Leslie A. Cahill

Overview

Leslie Cahill joined Spears Manning & Martini in 2021, where she has developed a practice that focuses on white collar defense, government investigations, and civil litigation. Her recent cases have involved allegations of antitrust abuses, insider trading, tax evasion, bribery and foreign corruption, money laundering, securities fraud, and violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).

Leslie’s professional highlights including working with Brian Spears to secure a Rule 29 judgment of acquittal at trial for their client, the lead defendant in a nationally reported criminal antitrust case involving alleged hiring and recruiting restrictions in the labor market for aerospace engineers. Leslie and Brian also obtained a declination for a corporate client from the Department of Justice’s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) Unit under the DOJ’s Corporate Enforcement Policy. In addition to representing clients through all phases of criminal investigations and prosecution, Leslie maintains an active civil docket in state and federal court.  This includes serving as local counsel to major law firms representing national and multinational corporate clients in class actions and other complex civil matters in the District of Connecticut.  Leslie also frequently handles appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Prior to joining the firm, Leslie clerked for the Honorable Kari A. Dooley of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, and the Honorable Peter W. Hall of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Immediately after law school, she worked in the litigation department of a mid-size Connecticut law firm.

Since 2023, Leslie has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch in the category of White Collar Criminal Defense. She is trained as a Title IX investigator, is a member of the CJA panel and the Federal Grievance Committee for the District of Connecticut, and is active in the Women’s White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA).