Recently named a Super Lawyers Rising Star (2010 and 2011), McKenzie specializes in criminal defense and securities litigation in Mintz Levin's Boston office. She is an experienced trial lawyer in both the criminal and civil contexts, and has had many federal trials over the last several years. In 2007, in recognition of her experience and success, McKenzie was also named as one of only 15 Massachusetts "Rising Stars" by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
Examples of McKenzie's courtroom successes and other representations include:
· The successful trial of one of Massachusetts' largest criminal health care fraud cases. The long and substantial government investigation into Medicaid fraud and anti-kickback violations resulted in the pharmaceutical company pleading guilty and settling for over $700 million. McKenzie's client, a sales executive at the pharmaceutical company, and three other former employees were completely acquitted of any wrongdoing after a month-long trial.
· McKenzie assisted with one of the largest health care fraud trials in United States history, which yielded the complete acquittal of a pharmaceutical sales executive accused of, among other things, violating the federal anti-kickback statute and conspiracy. This national, multi-year government investigation into Medicare fraud allegations yielded millions of documents, hundreds of potential witnesses, and culminated in a federal jury trial that lasted three months.
· In 2009, McKenzie tried a federal cocaine distribution and felon-in-possession case that resulted in the complete acquittal of her client after a week-long jury trial.
· McKenzie represented the former CFO of a Fortune 500 company in a multi-year SEC investigation and enforcement action that resulted in a very favorable settlement for her client.
· McKenzie currently represents dozens of witnesses who have been called to testify in investigations relating to health care fraud, securities litigation, and other internal investigations.
In addition, McKenzie has extensive experience representing clients before grand juries, handling Criminal Justice Act cases, conducting internal investigations, representing officers and corporations in connection with SEC investigations and enforcement proceedings, and defending class action suits. Notably, over the past several years, she has been a key member of the firm's representation of clients involved in government investigations relating to the "Big Dig" project in Boston, and has defended clients against investigations by the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts, the Department of Justice Antitrust Division, Securities and Exchange Commission, and other state and federal agencies.
In 2009, McKenzie served for seven months as a Special Assistant Federal Public Defender in the Boston Federal Public Defender's Office. In that capacity, she handled several dozen federal criminal cases, and conducted detention hearings, motions to suppress, supervised release revocations, and sentencings.
McKenzie is also Director of Mintz Levin's Domestic Violence Program (DVP), which provides pro bono legal assistance to low-income victims of domestic violence. She has significant experience assisting clients with obtaining restraining orders and oversees the entire program. In 2009, the DVP was recognized for its exceptional work when it was awarded the Boston Bar Association's Thurgood Marshall Award.
McKenzie is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, the United States District Court of Massachusetts, United States District Court of Michigan-Eastern Division, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals. She is a member of the Boston, Massachusetts and American Bar Associations, the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL), the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), an active participant in the ABA's Young Lawyer White Collar Section, and Chair of the MACDL Young Lawyers Division.
McKenzie earned her B.A. in history and psychology from the University of Michigan (1997) and her J.D. and M.A. in legal history from the University of Virginia (2001).
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Securities Litigation