“The expertise and background of Michael Gurland and Phillip Stern and members of this practice group coupled with their focus on exceptional client service enables our firm to more fully serve the needs of our clients in these areas,” said Jerry H. Biederman, managing partner, Neal Gerber Eisenberg.

Backed by years of investigative experience, members of the White Collar Practice Group have represented a number of Fortune 100 companies including major financial institutions, members of audit committees, controllers, treasurers and other financial officers in public and private corporations in connection with criminal and regulatory investigations including investigations of: violations of federal securities laws; violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; accounting irregularities; hedge funds; mutual fund practices; improper trading practices and market manipulations; money laundering; insider trading; employee fraud and employment discrimination and harassment claims. Internal investigation services are provided not only in response to regulatory action and litigation, but also to identify potential criminal problems, to enhance compliance procedures and to determine what lessons can be learned from those issues that do arise in order to avoid reoccurrence in the future.

Attorneys within the firm’s White Collar Practice Group and other related practice areas have successfully represented and defended clients in a broad range of investigations and enforcement actions brought by regulatory bodies across the country, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, the Department of Labor, the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Futures Association, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade. The broad range of experience in the practice group enables the firm to advise clients at every step in the process, from preliminary investigations to responding to subpoenas for testimony and documentation, and on to formal proceedings, grand jury investigations and trial.

White Collar Practice Group members also have significant criminal and civil trial experience insuring that the services provided by the group are designed to reduce or eliminate trial exposure. Expertise is also provided in handling and responding to grand jury proceedings and defending regulatory proceedings or criminal trials.

As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Gurland, 42, handled dozens of Grand Jury investigations, trials and appeals involving a broad range of criminal conduct including securities fraud, tax fraud, mortgage fraud, identity fraud, fraud in the sale of medical devices, bank embezzlement, money laundering, thefts from corporations and drug trafficking offenses. He was also in charge of several major Title III wire tap investigations, including an investigation of municipal workers engaged in a heroin distribution and money laundering ring. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2002, he was part of an elite unit at the New York County (Manhattan) District Attorney’s Office specializing in the prosecution of complex white collar criminal cases. As an Assistant District Attorney in New York, he handled several lengthy investigations of clearing firms, broker/dealers and investment advisors.

Gurland was admitted to the New York bar in 1991 and to the Illinois bar in 2001. In 1986, he graduated, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his J.D. in 1990 from the University of Michigan Law School.

Stern, 57, concentrates in securities and commodities regulatory defense and litigation, arbitrations and mediations, and also handles corporate internal investigations and lawsuits involving liability of officers, directors, accountants and law firms. Prior to joining private practice, he served ten years with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Chicago, the last five as Assistant Regional Administrator for Enforcement, and also served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. He has successfully represented clients before the SEC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers and the Chicago Board of Trade. He also serves as a mediator for trading and commercial related disputes. He has been a court-appointed receiver in several SEC proceedings.

Stern was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1975. He earned his J.D., cum laude, in 1975 and B.S.C. degree in 1971 from DePaul University.

About Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP

Neal Gerber Eisenberg is a Chicago-based law firm providing legal services to a diverse group of clients in a wide array of domestic and global business transactions and litigation matters. The firm’s clients include privately and publicly held companies, financial institutions, non-profit organizations and high net worth individuals. The firm’s client base reflects virtually every business industry, including a number of Fortune 100 companies. The firm has grown to nearly 200 attorneys who share common values of integrity, a dedication to high quality legal services and a commitment to diversity. Beyond White Collar Criminal, Regulatory & Internal Investigative Services, the firm’s 21 practice areas range from Corporate & Securities, Securities & Commodities Litigation, Real Estate and Private Wealth Services to Health Law, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, Tax, Litigation and Labor & Employment. Website: www.ngelaw.com.

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