CSG Bolsters White Collar Practice, Welcomes Lee Vartan as Member
CSG today announced that Lee Vartan has joined the firm as a member in its White Collar Criminal Defense & Government Investigations Group effective September 1. Vartan, who practices primarily in New Jersey and New York, will be based in the firm’s West Orange, NJ office.
Drawing upon his comprehensive background in private practice, as a federal prosecutor and as executive assistant attorney general for the State of New Jersey, Vartan joins CSG’s already strong roster of white collar attorneys. He has extensive experience representing clients in a range of government-related matters, including criminal, civil and regulatory investigations initiated by federal and state prosecutors and agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and state attorneys general.
“We are delighted to welcome Lee Vartan to CSG,” CSG Senior Member Jeffrey Chiesa stated. “Lee has achieved extraordinary success in both private practice and during his distinguished career in public service. He is a gifted lawyer and a wonderful colleague, and he will make a great addition to our team of talented professionals.”
Vartan comes to CSG from Holland & Knight, where he practiced in the firm’s white collar group. Prior to that, Vartan held several posts in the State of New Jersey, culminating in his appointment as executive assistant attorney general, the state’s second-highest-ranking prosecutorial position. In this role, Vartan managed the activities of the 8,100-person Department of Law and Public Safety, and supervised the Division of Criminal Justice and Division of Consumer Affairs. Earlier in his career, Vartan served as a federal prosecutor in New Jersey, prosecuting a range of white collar and cyber offenses, including securities fraud and money laundering, as well as mail, wire, and bank fraud.
“Lee has earned a reputation as a fierce advocate for those he represents, and his background as a federal and state prosecutor offers an invaluable perspective to his clients,” CSG Managing Member Daniel Schwartz said. “His presence adds another rising star to an already impressive roster within our white collar practice.”
“With several former federal prosecutors on staff, CSG has built its white collar group into a powerhouse practice,” added Vartan. “I’m eager to rejoin many former colleagues and friends and am excited to play a role in helping take this unique platform to the next level.”
A cum laude graduate of both Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Vartan frequently lectures on government-related topics such as multi-state, attorney general-led enforcement actions, cybersecurity, data privacy and healthcare fraud. He previously served as an adjunct professor at Seton Hall Law School, where he taught a course on the investigation and prosecution of federal cybercrimes.
