Lance A. Clarke is a nationally recognized trial attorney and the Managing Partner of Hamilton Clarke, LLP. His practice spans white-collar defense, government and regulatory investigations, criminal defense, RICO, fraud, money laundering, and complex civil litigation. A former public defender in New York City, he has successfully litigated hundreds of hearings and trials and is known for his strategic insight, his composure under pressure, and his ability to deliver results when the stakes are highest. He has argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and has recently secured a defense verdict on all counts of a three-count New York State indictment at trial, along with an appellate victory on due-process grounds.
Lance is a trusted advocate and advisor to corporations, executives, and individuals facing government investigations, regulatory enforcement, criminal and civil charges, contract disputes, and corporate crises. He represents companies, their officers, and their boards in federal and state investigations — including matters before United States Attorneys’ Offices and state attorneys general — together with the internal investigations and civil litigation that so often accompany them, and he serves as standing outside counsel to institutions that need a steady, discreet hand for their most sensitive matters.
Throughout his career, Lance has represented financial executives, public officials, public authorities, Fortune 100 companies, and individuals, producing multimillion-dollar settlements, declinations of prosecution, and trial and appellate victories. Recognized by Super Lawyers as a Top-Rated White-Collar Crime Attorney and named among New York’s Top 100 Trial Attorneys by The National Trial Lawyers, he is widely respected for his judgment, his preparation, and his client-focused approach.
Beyond the courtroom, Lance is an active leader in the profession. He has handled international extradition matters for political and public figures, advised executives and public officials through corporate crises, served on judicial screening committees that select future judges, mentored young lawyers in federal practice, and served on the transition team for New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg. As an adjunct professor of law, he trains the next generation of trial attorneys.
A former member of the Board of Directors of the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Lance serves on the Executive Board of Exalt Youth, an organization dedicated to empowering New York City’s young people, and as adviser to its Chief Executive Officer, and he is a member of the Board of Directors of Future Giants. His community work has been recognized with the Harlem Good Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America, and he has been invited to speak at universities in the United States and abroad, including the University of Oxford.
A sought-after legal analyst, Lance offers insight on trial strategy, government investigations, and legal trends, and his commentary has been featured in Fortune and Forbes, and on BBC World News, Fox News, ABC World News, CBS News, NBC News, Court TV, and the Law & Crime Network.