An experienced trial attorney and litigator for over 25 years, Holly Skolnick represents individuals and entities in complex civil, criminal and regulatory matters. Her practice areas include securities fraud, class action defense, insider trading, money laundering and RICO. She is the president and founder of Greenberg Traurig's Fellowship Foundation, and past chair of the Miami office's Securities Litigation Practice Group.
Areas of Concentration
· Complex civil litigation
· White collar criminal defense
· SEC enforcement actions
· Internal corporate investigations
· Securities litigation, including class actions and derivative suits
· Arbitrations
· Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
· Asset forfeitures
Significant Representations
· Representing nationwide title company in regulatory investigation concerning alleged mortgage fraud.
· Represented international financial services company in over 20 securities arbitrations alleging conflict of interest between research and investment banking.
· Represented major financial institution in federal class action involving allegations of fraud and money laundering. Case dismissed on dispositive motion.
· Represented numerous individuals and corporations in investigations and enforcement actions brought by the SEC, including those involving alleged insider trading and financial statement fraud.
· Served as counsel to audit committees and special committees of boards of directors of publicly traded companies, financial institutions and hospitals.
· Prosecuted private whistleblower suit against a public company for retaliatory actions taken against an employee for refusing to participate in a financial statement fraud. Obtained $4.5 million award in favor of employee.
· Obtained $1 million restitution judgment for victims of an immigration fraud/involuntary servitude scheme.
· Represented prominent criminal defense lawyer in three-month RICO and money laundering trial.
· Lead defense counsel in securities class actions and related shareholder derivative suits.
· Represented cell phone insurance company in nationwide class action alleging fraud and unfair trade practices.
· Lead counsel in the challenge to "Operation Polar Cap," a large-scale forfeiture action instituted by the United States Attorney's Offices in the Northern District of Georgia and the Southern District of Florida. United States Government was required to pay attorneys fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act.
Professional & Community Involvement
· Member, Board of Trustees, The Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights
· President and Founder, Greenberg Traurig Fellowship Foundation
· President, Board of Directors, Americans for Immigrant Justice
- Former Vice President
· Member, Board of Advisors, University of Miami Law School, Center for Ethics and Public Service
· Former Member, Board of Directors, Equal Justice Works (formerly National Association for Public Interest Law)
· Chair, Greenberg Traurig Pro Bono Program
· Member, Miami Science Museum
· Member, American Bar Association
· Editorial Board, Money Laundering Law Report
Awards & Recognition
· Listed, Euromoney Institutional Investor's Expert Guides, "Guide to the World's Leading Women in Business Law," 2012
· Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, 2005-2012
- Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) Litigation
- Securities Litigation
· Listed, South Florida Legal Guide "Top Lawyers in South Florida," 2004-2005, 2010-2012
· Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-2011
· Listed, Chambers USA Guide, National - Litigation, 2004-2011
· Listed, Lawdragon 3000 "Leading Lawyers in America," 2006, 2010
· Recipient, South Florida Business Leader magazine "Women Extraordinaire Award," 2009
· Listed, Lawdragon 500 "Leading Litigators in America," 2006
· Listed, Florida Trend magazine "Legal Elite," Litigation, 2005-2006, 2008
· Recipient, "The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award," Eleventh Judicial Circuit, 2000
· Named, South Florida Legal Guide "Top 250 lawyers in South Florida"
· Recipient, "First Annual Richard C. Milstein Excellence Award" for exceptional accomplishments in public interest
· Recipient, "Pro Bono Award," Civil Litigation, Dade County Bar Association and the Eleventh Judicial Circuit
· Recipient, "Liberty and Justice for All Award," Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center
· Recipient, "The Friend of the Center Award," University of Miami School of Law Center for Ethics and Public Service
· Rated, AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5
Previous Employment
· Staff Attorney, Public Defender Service (Trial and Appellate Divisions), Washington, D.C.
· Law Clerk, Honorable Eugene P. Spellman, United States District Judge, Southern District of Florida
Articles, Publications, & Lectures
Articles
· "Analysis of the Supreme Court's forfeiture decisions during the 1992-1993 Term," Washington, D.C.'s Legal Times
· Co-author, "Civil RICO in the Public Interest: `Everybody's Darling'," 19 American Criminal Law Review, 655, 1982
· Author, several articles on forfeiture and money laundering, Money Laundering Law Report
Lectures
· Lectured at the American Bar Association National Institute on White Collar Crime, American Bar Association National Institute on Forfeitures and Asset Freezes, the International Money Laundering Conference sponsored by Money Laundering Alert, and the I.B.C. Conference on The Prevention of International Money Laundering and Transaction Fraud