WilmerHale expanded its New York office with the hire of Robin L. Baker, former Executive Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice with the Office of the New York State Attorney General. Robin joins the firm as counsel in the Investigations and Criminal Litigation Practice Group at WilmerHale.
Robin has a rare combination of experience. Over the past three years, in her position as New York State's Executive Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice, she supervised and managed the Criminal Justice Division, which prosecutes not only criminal cases, but also civil fraud cases, and includes the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), the Public Integrity Bureau, the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, and the Organized Crime Task Force. In 2009, the MFCU received the United States Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General’s 2009 State Fraud Award for outstanding detection, investigation, and prosecution of fraud by Medicaid providers. Other matters handled by the Criminal Justice Division under Robin's direction included securities fraud in violation of New York’s Martin Act; corruption, fraud, and abuse by government personnel or involving government funds, including qui tam cases under the New York State and federal False Claims Acts; criminal bid rigging; tax offenses; and environmental crimes. Robin was responsible for developing and implementing the agenda for the Criminal Justice Division and managing its resources, which include approximately 110 attorneys and over 300 auditors, investigators, and support personnel across New York State.
From 1996 to 2006, Robin was an Assistant US Attorney in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. There, she conducted eight jury trials, totaling more than 16 months of trial time. She served as Deputy Chief of Appeals and Acting Chief of Appeals, and the significant appeals on which she worked included United States v. Ebbers, in which the Second Circuit affirmed the fraud convictions and 25-year sentence of the WorldCom CEO, and In re W.R. Huff Asset Management Company, in which the Second Circuit rejected objections to the creation of a fund to compensate victims of the Rigases’ fraud at Adelphia. For more than six years, she was a member of the Organized Crime & Terrorism Unit and investigated and prosecuted international terrorism cases.
“We are thrilled to welcome Robin to the firm,” said Paul Engelmayer, Partner-in-Charge of WilmerHale’s New York office and also a member of the Investigations and Criminal Litigation Practice Group. “Robin’s extensive government litigation experience is a terrific addition to our New York office and Litigation Department. We know that Robin’s background and knowledge will be a wonderful asset to the firm and to our clients.”
“I look forward to bringing my criminal and civil litigation background, and my experience with both federal and New York State law enforcement, to WilmerHale’s exceptional Litigation Department. I am honored to work with such a talented group of individuals,” said Robin.
WilmerHale’s Litigation/Controversy Department has been recognized as one of the best in the nation. Most recently, the department was recognized in Vault’s “List of Most Prestigious Law Firms (2009)” in the “Best in Litigation” category, while The Lawyer ranked the firm in the top 10 of its annual list of the top 50 litigation practices.
Robin received her JD from Columbia Law School and her BS, with Distinction, from Cornell University. Robin has received numerous honors and awards in connection with her public service, including the United States Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, the Stimson Medal from the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and the Department of Justice Director’s Award for Superior Performance.