Barbara K. Luse
Of Counsel, New York
Barbara K. Luse
Of Counsel, New York
Barbara K. Luse focuses on white collar defense and regulatory enforcement with a particular focus on matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), international money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) violations, and U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions. Barbara also focuses on regulatory enforcement and corporate transactions with a particular emphasis on cryptocurrencies, decentralized finance (DeFi), and blockchain technology. Barbara has extensive experience in art law related matters including fraud, stolen and illegally exported art and antiquities, and restitution. Prior to joining Cohen & Gresser, Barbara practiced with John Cahill at Cahill Partners LLP in New York, where she focused on a wide range of art law issues including fraud, insurance litigation, valuation, and restitution. Previously, she worked at Loyens & Loeff in Brussels, Belgium.
Super Lawyers has recognized Barbara as a Rising Star since 2020. Barbara has also been recognized by the Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch guide in its commercial litigation and corporate law categories.
Barbara is a graduate of Fordham University School of Law and she earned her undergraduate degree from Princeton University.
Barbara is fluent in English, French, and Italian, and is proficient in Spanish.
Barbara K. Luse focuses on white collar defense and regulatory enforcement with a particular focus on matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA),…
Education
Fordham University School of Law (J.D., 2013); Princeton University (A.B., 2004)
Bar Admissions
New York State; District of Columbia
Activities and Affiliations
Member, Art Law Committee (New York City Bar Association) 2019-2022
Member, Cultural Property Subcommittee (New York City Bar Association) 2019-2022
Member, Fondation pour le droit de l’art (FDA) (Art Law Foundation)
Co-Chair, Young Patrons Committee, FIAF New York
Member, French American Chamber of Commerce
Member, Neue Galerie Council, New York
Member, New York State Bar Association
Member, District of Columbia Bar Association
Super Lawyers once again named C&G co-founder Mark S. Cohen and partner Jonathan S. Abernethy to the Super Lawyers list of the Top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area.
Super Lawyers and Rising Stars are annual lists of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of the lawyers in each state are selected as Super Lawyers, and only 2.5 percent are selected as Rising Stars.
The C&G lawyers recognized on the New York Metro Super Lawyers list are:
- Jonathan S. Abernethy, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Kwaku Andoh, Mergers & Acquisitions
- Luke Appling, Civil Litigation: Defense
- Elizabeth Bernhardt, Business Litigation
- Karen H. Bromberg, Intellectual Property
- Jason Brown, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Joanna K. Chan, Securities Litigation
- Mark S. Cohen, Business Litigation
- Gale Dick, Business Litigation
- Christian R. Everdell, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Robert J. Gavigan, Mergers & Acquisitions
- Lawrence T. Gresser, Business Litigation
- Oliver S. Haker, Business Litigation
- Johannes Jonas, Mergers & Acquisitions
- Nicholas J. Kaiser, Real Estate
- David F. Lisner, Business Litigation
- Ellen Paltiel, General Litigation
- Douglas J. Pepe, Business Litigation
- Matthew V. Povolny, Business Litigation
- Bonnie J. Roe, Securities & Corporate Finance
- Stephen M. Sinaiko, Business Litigation
- Mark Spatz, Civil Litigation: Defense
- Daniel H. Tabak, Business Litigation
- Scott D. Thomson, Business Litigation
- Alexandra Wald, Business Litigation
The C&G lawyers recognized on the New York Metro Rising Stars list are:
- Sharon L. Barbour, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Randall W. Bryer, Business Litigation
- Shannon A. Daugherty, Business Litigation
- Drew S. Dean, General Litigation
- Christine M. Jordan, General Litigation
- William Kalema, Business Litigation
- Phoebe King, Business Litigation
- Sri Kuehnlenz, Civil Litigation: Defense
- Marvin J. Lowenthal, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Barbara K. Luse, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Alexandra Theobald, Business Litigation
- Myia Williams, Mergers & Acquisitions
- Benjamin Zhu, General Litigation
Five C&G attorneys are recognized by their peers as “Best Lawyers” in their respective practice areas:
- Mark S. Cohen – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Lawrence T. Gresser – Commercial Litigation
- Jonathan S. Abernethy – Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement
- Jason A. Brown – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Mark Spatz – Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Seven C&G attorneys are recognized as “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” in their respective practice areas:
- Luke Appling – Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Securities
- Sharon L. Barbour – Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- William E. Kalema – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Phoebe King – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Barbara K. Luse – Commercial Litigation and Corporate Law
- Alexandra K. Theobald – Commercial Litigation and Corporate Law
- Benjamin Zhu – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Super Lawyers named C&G cofounder Mark S. Cohen one of the Top 10 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area. Partners Jonathan S. Abernethy and Karen H. Bromberg have also been named to the Super Lawyers list of the Top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area. Additionally, Karen has been recognized as one of the Top 50 women lawyers within the same region.
Super Lawyers and Rising Stars are annual lists of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of the lawyers in each state are selected as Super Lawyers, and only 2.5 percent are selected as Rising Stars.
