Holland & Knight Grows Litigation Practice

CHICAGO – Holland & Knight welcomes new partner Mark A. Flessner, a well-known white collar lawyer with more than 25 years of experience, to its Chicago Litigation Practice Group. A former assistant United States attorney in Chicago, Mr. Flessner counsels clients on the litigation risks arising from government investigative actions, whether criminal, civil or regulatory.

"Mark is an extraordinary litigator and a well-respected member of the white collar defense bar. He has extensive experience with internal investigations and criminal litigation, which will help us expand these services for our clients," said Thomas Woodrow, the leader of Holland & Knight's Chicago Litigation Practice Group. "We are thrilled that Mark has agreed to join us and help deepen our white collar practice in a range of areas, particularly healthcare, retail, manufacturing, insurance and finance. He also shares our commitment to pro bono work and community service."

Mr. Flessner is an accomplished trial lawyer who has tried more than 40 cases to verdict and argued approximately 35 cases on appeal. He has substantial experience in investigating corporate wrongdoings and represents clients facing complex commercial litigation, internal corporate investigations, grand jury inquiries and issues involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. During his 12-year tenure as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. attorney's office, he led investigations involving sophisticated and complex financial fraud, international money laundering, public corruption, white collar crime, gangs, narcotics, terrorism and national security.

"Holland & Knight's white collar defense team is a dedicated and talented one. It has the experience and the resources to effectively represent clients in any governmental inquiry," said Mr. Flessner. "By joining one of the nation's largest and most respected litigation groups, I'm in a better position to help my clients assess and defend themselves against allegations of wrongdoing. I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues across the different practices and offices to represent corporations in sensitive matters that can affect their reputation and value." 

Mr. Flessner is a sought-after resource by numerous news organizations for topics related to criminal investigations and white collar defense. In addition to providing background information and being a regular guest commentator on leading news programs, he has been quoted often in national and international media and is a frequent lecturer at conferences. He has received numerous awards for outstanding law enforcement service, including recognition from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, the Chicago U.S. Postal Inspection Services, the Chicago Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Justice. In 1996 he received the Directors Award for Superior Performance from the U.S. attorney general.

Outside of the office, Mr. Flessner donates significant time to pro bono activities and the legal community. He is a member of the Federal Defender Panel in the Northern District of Illinois, providing legal representation to the indigent. He also serves as chairman for the Federal Bar Association's Federal Career Services Division and the Midwest Light of Human Rights Awards, a fundraiser benefiting the National Immigrant Justice Center. In addition, he is a member of the Leadership Council for the National Immigrant Justice Center of the Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights.

Mr. Flessner received a B.A. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a M. Div. degree from the University of Notre Dame and a J.D. degree from DePaul University College of Law. He comes to Holland & Knight from SNR Denton.

About Holland & Knight LLP:  Holland & Knight is a global law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers and other professionals in 17 U.S. offices, as well as Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Bogotá and Mexico City. Among the nation's largest law firms, Holland & Knight provides representation in litigation, business, real estate and governmental law. Interdisciplinary practice groups and industry-based teams provide clients with access to attorneys throughout the firm, regardless of location. www.hklaw.com