Barry Wm. Levine

Biography

Barry Wm. Levine focuses his practice on white collar defense and investigations and has represented dozens of defendants in major white collar crime cases. His criminal practice includes pre-indictment counseling, grand jury practice, Congressional investigations, parallel proceedings in multiple forums, and full-fledged jury trials of lengthy and complex cases.

Barry has represented numerous high-ranking elected and appointed public officials, lawyers, scientists, bankers, and business executives. He is a veteran of the Independent Counsel wars, having represented individuals in the Iran-Contra investigation and the investigations of HUD Secretary Samuel Pierce and of Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy. Barry’s criminal cases have been in widely diverse areas, including election laws, money laundering, public corruption, government contract fraud, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), environmental crimes, immigration fraud, securities fraud, and insider trading. He has represented members of Congress in both Congressional hearings and federal court litigation. Often his major successes are ones in which criminal prosecution is averted and adverse publicity avoided.

Additionally, Barry has a substantial and wide-ranging complex civil litigation practice. On behalf of corporate entities, he has defended class action lawsuits and derivative actions. He has litigated as both plaintiff’s and defendant’s counsel regarding antitrust, healthcare, insurance, law firm partnership disputes, financial fraud, energy, securities, defamation, and insider trading. He has routinely appeared in the state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout the nation.

From 1969 to 1975, Barry was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia, principally assigned to the Fraud Section. In that capacity, he was involved in countless major criminal fraud investigations and prosecutions and was lead counsel in scores of jury trials.

Chambers USA states that Barry is a highly experienced trial lawyer and is adept at representing clients against allegations of public corruption. Chambers sources say that Barry “is as tenacious as they come,” “is smart, defense-minded and has a lot of trial experience,” and is “terrific in the courtroom as he is so charismatic.” Chambers also notes that “[h]is clients further attest: ‘He stands out because of his responsiveness, technical abilities and his courtroom success’” and “‘he has an amazing way of getting his points across with clarity.’”

News & Views

See all News and Views

Recognitions

  • 2024, Criminal Defense: White-Collar in Washington, D.C., listed in Best Lawyers in America©
  • 2022,“Top Lawyers Hall of Fame,” listed in Washingtonian
  • 2018–2021, Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar in Washington, D.C., listed in Best Lawyers in America©
  • 2013–2015, 2019–2024, “Litigation Star,” listed in Benchmark Litigation
  • 2013–2022, Washington, D.C., “Super Lawyer” in White Collar Crimes, listed in Super Lawyers
  • 2014–2020, Litigation: White Collar Crime and Government Investigations Law, listed in Chambers USA
  • 2018 and 2020, listed in Euromoney’s White Collar Crime Expert Guide
  • 2017, listed in Who’s Who Legal – Business Crime Defence
  • 2015, 2018, 2020–2021, listed in Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll
  • 2013–2016, listed in Best Lawyers in America©
  • 2013, 2015, “Top Lawyer,” listed in Washingtonian

Affiliations

Memberships

  • District of Columbia Bar Association
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Professional Activities

Barry is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association, the American Bar Association (“ABA”), the ABA Criminal Justice Section, the White Collar Crime Committee of the ABA Criminal Justice Section, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is admitted to the U.S. Courts of Appeals for most circuits including the Federal Circuit.

Barry mentors young attorneys, is active in pro bono matters, and is a vigorous participant in working to heighten law firms’ sensitivity to diversity and diversity-related matters.

Credentials

Admissions

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • California
  • District of Columbia
  • New York
  • Supreme Court of New York
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court - District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court - District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court - Maryland
  • U.S. District Court - Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court - Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York
  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • United States Court of Federal Claims

Education

  • New York University, BS
  • University of California Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, JD