Deborah Colson

Deborah is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer who is known for her zealous advocacy, meticulous preparation and unwavering commitment to clients. She has won a substantial number of jury acquittals, helped clients to avoid indictment and convinced prosecutors to reduce or dismiss pending criminal charges. She routinely achieves favorable sentencing outcomes, including probationary sentences in cases authorizing incarceration.

Deborah’s white-collar experience includes accusations of insider trading, securities and wire fraud, money laundering and health care fraud. In the criminal sphere, she represents clients charged with racketeering, terrorism offenses and capital and violent crimes. She also handles sensitive matters involving federal and state grand jury proceedings and investigations conducted by government agencies.

Prior to founding Moskowitz Colson Ginsberg & Schulman, Deborah was the principal of Colson Law PLLC. From 2001–2006, she was an Assistant Federal Defender in the Eastern District of New York where she served as lead counsel on hundreds of federal criminal cases. She also worked in the Law & Security Department at Human Rights First where she managed the organization’s Guantanamo monitoring program and spoke and wrote frequently on issues related to terrorism and national security.

Professional Affiliations:

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers

Criminal Practice Committee, Federal Bar Council

New York Council of Defense Lawyers

Board of Directors, National Dance Institute

Board of Directors, New York County Defender Services

Super Lawyers (2012-present)

Named by Super Lawyers as on of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in New York

Representative Matters:

Won full acquittal on First Amendment grounds after federal jury trial of individual charged with Internet-related offenses

Won full acquittal after federal jury trial of individual charged with threats and other offenses

Served on the legal team that won full acquittal after federal jury trial of hedge-fund manager charged with securities fraud

Won full acquittals after federal jury trials of two individuals charged with drug importation

Won declaratory judgment of U.S. citizenship for foreign national following motions and evidentiary hearing

Won pre-trial dismissal of civil complaint charging fraud, deceit and intentional infliction of emotional distress

Prevailed at evidentiary sentencing hearing involving accusations of attempted murder

Won pre-trial dismissal of state-level murder charge following evidentiary hearing on motion to suppress

Obtained probationary sentence for individual charged with acting as a foreign agent

Obtained misdemeanor disposition for individual charged in horse-doping scandal

Obtained favorable disposition for individual charged in multi-million dollar securities fraud

Obtained favorable settlement before the SEC in insider trading matter

Obtained favorable settlement before the FDIC in nominee loan matter

Media Links:

Favorable sentence in horse doping case

Favorable sentence in email hacking case

Dismissal of federal smuggling charge against airline worker

Favorable settlement for emergency room doctor in SEC insider trading case

Favorable sentence in terrorism case

Closing argument in federal obstruction case quoted

Jury acquittal in federal threats case

Jury acquittal in federal anthrax case

Clerkship

The Honorable Nina Gershon, United States District Court, Eastern District of New York (1997-1999)