Peter A. Chavkin
Member / Co-chair, White Collar Defense and Government Investigations Practice
+1.212.692.6231
Peter is Co-chair of Mintz’s national White Collar Defense & Government Investigations Practice and is a preeminent white collar defense attorney who specializes in assisting individuals facing charges or investigations, particularly those involving allegations of finance, health care, and art fraud, political corruption and antitrust violations. His clients have included numerous American political figures, domestic and foreign corporate executives, and diplomats. His cases have involved the application of OFAC sanctions, responding to Congressional and criminal investigations (most recently inquiries into the 2016 presidential election, including the heavily covered testimony of a witness before the House Judiciary Committee hearing on impeachment), and the representation of key figures in the financial crisis of 2008, in every significant rate fixing inquiry (including individuals employed abroad), and in the Swiss bank tax investigation. In addition, for over ten years, he has represented a central figure in the Madoff matter.
He has had extensive experience representing individuals and entities across a broad swath of industries, including: energy, food franchises, investment advisers, communications, sports, entertainment, politics, road paving, municipal bonds, art and antiquities, health and hospitals, higher education, aviation, moving and storage, legal, and banking.
Along with his extensive experience working with various arms of the Department of Justice, US Attorney’s Offices across the nation, state and federal regulators and FINRA, he has been involved in some of the most sensitive and consequential inquiries conducted by Congress and the SEC in these areas. He comes to these cases with service in Washington as a special assistant to the head of DOJ’s Civil Division, three years as a federal prosecutor in New York, and nearly 25 years as a senior partner at one of the nation’s foremost white collar boutiques.
In addition to his work in the financial arena, Peter has a long history of representing individuals and institutions accused of health care fraud and abuse, ranging from hospitals to medical service providers. And in his 35 plus year career in white collar/government investigations, he has represented individuals investigated for political corruption, antiquities fraud, and construction fraud. He has represented a sitting mayor, the chief judge of a state’s highest court, and a major league baseball team involved in the Clemens case. He also has represented numerous physicians and attorneys facing disciplinary proceedings.
In his career, Mr. Chavkin has tried numerous cases to verdict and handled many appeals. In addition, he has successfully prevented charges from being brought and has secured dismissals of cases post-indictment in investigations in a wide range of matters.
Peter has been named Band One by Chambers USA for many years and has been named to Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers for nearly two decades. He has also been recognized by Who’s Who, Expert Guides Best of the Best USA (the world’s leading lawyers chosen by their peers), and has won the International Law Office and Lexology Client Service Award three times. Chambers quoted clients who said that he is “a brilliant tactician, super-efficient, an amazing negotiator, extremely creating and client-focused….He will do everything he possibly can to get the best result.” One client testified that he is ‘the most professional lawyer…along with being the hardest-working, and an exceptionally brilliant person.’”
Experience
- Representing CEO of energy company under investigation
- Representing CFO of public company against indictment and SEC action
- Represented former CEO of major biotech company
- Represented major communication company in a DOJ Antitrust inquiry
- Represented significant political figures in the Trump-related impeachment and criminal investigations
- Representing Ruth Madoff in a variety of regulatory and investigative forums and lawsuits
- Represented for several years a central figure at a major investment bank in financial crisis inquiries conducted by DOJ, SEC, FCIC and Congress, along with numerous private and governmental lawsuits centered on these activities
- Represented a high-level executive at a major New York hedge fund that was under investigation for the way it handled investments in small public companies that arose through reverse mergers
- Represented a large national construction and design company in connection with inquiries by the New York County District Attorney’s Office and the Port Authority of New York
- Representing the lead defendant in a major health care fraud indictment in the Eastern District of New York
- Represented an individual in an alleged sports gambling operation in a case where the government accused the group of running an illegal bookmaking operation, money laundering, and other activities
- Represented the head of a construction company pertaining to his sentencing for failure to abide by disadvantaged business enterprise requirements. Despite sentencing guidelines that called for almost three years in jail, we successfully prevented a jail sentence and obtained probation for our client
- Representing a defendant in a large securities manipulation scheme indicted in the EDNY
- Representing a former high level official of a major bank under investigation for trading in its Russian branch
- Representing company in major antitrust inquiry into the carriage of programming
- Won dismissal of an action against a significant New York bank involving hundreds of millions of dollars of claims under the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Alien Tort Claims Act
- Represented former Chief Judge of New York’s highest court
- Represented sitting mayor of the City of New York in a criminal investigation
The broad array of work Peter has handled includes complex matters related to art fraud, banking, consumer fraud, customs, education, employment, entertainment, Foreign Corrupt Practice Act (FCPA), heath care, internal investigation, Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), securities fraud, sports and gambling, tax, and unions.
News & Press
Twenty-seven Mintz Attorneys Recognized as 2024 New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
October 28, 2024
Mintz is pleased to announce that 15 attorneys have been named New York Metro Super Lawyers and 12 attorneys have been named New York Metro Rising Stars by Super Lawyers for 2024.
Benchmark Litigation has recognized seventeen Mintz Members in its 2024 guide to the leading litigation firms and lawyers in the US. The firm was also acknowledged for its work in Massachusetts, being named “Highly Recommended” in the Commonwealth and received top-tier rankings across three practice categories, including General Commercial, Insurance, and White Collar.
