Find Lawyers

Essence Liburd

Essence Liburd practices in the areas of white collar defense and corporate investigations, as well as general commercial litigation, in both federal and state courts.

Ms. Liburd has represented clients in formal and informal investigations by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). She handles all aspects of white collar defense, including responding to government subpoenas and document requests on behalf of corporate clients, assisting clients with corporate policy matters, interviews, internal investigations and preparing defendants for trial. In connection with the firm’s appointment as Independent Monitor of a non-prosecution agreement between the DOJ and Mellon Bank, N.A., Ms. Liburd was part of a team that assessed the bank’s global compliance and employee training programs and made recommendations for enhancements to policies and procedures around data privacy, government contracting, FCPA and other compliance programs.

Ms. Liburd is currently part of a team representing John J. Carney, the court appointed Receiver of the Michael Kenwood Group, LLC, as international investment advisor. She assists in the investigation and recovery of assets misappropriated in connection with the management of international hedge funds operated by the principals of the Michael Kenwood Group.

Ms. Liburd’s practice also includes representing clients in complex and general civil litigation. She has experience in all aspects of the pre-trial process, from the management of complex discovery and document productions, to the development and execution of case strategy. In conjunction with Baker Hostetler’s role as counsel to the court-appointed trustee under SIPA in the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, Ms. Liburd has been involved in the Trustee’s investigation, discovery, including the taking of depositions, and negotiating settlements. She is currently involved in several litigations seeking to recover customer property.

While in law school, Ms. Liburd was on the editorial board of the New York University School of Law Review of Law and Social Change and participated in the Juvenile Defender Clinic, where she represented children in Manhattan Family Court.

As an associate in the White Collar Defense and Corporate Investigations group, Ms. Liburd acts as the liaison to the group’s co-chairs. She also serves on the firm’s New York Women’s Steering Committee and the Summer Associate Hiring Committee.

Ms. Liburd is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Federal Bar Council.