David B. Chenkin

David B. Chenkin is ZEK’s Managing Partner and chair of the firm’s Anti-Money Laundering/Financial Crime and Government Investigations groups.

For over thirty years, Mr. Chenkin has represented major corporations and senior executives in complex litigation and government investigations. He has counseled clients in many significant investigations conducted by the United States Congress and by federal, state and local prosecutors and regulators. Chenkin is nationally recognized for expertise in anti-money laundering (“AML”)/financial crime compliance, and is certified as an Anti-Money Laundering Specialist by ACAMS (which is not affiliated with any governmental authority). He also is often asked to collaborate with other firms whose clients face government investigations, financial crime/AML-related inquiries, civil litigation and prosecutions.

Chenkin is a frequent speaker on various AML related topics. He also provides AML investigation training to global companies, other law firms and federal, state and local law enforcement. He is the recipient of the Department of Homeland Security’s 2017 HSI - New York Citizen’s Legacy Award, received for his efforts in counseling HSI agents in building relationships in the financial community and contributing to forging the HSI legacy by exhibiting the core values of honor, service, and integrity.

Representative government investigation clients include:

* A senior executive of a global bank in a Congressional investigation regarding financial instruments.
* A major financial institution in a Congressional investigation regarding international correspondent banking.
* A major financial institution in a Congressional investigation into the causes of the recent financial crisis.
* A global financial institution in a joint money laundering investigation by DOJ and IRS Criminal Investigation.
* A major financial institution in a Congressional investigation regarding beneficial ownership, company formation and financial crime.
* A global company in a Congressional investigation regarding subsidiaries of U.S. corporations located in offshore tax havens.
* A global company in a Congressional investigation regarding the tax and accounting treatment of certain reserves.
* A major financial institution in a Congressional investigation regarding kleptocracy and the global movement of illicit funds.
* A major financial institution in parallel investigations conducted by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the SEC, the NASD, the U.S. Congress and multiple banking regulators regarding alleged tax haven abuse, the use of offshore vehicles by U.S. citizens and alleged money laundering.
* A major financial institution in parallel investigations regarding money service businesses conducted by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and multiple banking regulators.
* A major financial institution in a Congressional investigation regarding dividend tax payments.
* A senior executive of a global financial institution in a Congressional investigation into high frequency trading.
* A global financial institution in a worldwide DOJ corruption investigation.
* Additional experience representing clients in various financial crime, regulatory and cross-border investigations conducted by DOJ and various other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and regulators.