Assistant U.S. Attorney to Rejoin Pillsbury's Litigation Practice

NEW YORK – Pillsbury today announced Assistant United States Attorney and firm alumna Carolina A. Fornos will rejoin the firm as a partner in the Litigation practice in the New York office. Fornos spent six years as an associate in Pillsbury’s New York office and almost nine years in the Civil and Criminal divisions of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. She also has worked in the Office of the White House Counsel, where she helped vet potential candidates for presidential appointments.

“As a former assistant, Carolina has a deep knowledge of criminal and civil investigations, as well as substantial experience in regulatory proceedings,” said Litigation practice co-leader Ken Taber. “She adds significant bench strength to these key growth areas of our practice.”

In her work with the U.S. Attorney’s office, Fornos was responsible for investigating and prosecuting federal crimes ranging from money laundering and violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, to bank fraud, bribery, health care fraud, and narcotics trafficking. She handled more than one hundred criminal and civil cases in the Southern District of New York and numerous appeals before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

"White collar investigations represent an important and dynamic growth area for us and our clients, and that work requires the highest level of skills. Carolina is joining a team of seasoned lawyers here, and her years of experience in government will provide an important advantage to the clients we serve in this space,” said partner Jim Rishwain, Jr.

Fornos is an active member in the New York City Bar Association, the Federal Bar Council Inn of Court and The Cafecitos Network, a networking organization for Latina lawyers in New York. She is also a native Spanish speaker whose experience will enhance the firm’s offerings to clients with interests in Latin America.

“Pillsbury’s preeminent Litigation practice in New York offers the perfect platform for me to build a private practice in the area of investigations,” Carolina said. “I am delighted to be rejoining Pillsbury and look forward to adding my experience to the already strong services the firm provides clients in this area.”

Fornos received her J.D. from the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, and received both her Master of Arts in Political Science, Comparative Politics and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and French Literature, cum laude, from Louisiana State University. She is licensed to practice in New York.

About Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Pillsbury is a full-service law firm with an industry focus on energy & natural resources, financial services including financial institutions, real estate & construction, and technology. Based in the world’s major financial, technology and energy centers, Pillsbury counsels clients on global business, regulatory and litigation matters. We work in multidisciplinary teams that allow us to understand our clients’ objectives, anticipate trends and bring a 360-degree perspective to complex business and legal issues—helping clients to take greater advantage of new opportunities, meet and exceed their objectives and better mitigate risk. This collaborative work style helps produce the results our clients seek.