Seasoned Financial Regulator Katherine Lemire Joins as Partner in New York Office

NEW YORK – Strengthening its world-class financial services litigation practice, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP announced today that Katherine A. Lemire has joined the firm as a partner based in New York City. An accomplished financial services enforcement attorney and former federal prosecutor, Lemire served most recently as Executive Deputy Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), overseeing the Consumer Protection and Financial Enforcement Division.  In that role, she oversaw enforcement actions brought against international banks, the insurance industry, and cryptocurrency businesses, as well as money transmitters, mortgage servicers, student lenders, and other financial service providers.  She was also a member of DFS's virtual currency licensing committee.

“Katherine has invaluable experience and expertise in the government side of enforcement and compliance litigation in financial services,” said John B. Quinn, the firm’s founding partner. “She will be a welcome addition to our market-leading Digital Assets Disputes and Regulation Group.”

At DFS, Lemire oversaw a team of more than 170 attorneys, investigators, examiners, and analysts, in a division created in 2019 to be what the then-Superintendent described as a “powerhouse” designed to “guard against financial crises and protect consumers and markets from fraud.”

“I am excited to join Quinn Emanuel as a partner, and I look forward to growing Quinn's well-respected financial services team,” Lemire said. “I am excited to contribute my previously federal and state litigation experience and work with the Quinn Emanuel team.”

The cases Lemire oversaw while at DFS included an investigation of Deutsche Bank with regard to its dealings with Jeffrey Epstein, resulting in a $150 million fine – the first and, to date, the only regulatory action brought against any financial institution for its dealings with Epstein.  Lemire also supervised the regulatory action against Equifax resulting from the 2017 consumer data breach, as well as high-profile bank settlements with Bank Hapoalim and Goldman Sachs.

Before her appointment at the DFS, Lemire served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where she investigated complex federal crimes, including allegations of public corruption, racketeering, fraud, and other white-collar offenses. She also served as a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, where she investigated and prosecuted a broad array of criminal cases from grand jury proceedings through trial. In addition, as Counsel and principal advisor to New York Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, she managed a broad portfolio of operational, legal, and managerial matters at the New York City Police Department.

Prior to her work in the public sector, Lemire was a partner at StoneTurn, an international consulting firm that assisted companies and government agencies on regulatory, risk and compliance issues, investigations, and business disputes. Before joining StoneTurn, Lemire led Lemire LLC, which was one of the few woman-owned firms in the sector.

Lemire is the recipient of numerous recognitions and awards including the New York Federal Executive Board Award (2008), presented by the United States Attorney General, as well as the Above & Beyond Award for Outstanding Women in Business (2017).