Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma

Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma is a criminal defense attorney in New York City. His practice ranges from trials of complex federal white-collar, conspiracy and public corruption cases to defending sex crimes, drug possession and gun cases in New York State courts. He also represents journalists and victims of serious civil rights abuses in civil matters.

He has won a number of important cases over the last several years, including the reversal of a New York criminal conviction in a case of attempted statutory rape, a $1 million jury verdict for an inmate beaten at Rikers Island, and the reversal of a federal conviction for health care, mail fraud and wire fraud. He has also obtained favorable outcomes in many federal cases by applying the Supreme Court's holding in U.S. v. Booker to obtain sentences well below the applicable sentencing guidelines.

A current member of the federal Criminal Justice Act ("CJA") Panels for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, Mr. Margulis-Ohnuma began his legal career as a law clerk to U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew J. Peck. He previously worked at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and at the prominent boutique criminal defense firm of Hafetz & Necheles. He graduated from NYU School of Law in 1999 and established his solo law practice in August 2004. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Margulis-Ohnuma was a journalist at daily newspapers in Mexico, New Orleans and New York, including the New York Daily News from 1993 to 1996.

Mr. Margulis-Ohnuma is a member of the New York City Bar Association, where he has chaired CLE seminars on federal sentencing from 2005 through 2008. He is an incoming member of the City Bar's Professional Responsibility Committee for 2009. He is also a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the New York State Bar Association.

Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma’s Specialties:

Criminal Defense, New York State and Federal Criminal Law, White Collar Crime, Fraud, Conspiracy, Sex Crimes, Constitutional Criminal Procedure, Sex Offender Registration (SORA), Securities Fraud, Health Care Fraud

Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma’s Experience

Owner

Law Office of Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma

(Law Practice industry)

August 2004 — Present (5 years 4 months)

The Law Office of Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma represents people accused of crimes and civil litigants in state and federal courts in New York. For more information, please see our website at www.zmolaw.com.
Associate

Hafetz & Necheles

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Law Practice industry)

March 2002 — August 2004 (2 years 6 months)

Criminal defense in New York and federal courts, from investigation to trial. Areas of practice include business fraud; labor and political bribery; criminal election law violations; federal sentencing; forfeiture; and attorney disciplinary proceedings. Representation of witnesses and defendants in high-profile criminal cases including the Martha Stewart trial; the prosecution of Merrill Lynch officers for transactions with Enron; the mutual fund investigations; and the prosecution of the principals of Adelphia. Successfully appealed, pro bono, a jurisdictional issue under the Convention Against Torture before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
Associate

Weil, Gotshal & Manges

(Privately Held; 1001-5000 employees; Law Practice industry)

August 2000 — February 2002 (1 year 7 months)

Conducted civil and criminal litigation: found, prepared, interviewed and deposed witnesses; negotiated with government attorneys and co-counsel; drafted briefs and memoranda; managed discovery. Multiple court appearances in the Southern District of New York and Queens Criminal Court. Tried a civil rights lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Law Clerk to the Hon. Andrew J. Peck

United States District Court

(Government Administration industry)

August 1999 — August 2000 (1 year 1 month)
Reporter

New York Daily News

(Privately Held; 1001-5000 employees; Newspapers industry)

March 1993 — May 1996 (3 years 3 months)

City desk general assignment reporter covering breaking news, including crime, courts, celebrities, and politics (3/93 – 9/93 and 1/96 – 5/96). Bronx political reporter with a weekly column on local politics (10/93 – 12/95).
Reporter

Mexico City News

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Newspapers industry)

1992 — 1992 (less than a year)

Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma’s Education

New York University School of Law

J.D. , Law , 1996 — 1999

Activities and Societies:

Journal of International Law & Politics
University of California, Berkeley

Journalism , 1990 — 1992
Columbia University in the City of New York

BA , Anthropolgy , 1985 — 1989
Roxbury Latin School

1979 — 1985