Former SDNY Criminal Division Chief Lisa Zornberg to Join Morvillo Abramowitz as Partner
December 17, 2024
NEW YORK - Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello P.C. is proud to announce the addition of Lisa Zornberg, a leading practitioner and former Chief of the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Ms. Zornberg, known for her skills as an advocate and her effectiveness in court, will join as a partner on March 3, 2025.
Ms. Zornberg most recently served as chief counsel to the mayor of New York City and City Hall. Prior to her tenure at the mayor’s office, she was a partner at a major New York-based international law firm, where she focused on white collar defense, regulatory enforcement actions and internal investigations for corporations and financial institutions, as well as high-stakes civil litigation.
From 2016 through 2018, Ms. Zornberg served as Chief of the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. In that role, she supervised approximately 170 federal prosecutors and oversaw the office’s criminal investigations and prosecutions, including securities fraud, cybercrime, health care fraud, U.S. sanctions violations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act cases, RICO violations, terrorism, public corruption, construction fraud, art fraud and drug offenses.
“Lisa brings vast experience and invaluable insights, built up over years of distinguished government service, and she will be a fierce advocate for our clients in navigating their most complex and sensitive legal issues,” said partner Richard F. Albert. “We could not be prouder to welcome her to the firm.”
Ms. Zornberg first joined the United States Attorney’s Office in 1998 and was an assistant U.S. attorney in both the Civil and Criminal Divisions, rising to supervisory ranks in each. She was Deputy Chief of Appeals in the Civil Division and then later served as Chief of the Complex Frauds Unit in the Criminal Division. She received the Justice Department’s John Marshall Award in 2011 for prosecution of union corruption and the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation’s Prosecutor of the Year award in 2010. Having tried 15 cases to verdict in both civil and criminal cases, she was given the nickname the “tiny tornado” by a New York newspaper.
“Lisa is a brilliant lawyer – high energy, strategic and a problem-solver. She approaches the law with the utmost integrity and will leverage her deep experience and fearlessness for the benefit of our clients. We are thrilled to have her join our team,” said partner Robert J. Anello.
Ms. Zornberg joins a team of nationally recognized criminal defense lawyers, including 12 alumni of United States Attorney’s Offices – two other former Criminal Division Chiefs, a former Chief Appellate Attorney, a former Chief of the Securities Fraud Unit, a former Co-Chief of the Public Corruption Unit, and a former Chief of Health Care Fraud Prosecutions, in addition to some of the country’s most prominent civil litigators.
“I am thrilled to be joining Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello. The firm is a litigation powerhouse – inside the courtroom and outside of it. The firm's reputation for brilliant lawyering, stellar client service, and top-notch associate talent is well known throughout the legal community, and it is an honor to join such a dynamic team,” said Ms. Zornberg.
Ms. Zornberg graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1994 and magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1991. Early in her legal career, she clerked for the Hon. Sonia Sotomayor, when Justice Sotomayor served as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York.