The C&G lawyers recognized on the New York Metro Super Lawyers list are:
- Jonathan S. Abernethy, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Kwaku Andoh, Mergers & Acquisitions
- Luke Appling, Civil Litigation: Defense
- Elizabeth Bernhardt, Business Litigation
- Colin C. Bridge, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Karen H. Bromberg, Intellectual Property
- Jason Brown, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Joanna K. Chan, Securities Litigation
- Mark S. Cohen, Business Litigation
- S. Gale Dick, Business Litigation
- Christian R. Everdell, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Robert J. Gavigan, Mergers & Acquisitions
- Lawrence T. Gresser, Business Litigation
- Oliver S. Haker, Business Litigation
- Johannes Jonas, Mergers & Acquisitions
- Nicholas J. Kaiser, Real Estate
- Jeffrey I. Lang, Civil Litigation: Defense
- David F. Lisner, Business Litigation
- Ellen Paltiel, General Litigation
- Douglas J. Pepe, Business Litigation
- Matthew V. Povolny, Business Litigation
- Nathaniel P. T. Read, Business Litigation
- Bonnie J. Roe, Securities & Corporate Finance
- Stephen M. Sinaiko, Business Litigation
- Mark Spatz, Civil Litigation: Defense
- C. Evan Stewart, Securities Litigation
- Daniel H. Tabak, Business Litigation
- Scott D. Thomson, Business Litigation
- Alexandra Wald, Business Litigation
The C&G lawyers recognized on the New York Metro Rising Stars list are:
- Sharon L. Barbour, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Randall W. Bryer, Business Litigation
- Shannon A. Daugherty, Business Litigation
- Drew S. Dean, General Litigation
- Jesse Greenwald, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Christine M. Jordan, General Litigation
- William Kalema, Business Litigation
- Sri Kuehnlenz, Civil Litigation: Defense
- Marvin J. Lowenthal, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Barbara K. Luse, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Benjamin Zhu, General Litigation
Six C&G attorneys are recognized by their peers as “Best Lawyers” in their practice areas:
- Mark S. Cohen – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Lawrence T. Gresser – Commercial Litigation
- Jonathan S. Abernethy – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Colin Bridge – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Jason A. Brown – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Mark Spatz – Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Eight attorneys are recognized as “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” in their practice areas:
- Luke Appling – Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Securities
- Sharon L. Barbour – Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- William E. Kalema – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Phoebe King – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Barbara K. Luse – Commercial Litigation and Corporate Law
- Alexandra K. Theobald – Commercial Litigation and Corporate Law
- Eszter Vincze – Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Benjamin Zhu – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Super Lawyers ranks outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only five percent of the lawyers in each state are selected as Super Lawyers, and only 2.5 percent are selected as Rising Stars.
Super Lawyers
Jonathan S Abernethy: Criminal Defense: White Collar
Kwaku Andoh: Mergers & Acquisitions
Elizabeth Bernhardt: Business Litigation
Thomas E Bezanson: Personal Injury – Products: Defense
Colin C Bridge: Criminal Defense: White Collar
Karen H Bromberg: Intellectual Property
Jason Brown: Criminal Defense: White Collar
Joanna K Chan: Securities Litigation
Mark S Cohen: Business Litigation
S Gale Dick: Business Litigation
Christian R Everdell: Criminal Defense: White Collar
Lawrence T Gresser: Business Litigation
Oliver S Haker: Business Litigation
Johannes Jonas: Mergers & Acquisitions
Nicholas J Kaiser: Real Estate
Jeffrey I. Lang: Business Litigation
Melissa H Maxman: Antitrust Litigation
Ellen Paltiel: General Litigation
Nathaniel P T Read: Business Litigation
Bonnie J Roe: Securities & Corporate Finance
Stephen M Sinaiko: Business Litigation
C Evan Stewart: Securities Litigation
Daniel H Tabak: Business Litigation
Scott D Thomson: Business Litigation
Alexandra Wald: Business Litigation
Ronald F Wick: Antitrust Litigation
Rising Stars
Luke Appling: Civil Litigation
Sharon L Barbour: Criminal Defense: White Collar
Drew S Dean: General Litigation
William Kalema: Business Litigation
Sri Kuehnlenz: Civil Litigation
Winnifred A Lewis: Securities Litigation
Marvin J Lowenthal: Criminal Defense: White Collar
Barbara K Luse: Criminal Defense: White Collar
Matthew V Povolny: Business Litigation
Benjamin Zhu: Criminal Defense: White Collar
"We’re very fortunate to have added these exceptional lawyers in New York and Paris," said Managing Partner, Lawrence T Gresser. "We look forward to continuing to build our transactional and disputes practices in all of our offices in 2018."
- The announcement further suggests that NCET’s initial mandate will broaden the enforcement focus from criminal actors themselves to those who enable and facilitate illicit activities involving cryptocurrency.
- Cryptocurrency exchanges should take appropriate steps to work with counsel to avoid becoming the subject of a DOJ investigation or prosecution.
- The increased scrutiny will also likely extend to all cryptocurrency-focused businesses, NFT platforms, companies that accept cryptocurrency as payment, and even those that merely do business with third parties dealing in cryptocurrency.
- Given the heightened scrutiny from the DOJ and a constantly evolving regulatory landscape, all companies in the industry should evaluate compliance programs and practices to mitigate risk and exposure.
In this C&G client alert, Christian Everdell and Barbara Luse discuss a recent congressional report released by the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations that exposes how Russian oligarchs looking to evade U.S. sanctions are able to exploit loopholes in the art industry and calls for more regulation in a notoriously opaque industry which, according to the report’s findings, undermines one of the most fundamental tools that U.S. administrations use to pressure foreign governments against “bad behavior.”
John W Gibson, Tim Harris, Barbara K Luse, and Charlotte Ritchie discuss the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (“the 2019 Regulations”) that recently came into force in the UK. The 2019 Regulations extend anti-money laundering responsibilities to UK art market participants, including art dealers and other intermediaries, in response to the increasing recognition that high value art is used by criminals and terrorist groups to launder and hide money.