Thirteen Mintz attorneys named to Lawdragon’s 2025 “Leading Litigators in America” list
September 12, 2024
Thirteen Mintz attorneys have been named to Lawdragon’s 2025 “Leading Litigators in America.” The list honors the “best litigators the US has to offer – in antitrust, intellectual property, white collar and investigations, securities and corporate governance litigation, and a vast array of class actions, product liability and other complex civil litigation,” according to the publication.
The Best Lawyers in America 2025 Recognizes 184 Mintz Attorneys across 56 Practice Areas
August 15, 2024
187 Mintz attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, three Mintz attorneys received 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 64 firm attorneys were included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
Mintz announced today that 42 of its practices and 83 of its attorneys earned recognition in the 2024 edition of Chambers USA, a guide to the country’s leading law firms. Of those included in the guide, 18 attorneys and seven practice areas were awarded Chambers’ highest ranking, Band 1. The firm obtained new listings in three practice areas and 10 of its lawyers were recognized for the first time.
Benchmark Litigation has recognized 14 Mintz Members in its newly released 2024 guide to the leading litigation firms and lawyers in the US. The firm was also acknowledged for its work in Massachusetts and received high rankings across three practice areas, including General Commercial, Insurance, and White Collar.
Twenty-nine Mintz Attorneys Named to 2023 New York Metro Super Lawyers List
September 22, 2023
NEW YORK – Mintz is pleased to announce that 18 attorneys have been named New York Metro Super Lawyers and 11 attorneys have been named New York Metro Rising Stars by Super Lawyers for 2023.
Thirteen Mintz Members Named To Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators List
September 11, 2023
Mintz is pleased to announce that thirtneen Members have been named to Lawdragon's 500 Leading Litigators in America list, which honors the nation’s most elite courtroom advocates.
Mintz is pleased to announce that 120 firm attorneys have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
BOSTON – Mintz has earned top rankings in the 2023 edition of Legal 500 United States guide. The firm is recognized in 14 practice categories, and 59 individual attorneys are also recognized in the guide, some in more than one category.
BOSTON –Mintz announced today that 39 of its practices and 81 of its attorneys earned recognition in the 2023 edition of Chambers USA, a guide to the country’s leading law firms.
Twelve Mintz Members have been named to the inaugural Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America list, which honors the nation’s most elite courtroom advocates.
Benchmark Litigation Recognizes 13 Mintz Attorneys As 2023 Litigation Stars
September 29, 2022
Benchmark Litigation has recognized 13 Mintz Members as “Litigation Stars” in its newly released 2023 guide to the leading litigation firms and lawyers in the U.S.
Twenty-six Mintz Attorneys Recognized as 2022 New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
September 29, 2022
17 Mintz attorneys have been named New York Metro Super Lawyers and nine Mintz attorneys have been named New York Metro Rising Stars by Super Lawyers for 2022.
Best Lawyers® recognized 108 firm attorneys in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, two Mintz attorneys – Poonam Patidar and Scott M. Stanton – received 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 28 firm attorneys were included in the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
White Collar Vet Departs Schulte Roth for Mintz in New York
August 27, 2021
Mintz Lands Ex-Schulte Roth White Collar Co-Chair In NY
August 26, 2021
Mintz Litigators Highly Regarded by Benchmark Litigation 2020
October 02, 2019
Mintz Recognized by Chambers USA 2019
April 26, 2019
Chambers USA 2018 Ranks Mintz Attorneys & Practices
May 03, 2018
Law360's White Collar Editorial Advisory Board
March 26, 2018
Eighteen Mintz Attorneys Named 2013 New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
September 16, 2017
Events & Speaking
"Your Corporate Client Received a Grand Jury Subpoena: What Should You Do Next?"
The New York Bar Foundation
New York City
Recognition & Awards
Benchmark Litigation: Litigation Star, National - White-Collar Crime (2020 – 2025)
Best Lawyers in America: Criminal Defense: White Collar (2007 – 2025)
Chambers USA: New York – Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations: Band 1 (2010 – 2024)
Expert Guides "Best of the Best USA 2020" (White Collar)
Expert Guides: White Collar Crime
New York Super Lawyers: Criminal Defense: White Collar (2006 – 2024)
International Law Office and Lexology: “Client Choice Award” – White Collar Crime, New York (2011; 2015)
Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition 2009: Criminal Defense: White Collar
Lawdragon: "500 Leading Litigators in America" (2022-2025)
Phi Beta Kappa
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
Involvement
- Member, Law360 White Collar Editorial Advisory Board
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
Recent Insights
Mintz is pleased to announce that 15 attorneys have been named New York Metro Super Lawyers and 12 attorneys have been named New York Metro Rising Stars by Super Lawyers for 2024.
Benchmark Litigation has recognized seventeen Mintz Members in its 2024 guide to the leading litigation firms and lawyers in the US. The firm was also acknowledged for its work in Massachusetts, being named “Highly Recommended” in the Commonwealth and received top-tier rankings across three practice categories, including General Commercial, Insurance, and White Collar.
Thirteen Mintz attorneys have been named to Lawdragon’s 2025 “Leading Litigators in America.” The list honors the “best litigators the US has to offer – in antitrust, intellectual property, white collar and investigations, securities and corporate governance litigation, and a vast array of class actions, product liability and other complex civil litigation,” according to the publication.
