Sahni_Anjan

Anjan Sahni

Partner

  • Managing Partner

Anjan Sahni serves as the firm’s managing partner. Mr. Sahni represents companies, boards, and senior executives in federal and state government investigations, litigation, and crisis-related matters. He returned to WilmerHale in 2015, after having been a federal prosecutor for over a decade at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where he served in various senior roles. Since 2005, Mr. Sahni has been lead counsel in a dozen federal criminal trials, including in a recent high-profile criminal antitrust trial, in which he obtained an acquittal. 

Recognized by Chambers USA as a leading white-collar and government investigations lawyer, Mr. Sahni draws extensive praise from his peers and clients. Clients describe him as "outstanding," “unflappable” and “extremely polished,” and having a “laser-sharp ability to reason legally.” Sources laud his courtroom abilities, describing him "as a phenomenal trial attorney" and "an extremely persuasive advocate in the courtroom.” The National Law Journal recognized Mr. Sahni as a Litigation Trailblazer in 2019 and a Criminal Law Trailblazer in 2020. Mr. Sahni was also named to the Lawyers of Color Power List in 2020, recognizing influential minority attorneys in the United States.

Mr. Sahni served as an Assistant US Attorney in the Southern District of New York from 2005 to 2015. As a prosecutor, Mr. Sahni served as Chief of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force, in which role he supervised investigations and prosecutions involving insider trading, accounting fraud, market manipulation, commodities fraud, and violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Mr. Sahni also served as the Co-Chief of the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit, where he oversaw investigations and prosecutions involving domestic and international terrorism, arms trafficking, counterintelligence, piracy, money laundering, violations of export controls and economic sanctions laws, and global narcotics trafficking.

Mr. Sahni advises companies, boards, and senior executives in high-stakes government and internal investigations, litigation, and crisis response. He represents clients in matters involving the DOJ, SEC, CFTC, Congressional Committees, and State Attorneys General. His recent representations have involved the areas of securities and commodities fraud, antitrust, international sanctions, export controls, data privacy, tax law, laws governing the use of classified information, the BSA, the FCPA, and federal and state civil rights laws. Mr. Sahni also advises institutions on culture-related reviews related to race and DEI issues. He maintains an active pro bono practice on behalf of indigent criminal defendants and the Sikh Coalition, a national civil rights organization.

After graduating at the top of his class at Emory University, Mr. Sahni attended Yale Law School. Following law school, he clerked for the Honorable Pierre N. Leval of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, after which he joined WilmerHale as a litigation associate.

Recognition

  • Award Text

    Lawyers of Color Power List 

    2020

  • Award Text

    Criminal Defense Trailblazer, Litigation Trailblazer and Winning Litigator

    The National Law Journal

    2019, 2020

  • Award Text

    White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations

    Chambers USA

    2017–2023

  • Recognized in Benchmark Litigation as a "Litigation Star" (2024).
  • Named to the New York City Urban Debate League’s inaugural Legal Advisory Council (2022).
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in the 20212024 editions of the Best Lawyers in America for white-collar criminal defense.
  • Named a 2022 Rainmaker by Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA).
  • Named a 2022 Notable Diverse Leader in Law by Crain’s New York Business.
  • Named to the Lawyers of Color Power List 2020, a list of influential minority attorneys in the United States (2020).
  • Named a 2019 Litigation Trailblazer and a 2020 Criminal Defense Trailblazer by The National Law Journal.
  • Recognized as a Winning Litigator by The National Law Journal (2019).
  • Recognized by Chambers USA as a leading white-collar crime and government investigations lawyer.
  • Recommended by The Legal 500 United States in the area of corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense and financial services litigation.
  • Elected to The American Law Institute (ALI).
  • Henry L. Stimson Medal from the New York City Bar Association.
  • Litigation Achievement Award from the South Asian Bar Association of New York.
  • Department of Justice Director's Award (for the successful prosecution of terrorism offenses against Viktor Bout).
  • Attorney General's Distinguished Service Award (for the successful prosecution of Faisal Shahzad for his attempted bombing of Times Square).
  • Named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America list.

Insights & News

Credentials

  • Education

    • JD, Yale Law School, 2001

    • BA, Political Science, Emory University, 1998

      summa cum laude
  • Admissions

    • New York

  • Clerkships

    • The Hon. Pierre N. Leval, US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 2001 - 2002

Credentials

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