Michael Kim Krouse represents individuals and companies in government investigations, white collar criminal and regulatory defense matters, internal investigations, and complex commercial litigation. He brings an extensive background in investigations and enforcement to his practice, having served as a Judge Advocate in the United States Marine Corps and an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). During his government service, Michael was lead or co-lead counsel on 13 military courts-martial and nine federal jury trials, and he briefed or argued 11 appeals before the Second Circuit.
As an AUSA in the SDNY, Michael handled matters involving financial fraud, healthcare fraud, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations, public corruption, terrorism, cybercrime, economic sanctions and export control violations, Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) violations, tax fraud, and money laundering. He also coordinated parallel investigations with a wide range of regulatory authorities and government agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry & Security, the FBI, the IRS, the CIA, the NSA, and the Departments of State, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and Defense.
While a Judge Advocate in the Marine Corps, Michael investigated and prosecuted dozens of cases, including on charges of sexual assault, domestic violence, and crimes against children. He also served in the Office of the Chief Prosecutor of Military Commissions, where he handled pretrial motions and appeals in the prosecutions of those accused of the U.S.S. Cole bombing and September 11th attacks.
Michael earned his J.D. from Yale Law School, where he was a member of the Supreme Court clinic and received the Harlan Fiske Stone Prize (best oralist) and Potter Stewart Prize (best team) in Moot Court. He also received the William K.S. Wang Prize for top performance in corporate law. He earned his B.S. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
Michael clerked for the Honorable José A. Cabranes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Honorable Paul A. Engelmayer of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Before law school, Michael worked for McKinsey & Company, the United Nations Development Program, and a non-governmental organization located in Afghanistan.
Perspectives
Recognition
Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense (2022)
Credentials
- J.D., Yale Law School, 2008
- B.S., Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, 2002, summa cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa
- New York
- Virginia
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
- Supreme Court of the United States
- Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
-
Major, United States Marine Corps
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, The Honorable Paul A. Engelmayer
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, The Honorable José A. Cabranes
-
Member, Asian American Bar Association of New York
-
Term Member, Council on Foreign Relations (2016-2021)