Elisha J. Kobre

Elisha Kobre, a highly experienced former federal prosecutor, is a partner in the Governmental Practice in the firm's New York and Dallas offices.

Areas of Practice

Elisha principally represents corporations, executives, high net worth individuals, and financial institutions in criminal investigations and trials, regulatory enforcement proceedings, and complex civil litigation. He also conducts internal investigations, transactional diligence, and advises on compliance matters. Elisha has particular experience in matters involving securities and commodities fraud, FCPA enforcement, healthcare fraud, and criminal and civil asset forfeiture.

Elisha served for over 11 years in the Department of Justice as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York. In that position, he tried numerous federal jury trials, winning and securing convictions in each of those cases, and briefed and argued multiple appeals before the Second Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals. 

As a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, Elisha led the investigation and prosecution of a wide range of white-collar offenses, including insider trading, accounting fraud, corporate embezzlement, investment advisor fraud, market manipulation, violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, healthcare fraud, money laundering, and obstruction. He also coordinated parallel civil proceedings with the SEC, CFTC, FINRA, FTC, bankruptcy trustees, and court-appointed receivers, and has litigated criminal forfeiture proceedings.

Elisha served as a law clerk for the Hon. Thomas P. Griesa of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and for the Hon. Leonard I. Garth of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Before joining the Department of Justice, Elisha practiced as an associate in the New York office of an international law firm. He also previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in Kings County, New York.

Elisha received his J.D. from Yale Law School, a Ph.D. in Mathematics from New York University, and his B.A. in Mathematics (summa cum laude) from Queens College of the City University of New York. 

Experience

• Lead counsel in the successful investigation and two-week trial of the founder of a billion-dollar private equity investment firm for insider trading.

• Co-lead counsel in the successful investigation and month-long trial of film financier for investment adviser fraud, securities fraud, and conspiracy charges.

• Co-lead counsel in the successful investigation and two-week trial of radio personality for securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy.

• Lead counsel in the successful cross-border investigation and two-week trial of former minister of mines for the Republic of Guinea for money laundering charges relating to FCPA and foreign bribery violations.

• Co-lead counsel in the successful investigation and prosecution of doctors, physician’s assistant, and other medical personnel for healthcare fraud, including fraudulent billing practices, anti-kickback violations, HIPAA violations, and money laundering.

• Co-lead counsel in the successful investigation and three-week trial of pharmacy owner and pharmacist for narcotics distribution and structuring financial transactions to avoid currency reporting requirements.

• Co-lead counsel in the successful investigation and prosecution of founder of investment firm for securities fraud in connection with the founder’s $100 million fraud scheme.

• Lead counsel in the successful investigation and prosecution of cofounder of $25 million hedge fund for securities fraud, wire fraud, and investment advisor fraud.

• Lead counsel in the successful investigation and prosecution of chief technology officer of a major cable television network for wire fraud and embezzlement.

• Successfully represented senior executive of a publicly traded technology company in connection with an SEC investigation of accounting fraud, securities fraud, and FCPA violations.

• Successfully represented high-level executive under investigation by the SEC for insider trading. The SEC formally determined not to proceed with any enforcement action and closed its investigation.

• Represented senior executives of large financial institution in SEC investigation relating to insider securities transactions and failure to file appropriate SEC reports.

• Conducted internal investigation on behalf of mid-sized, publicly traded corporation stemming from allegations of misstatements in SEC filings.

• Successfully represented chief medical officer of large healthcare staffing company in connection with a Department of Justice healthcare fraud investigation.

Honors

Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, Chambers USA, 2024

Criminal Defense: White-Collar, The Best Lawyers in America, 2025

Government Enforcement & Investigations, Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America, 2025

Articles

"After Chevron: New Lines of Attack for FCA Defense Bar," Law360, August 6, 2024

"Criminal Division’s new voluntary self-disclosure program still uncertain and risky," Reuters Legal News, April 29, 2024

"2nd Circ. Adviser Liability Ruling May Shape SEC Enforcement," Law360, March 29, 2024

"Spoofing Market Manipulation Cases Set Stage for More Enforcement," Bloomberg Law, November 30, 2023

"Covington Ruling Strengthens SEC's Enforcement Powers," Law360, September 5, 2023

"Protective Order Battle Could Undermine Trump's Effective Defense," Bloomberg Law, August 9, 2023

"Circuit Split May Have Big Effect on SEC Disgorgement Remedy," Law360, July 20, 2023

"Three years after Liu v. SEC, disgorgement is still a potent remedy for the SEC," Reuters, June 8, 2023

"Blackbaud Shows SEC Is Serious on Cyber Incident Reporting," Law360, March 24, 2023

"Court’s FCA Ruling Opens Door for SCOTUS Review," Bloomberg Law, October 4, 2022

"Second Circuit Ups the Ante on Disclosing Government Probes," Bloomberg Law, June 17, 2022

"We’re NOT so Early Anymore – As NFTs Hit Primetime In Insider Trading Case, A Broader Look Ahead For Digital Assets," National Law Review, June 8, 2022

"Prosecution of NY Lender Marks Shift in PPP Enforcement," Law360, April 19, 2022

"SEC Division of Examinations Announces 2023 Examination Priorities," Westlaw, February 24, 2022

"2 Recent Decisions Highlight Ambiguity as FCA Defense," Law360, February 4, 2022

"SEC’s Recent Enforcement Actions a Sign of Increased Scrutiny of SPACs," The Texas Lawbook, December 7, 2021

"The SEC and Disgorgement After Liu," Bloomberg Law, November 4, 2021

"The SEC Pushes the Limits on Insider Trading," The Texas Lawbook, September 16, 2021

"Data Analytics Gives SEC Enforcement Edge on Earnings," Law360, September 1, 2021

"5th Circ. Ruling Bolsters Privilege Protection Against Gov't," Law360, August 11, 2021

Media Mentions

Speaking Engagements

• "Seismic Shift: Federal Regulation after Loper and Jarkesy," 2024 Diversity in Action Conference, October 15, 2024
• "Cybersecurity and Privacy Law Enforcement," UT Law 10^th Annual Government Enforcement Institute, September 19, 2024
• "Department of Justice: Critical Criminal Developments," The University of Texas School of Law Continuing Legal Education - 8th Annual Government Enforcement Institute, September 15, 2022