William Keith Watanabe

Senior Counsel
blank image William Keith Watanabe

William Keith Watanabe

Senior Counsel
New York City T: 646.618.8653 F: 646.706.5097
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William Keith Watanabe

William Keith Watanabe

SENIOR COUNSEL
kwatanabe@whitefordlaw.com
NEW YORK CITY
T: 646.618.8653
F: 646.706.5097
Biography
BIOGRAPHY
Mr. Watanabe is a highly experienced litigator, having tried more than eighty cases at the trial level and argued more than twenty cases before various federal and state appellate courts. Over the years, he has compiled an enviable record of achievement in representing businesses, boards, and C-Suite/senior executives in complex commercial litigation matters and matters involving investigations/prosecutions by the United States Department of Justice, state Attorneys’ General, SEC, IRS, other governmental or regulatory agencies, and District or State’s Attorneys’ Offices. In addition to an active litigation practice, he also counsels and represents businesses and C-Suite/senior executives in risk management matters, including internal investigations and crisis management. His litigation practice extends to all business sectors but is regularly concentrated in representing businesses and C-level/senior executives in banking, finance (hedge fund, private equity, and venture capital), technology, media, and entertainment sectors. He also has record of achievement in litigating employment-related disputes involving executive compensation, trade secrets, misappropriation/unauthorized use of proprietary information, computer fraud, and breaches of non-competition/non-solicitation covenants.
 

Memberships & Activities

  • Member: New York Bar Association

ARTICLES

June 9, 2025

Client Alert: Department of Justice’s New White Collar Crime Focus

The Department of Justice’s Focus, Fairness, and Efficiency in the Fight Against White-Collar Crime memorandum released on May 12, 2025, signals a shift in DOJ corporate criminal enforcement. The memorandum signals a shift from past DOJ directives and focus, recognizing that ”not all corporate misconduct warrants federal criminal prosecution,” that “prosecution of individuals, as well as civil and administrative remedies directed at corporations, are often appropriate to address low-level corporate misconduct and vindicate U.S. interests,” and that DOJ “must strike an appropriate balance between the need to effectively identify, investigate, and prosecute corporate and individuals’ criminal wrongdoing while minimizing unnecessary burdens on American enterprise.”
May 21, 2025

Client Alert: New York State Attorney General’s Office Announces Focus on Martin Act Investigations and Prosecutions

In recent media appearances, New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced that her office will “significantly expand” the use of the Martin Act—New York General Business Law article 23-a—to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute insider-trading activity occurring wholly or partially within the State. Enacted in 1921, the Martin Act confers uniquely broad civil and criminal enforcement powers to the Attorney General, permitting the State to pursue securities fraud cases without establishing scienter, reliance or damages and to subpoena documents and testimony even in the absence of a pending action. Willful violations of the Act constitute a class E felony punishable by up to four years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine; each fraudulent act may be charged separately, and the Attorney General may also seek injunctive relief, disgorgement and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, together with pre-judgment interest and, in appropriate cases, a bar from serving as an officer or director of a public company.