New York

In recent public comments, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco has highlighted AI's emerging threat and declared it a top enforcement priority. The DOJ plans to target crimes “made significantly more dangerous” by AI misuse, with Monaco stating that federal prosecutors will pursue harsher sentences for defendants in such cases, akin to those seen in firearms-related offenses. As Christian Everdell and Marvin Lowenthal write in an article published in the New York Law Journal, this shift is expected to lead to a wave of indictments for AI-powered crimes, with prosecutors aiming for stringent penalties. However, uncertainties remain regarding the adequacy of existing statutes and Sentencing Guidelines enhancements for achieving the desired sentencing increases.

International law firm Cohen & Gresser announced today that Allon Lifshitz, former Deputy Chief of the EDNY Criminal Division, will join the firm as a partner in its New York office. Allon brings over 20 years of experience to the firm, where his practice will focus on white-collar criminal and antitrust cases, as well as government investigations, internal investigations, and complex civil litigation.

Prior to joining Cohen & Gresser, Allon was a federal prosecutor for 14 years in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. As Deputy Chief, he oversaw more than 100 AUSAs across the Criminal Division’s nine sections. Previously, he served as Chief of the Organized Crime & Gangs Section. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Allon prosecuted cases involving a variety of crimes, including foreign bribery, health care fraud, racketeering, securities fraud, money laundering, wire fraud, national security offenses, and public corruption offenses.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join Cohen & Gresser. I have admired the firm for a long time and have been consistently impressed with its growth and success,” said Allon. “The white-collar practice is outstanding, and I look forward to leveraging my experience investigating cross-border white-collar crime, negotiating corporate resolutions, and taking complex cases to trial. I also look forward to applying my experience to the firm’s excellent work in antitrust and civil litigation.”

“Allon is a skilled litigator with proven results. His extensive experience as a federal prosecutor adds new depth and capabilities to the firm’s white-collar, antitrust, and litigation and arbitration practices,” said Lawrence T. Gresser, co-founder and global managing partner of Cohen & Gresser. “On behalf of everyone at the firm, I’m delighted to welcome Allon to the team.”

Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Allon served as a law clerk to the Honorable Nicholas G. Garaufis, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York, and as a litigation associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Allon earned his law degree from Harvard Law School.

Allon is a member of the Federal Bar Council’s Federal Criminal Practice Committee and the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Law and Criminal Justice Sections. He currently serves as Chair of the Constitution & Rules Committee of the United States Tennis Association. He was previously a Lecturer in Law at Columbia Law School.

Read New York Law Journal's coverage here.

Cohen & Gresser is pleased to announce that Shannon Daugherty, Pauline Koch, Marvin Lowenthal, and Pierre Wolman have been promoted to counsel.

"Congratulations to these talented lawyers on their well-deserved promotions," said Lawrence T. Gresser, the firm’s managing partner. “Shannon, Pauline, Marvin, and Pierre each demonstrate extraordinary commitment to client service and embody our firm's core values of excellence, integrity, and respect. We recognize their outstanding accomplishments and positive impact, and look forward to their continued success at Cohen & Gresser.”

Shannon Daugherty – Counsel, New York

Shannon Daugherty practices complex commercial litigation and criminal and regulatory defense. Shannon advises clients across a broad array of industries on a wide range of disputes, including contract, civil RICO, bankruptcy, and tax matters. She also maintains an active pro bono practice. She has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star for business litigation.

Pauline Koch – Counsel, Paris

Pauline Koch practices corporate transactions, compliance, and mergers and acquisitions. Pauline holds a Master’s degree (JD equivalent) in English and North American Business Law, as well as a Master’s degree in International Law from the University of Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne. She received her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Strasbourg and her LL.M. from UCLA School of Law. Pauline is admitted to practice in France and California.

Marvin Lowenthal – Counsel, New York

Marvin Lowenthal practices white collar defense, general commercial and securities litigation, and privacy and cybersecurity. He is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) in the United States. Super Lawyers has recognized Marvin as a Rising Star each year since 2018.

Pierre Wolman – Counsel, Paris

Pierre Wolman’s practice encompasses advice and litigation on corporate and M&A transactions both for publicly listed and private companies as well as on a wide range of regulatory and compliance issues. He holds a Masters II Degree in business law and taxation from the University Paris II Panthéon – Assas and a Master in Financial Regulation and Risk Management from Sciences Po Paris. He also holds a Bachelor of Civil Law from University College Dublin, Ireland. Pierre is admitted to practice in France.

For the fifth consecutive year, international law firm Cohen & Gresser has been ranked in Global Investigations Review’s GIR 100 as one of the top law firms for cross-border investigations.

The GIR 100, a guide to the world’s best firms for investigations, recognized C&G for its work on behalf of high-profile individuals and companies and its strong network of prominent lawyers in key jurisdictions around the globe. The annual guide is based on submissions from law firms and extensive independent research, and honors the top 100 firms worldwide that handle sophisticated government-led, internal, and cross-border investigations.

C&G’s White Collar Defense and Regulation practice spans its New York, Washington, D.C., Paris, and London offices. The practice’s highly experienced Internal Investigations team works closely with global clients, including corporations, boards of directors, special committees, and audit committees, in connection with investigations of all sizes. The team’s work has ranged from discrete investigations in response to an anonymous employee complaint to wide-ranging investigations conducted against the backdrop of ongoing litigation and/or regulatory and criminal investigations.