investigations Review: Who’s Who Legal (for White-Collar Defense).
• Listed in SuperLawyers from 2009 -present (Member: Blue Ribbon Panel on White-Collar Defense).
• Director (former) of the New York Council of Defense Lawyers.
• Director of the Federal Bar Council and serves as the Chair of its Committee on Sentencing and Alternatives to Incarceration.
• Member of the Joint Local Rules Committee for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York as well as the Attorney Grievance Committee for the Southern District of New York.
• Master in the Federal Bar Council Inn of Court.

Experience

• Honorable I. Leo Glasser, United States District Judge, Eastern District New York – Law Clerk (1982-1983);
• United States Attorneys’ Office, Eastern District of New York – Assistant United States Attorney, Criminal Division (1983-1989);
• Brooklyn Law School, Adjunct Instructor of Legal Writing (1985-1988)
• Leventhal, Slade & Krantz – Partner (1990-1997)
• Krantz & Berman LLP (Co-Founding Partner since 1998)

Education

• Brooklyn Law School, JD 1980
• Brooklyn Law Review, Case Comment Editor (1979-1980)
• Dean’s List
• Student law clerk on Second Circuit Court of Appeals
• SUNY at Stony Brook (B.A. 1977)

Publications

• “Mistrial Over Defense Objection: Review Under the Double Jeopardy Clause,” published at 45 Brooklyn Law Review 999 (1979)
• Defending Federal Criminal Cases: Attacking the Government’s Proof (Law Journal Press 2018) – Chapter author

Bar Admissions

• New York (1981)
• Eastern District of New York (1983)
• Southern District of New York (1993)
• District of Connecticut (1993)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (1989)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (1993)
• U.S. States Supreme Court (1996).

Philanthropy

• Board Member, National Fragile X Foundation (former)
• Member, National Council of Visitors, UC Davis MIND Institute