Asset Forfeiture Attorney
Serving Clients Across the U.S. and Around the World
“An expert in asset forfeiture in the state” — The New York Times
“National expert on state and federal forfeiture laws." — The Kansas City Star
When attorneys across the country need counsel for difficult forfeiture cases, they turn to Steven L. Kessler. Mr. Kessler has been protecting the assets of clients from government overreach on the federal, state, and local levels for more than three decades.
An experienced litigator and nationally recognized authority in the field, Mr. Kessler is equally comfortable when defending a complex federal Ponzi scheme case in West Virginia, securing the return of marital assets in a mini-Madoff litigation in New York, protecting tens of millions of dollars of client assets in Texas or seeking the return of funds seized at Salt Lake City International Airport. Whether working with local counsel or directly retained by clients, Mr. Kessler and his firm provide the finest representation possible.
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Steven L. KesslerWhen attorneys across the country need counsel for difficult forfeiture cases, they turn to Steven L. Kessler. Mr. Kessler has been protecting the assets of clients from government overreach on the federal, state and local levels for more than three decades. Whether working with local counsel or directly retained by the client, Mr. Kessler and his firm provide the finest representation possible.View Profile
Featured in the Media
Resources
Turn to the Prominent Resource for Asset Forfeiture Cases
Steven L. Kessler’s seminal treatises on asset forfeiture have been the definitive resource for attorneys and courts for decades.
Civil and Criminal Forfeiture: Federal and State Practice (Thomson Reuters) was first published in 1993 and has been updated annually for 30 years.
New York Criminal and Civil Forfeitures (LexisNexis) has been updated annually since 1996.
Mr. Kessler has authored scores of articles on asset forfeiture and has been quoted in the media:
- Steven L. Kessler's Article in The Champion: Taking the Profit Out of Crime Published in February of 2023.
- Steven L. Kessler’s article discussing the recent revisions to New York’s primary civil forfeiture statute was published in the New York Law Journal. Originally published on September 26, 2019. New York’s Major Revisions to the Civil Forfeiture Laws by Steven L. Kessler, Sept. 26, 2019, New York Law Journal.
- Steven L. Kessler’s article discussing the United States Supreme Court’s recent decisions regarding criminal forfeiture was published in The Champion. Originally published on February 10, 2018. Applying the Brakes on a Runaway Train: Forfeiture and Recent Supreme Court Developments by Steven L. Kessler, The Champion (Jan/Feb 2018 issue), National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
- Mr. Kessler’s article on the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000.
- Mr. Kessler was quoted in an article by Newsday regarding a federal lawsuit in Suffolk County on seized vehicles.
- The Wall Street Journal’s article on forfeiture related to the prosecution of Paul Manafort, “In Brooklyn, Neighbors Cast Cool Eye over Manafort’s Townhouse” referenced Mr. Kessler.
Additionally, Mr. Kessler has been quoted or cited in the New York Times, Kansas City Star, the Washington Post, Business Week, The Houston Chronicle, and the Huffington Post, among others. He has been interviewed on TV and radio programs nationwide.
Awards & Associations
Put Your Case in the Hands of a Leading Asset Forfeiture Attorney in New York
Because of his achievements, Mr. Kessler has earned the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who. His biography appears in Who’s Who in American Law, International Who’s Who in Business Law, and similar publications.
He has earned recognition from top legal industry rating groups, such as the highest rating of AV Preeminent® by the prestigious Martindale Hubbell®, being listed as a Super Lawyer, and being named as a New York Top Rated Lawyer every year since 2012.
Schedule your consultation to learn more and get started today.
Notable Cases
Recent News
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Avoiding Common Pitfalls: Tips for Preventing Asset Forfeiture in New York
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Steven L. Kessler's Article: Taking the Profit Out of Crime Published in The Champion
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Steven L. Kessler’s Article Discussing The Recent Revisions To New York’s Primary Civil Forfeiture Statute
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Applying The Brakes On A Runaway Train: Forfeiture And Recent Supreme Court Developments
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