The launch of a new corporate crime and antitrust task force by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office signals that companies could face heightened scrutiny at the local level, even as the federal white-collar enforcement landscape evolves. The task force will prioritize corporate misconduct and antitrust matters, adding another potential enforcement avenue for businesses operating in New York.
Bracewell’s Dina McLeod, who joined the firm this summer from the Southern District of New York, told the New York Law Journal that the Manhattan DA may see an opportunity to address a perceived gap in enforcement.
“I don’t think it’s crazy for the Manhattan DA’s office to think, ‘There is a hole for us to fill here,’” McLeod said, adding that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg “certainly would have his fingers on the pulse of white-collar in a way, because of that background and that expertise coming out of a federal prosecutor office.”
For companies, McLeod cautioned against assuming that reduced activity from one regulator necessarily means less enforcement risk overall.
“I think for companies, you can never rest on your laurels. You think one agency is out, and that’s one perspective on enforcement right now, but you know, in another week another agency can come in to fill that gap.”