Robert Altchiler

Robert conducts corporate investigations and, when appropriate, and when the client instructs, refers the results to law enforcement for prosecution. In one recent example, a corporate CEO came to learn assets and materials were being diverted by employees, and that the corporation was “bleeding” money as a result. The CEO needed assistance in ascertaining the identities and extent of involvement of the wrongdoers, as well as the level of theft involved. Robert directed a corporate investigation that revealed the nature of the problem. He then referred the investigation to federal authorities, which arrested the wrongdoers and prosecuted them. The wrongdoers were convicted. In addition, the amount of the theft was included in a court ordered restitution judgment and the corporation will be repaid in full.

In another recent example, Robert represented a corporate client that believed one of its vendors was inflating invoices to the company and, consequently, stealing thousands of dollars in unearned billings. Robert conducted an investigation and learned that numerous professional corporations had been victimized by the same vendor as well. Robert gathered evidence and documents and met with federal prosecutors, who were thrilled to be presented with what was essentially an open and shut multi-million dollar fraud case. As a result, the government promptly opened an investigation in the case, and, with the Robert’s assistance, arrested the wrongdoer and continued investigating the company responsible for the theft.
 

In recent years, Robert has developed a specialty in representing companies and individuals being extorted by individuals for large sums of money. The extortionate schemes take many forms, including threats by “whistleblowers” that they will reveal damaging information about the client or the client company, if the money is not paid. Sometimes the threats to individuals involve revealing embarrassing or otherwise damaging information (sometimes including recordings or pictures) to the media, family members or others, if the demanded moneys are not paid. Robert and his investigative teams have successfully, and discreetly thwarted these schemes numerous times.
 

In addition to his practice, Robert has been an adjunct law professor at Pace University Law School since 1998, where he teaches trial advocacy, a course designed to teach law students how to be trial lawyers via a curriculum including the mock trial of a murder case. Robert has also been a featured participant and lecturer at Cardozo Law School's acclaimed Intensive Trial Advocacy Program in New York City, and has also taught at Yale Law School. Robert’s trial advocacy teaching requires him to constantly integrate new developments in communication theory and trial techniques into his pedagogical methods. Given the changing way students (and prospective jurors) communicate and digest information (via Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, for example) Robert is able to adapt his teaching to the needs of his students. By trying actively participating in the mock trials and by frequently demonstrating methods, he is able to continually adapt his own communication skills and integrate cutting-edge developments into his own practice.
 

Robert graduated from the George Washington University Law School (formerly, The National Law Center), where he began his career as an advocate by conducting administrative hearings and trials during his second and third year. Prior to GW, Robert graduated with honors from the Business School at the State University of New York at Albany in 1985. He is also a 1996 graduate of the National Criminal Defense College and a 1997 graduate of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy's Harvard Teacher Training Program. In 2014, Robert was asked to teach at the prestigious EATES Program at Stetson University Law School, a program designed to teach trial advocacy professors how to better teach their students. Robert has also made dozens of  television appearances on Fox, Court TV, and Tru TV, providing legal commentary on televised trials, and participating in discussions related to pertinent issues.

 

​In recent years Robert has:

• Represented an individual accused of misappropriating and disseminating an unreleased computer operating system. The individual had confessed to the federal law enforcement and reneged on an agreement to cooperate with the federal government. Robert resolved the investigation without any charges against the client and without any cooperation by the client with the government.

• Secured the outright dismissal of an 18-count indictment (on the government’s motion) charging his client (a practicing lawyer) of various crimes, including Grand Larceny and Mortgage Fraud.

• Secured the outright dismissal (on the government’s motion) of an indictment charging his client (a non-practicing lawyer) with various crimes, including Grand Larceny and Falsifying Business Records.

• Secured the dismissal of an indictment charging his client (a practicing lawyer) with various crimes, including Bribery, Conspiracy and Tampering with a Witness.

• Secured a non-criminal disposition for a client charged in 222 counts of an indictment, charging her with various crimes, including Grand Larceny, Falsifying Business Records, and Prevailing Wage Violations.

• Secured a Deferred Prosecution Agreement for a client accused of violating the Internal Revenue Code, and the Bank Secrecy Act by participating in a tax evasion scheme and by structuring bank deposits.

• Represented a law firm in connection with multiple state and federal investigations into its involvement in more than two hundred fraudulent mortgages obtained pursuant to a not-for-profit loan program. All investigations were resolved without charges and without any negative licensing implications.

• Secured a Deferred Prosecution Agreement for a company accused of commercial bribery, tax fraud, grand larceny, and creating false business records.

• Secured a non-criminal disposition for a company and business owner suspected of tax fraud, violating prevailing wage laws, tax fraud, and other crimes, after the government executed search warrants at the business.

• Secured the closing of an investigation into two clients’ companies for various crimes, including violating prevailing wage laws and filing false documents with the State of New York, after search warrants were executed at the clients’ businesses.

• Represented two securities brokers in connection with a high-profile federal and state securities fraud investigation in which Robert was able to favorably resolve all licensing issues by effectively utilizing administrative cooperation rules and policies. As a result of an expeditious and aggressive approach to the government, and cooperation, the brokers avoided prosecution without further cooperation, proffer or other interaction.

• Represented a subject building owner and property manager under investigation in connection with a joint federal and state arson/homicide investigation involving the deaths of three people. Robert successfully positioned his clients as merely witnesses with no criminal responsibility.

• Represented a target officer of a company under federal investigation in connection with government contracts and tax fraud for their handling of multi-million dollar U.S. government contracts over the course of several years. The client did not cooperate and was not charged.

• Represented a contractor who had search warrants executed at his business pursuant to allegations of fraud related to labor union funds. The investigation was resolved without any criminal charges, without cooperation, and without any negative implications on the client's ability to participate in public works projects.

• Secured an acquittal on behalf of an NYPD Detective under indictment for tax evasion.

• Secured a non-criminal disposition for a business owner accused of bringing an unlicensed handgun to a NY airport.

• Secured the closing of an investigation into a client suspected of embezzling several hundred thousand dollars from an international bank, without any charges.

• Secured a dismissal of charges on behalf of a young corporate executive accused of several felonies related to the possession of narcotics and hallucinogens.