Freshfields Adds NY Litigator Daniel L. Stein to Market-Leading White Collar & Investigations Practice

Global law firm Freshfields has announced that leading New York-based white collar and investigations litigator Daniel L. Stein has joined as a partner and Co-Head of its Global Investigations group. Dan’s appointment is the fifth in a series of strategic investments across Freshfields' U.S. litigation platform and reflects increased client demand for support on the highest-stakes civil and criminal matters across federal and state levels.

Beth George, head of the firm’s U.S. litigation, arbitration and global investigations practice, noted: "Dan has a well-earned reputation as one of the most thoughtful and capable white-collar lawyers in New York. What sets him apart is not just the range of his experience – spanning government investigations, internal investigations and first-chair trial work – but the way he operates with clients. He is measured, authoritative and genuinely effective in guiding clients through their most difficult moments. He is exactly the kind of practitioner we have been looking to add to our team, and we are very much looking forward to working alongside him.”

Daniel’s appointment is the latest in a series of other recent strategic partner additions including former federal prosecutor Danny Grooms, former federal prosecutor and senior Treasury Department official Alessio Evangelista, former State Department Advisor Nema Milaninia and former Securities and Exchange Commission Associate Director Melissa Hodgman.

U.S. Managing Partner Damien Zoubek added: "Dan brings outstanding credentials from the Southern District of New York, including serious private practice depth and a clear understanding of how a leading white-collar practice is maintained. He understands precisely how to translate that into client value, and he has the smarts, the relationships and the energy to make an immediate difference to our market leading team.”

Dan’s practice centers on white collar criminal defense, regulatory enforcement and internal investigations, including counseling financial services firms and public companies across a broad range of matters including government investigations and enforcement actions by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Daniel stated: "Freshfields has built something genuinely exceptional in the U.S. and I am excited to contribute to what comes next. What drew me here is the firm's real commitment to its white collar and investigations practice and to the clients who depend on it. I have spent my career at the intersection of government enforcement and private practice, and I see a tremendous opportunity at Freshfields to bring those experiences together – working alongside an outstanding team, on a truly global platform, to deliver for clients at their most challenging moments."

Prior to entering private practice, Dan served for a decade as an assistant United States attorney in the Southern District of New York, culminating in his appointment as Chief of the Criminal Division, where he oversaw the office's full range of criminal prosecutions and investigations including securities fraud, insider trading, public corruption, money laundering and cybercrime.

In addition to strengthening its litigation practice, Dan’s arrival underscores Freshfields' continued 2026 investment in building leading capabilities across key client priorities with the additions of M&A partners Keith Hallam and Bethany Pfalzgraf, Life Sciences partner Andrea Devoe, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation partner Kathleen Emberger and Restructuring partner Amit Trehan.

Freshfields’ market-leading U.S. white collar and investigations team is uniquely positioned to advise on any investigation clients may face. Its global network of lawyers has decades of unparalleled experience representing parties in highly sensitive and complex investigations around the world.