Lead Counsel
Kerrick T. Wilkins
J.D., George Washington University Law School
Senior litigation professional with over two decades of experience in complex commercial litigation, white collar defense, securities fraud recovery, and regulatory investigations. One of fewer than eight practitioners in the United States with hands-on forensic experience in the Bernard Madoff securities fraud recovery — the largest Ponzi scheme in history.
Signature Case
The Madoff Recovery:
One of Eight in the Country
"Kerrick Wilkins is among fewer than eight legal professionals in the United States with direct, hands-on forensic experience in the Bernard L. Madoff securities fraud recovery proceedings — the largest Ponzi scheme ever prosecuted, with over $17 billion in investor losses."
As a Senior Securities Litigation Paralegal at BakerHostetler, LLP — the firm appointed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court as lead counsel for the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) trustee — Mr. Wilkins worked directly on SIPC v. Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, one of the most consequential financial fraud cases in American legal history.
His work on the Madoff matter required an extraordinary level of forensic precision: reconstructing decades of fabricated account records, tracing the flow of billions of dollars through fictitious investment portfolios, and building the legal infrastructure needed to distinguish legitimate investors from those who profited from the fraud. Mr. Wilkins drafted complaints, subpoenas, and stipulations aimed at recouping ill-gotten gains from net-winner investors — work that directly contributed to the recovery of billions of dollars for defrauded victims.
This experience — forensically analyzing large-scale financial records to identify wrongful payments and build recovery strategies — translates directly to tariff recovery practice. The ability to reconstruct complex transaction histories, identify systematic overpayments, and marshal documentary evidence for legal claims is the same core skill set that drives successful CBP protest filings, duty drawback claims, and HTS reclassification actions.
Beyond Madoff, Mr. Wilkins also served as a core team member in US v. Courtney Smith, a multi-year, multi-million dollar 10b-5 securities fraud action, and worked on labor investigations involving the U.S. Attorney's Office — including testifying before a federal Grand Jury as a 30(b)(6) witness, an experience that resulted in non-prosecution of the client firm.
Career History
Bird Marella Boxer Wolpert Nessim Drooks Lincenberg & Rhow, P.C.
Litigation Assistant
Los Angeles, CA
- →Complex commercial litigation, internal investigations, and white collar defense
- →Manages and supports 23+ simultaneous heavy litigation defense actions
- →Leads initial defense development including document collection and review strategy
- →Coordinates depositions, witness interviews, and substantive communications with USDC, LASC, and USAO
- →Drafts initial pleadings, discovery requests, and discovery responses
Legal Options Group
Litigation Paralegal / Consultant
Los Angeles, CA
- →Complex labor litigation support for multi-national law firm (Ius Laboris)
- →Drafted successful expedited 12(b)(2) motion in Brandon Wade Licensing v. TerezOwens.com
- →Conducted compliance investigations and recommended corrective initiatives
- →Managed Relativity litigation database for complex multi-party actions
BakerHostetler, LLP
Senior Labor & Employment Defense Paralegal / Senior Securities Litigation Paralegal
Los Angeles, CA
- →Conducted forensic investigation of Madoff investment account records for SIPC v. Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities — one of the most complex securities fraud recoveries in U.S. history
- →Drafted complaints, subpoenas, and stipulations to recoup ill-gotten gains from Madoff investors
- →Prepared and managed litigation database of Madoff account records in Relativity and Ringtail
- →First-chair trial support across multiple litigated claims
- →Investigated Title VII and misclassified employee class action claims (Batres v. HMSHost)
- →Involved for two years in all aspects of US v. Courtney Smith, a multi-million dollar 10b-5 securities fraud action
Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner, LLP
Labor & Employment Paralegal / White Collar Litigation Paralegal
Los Angeles, CA
- →Supervised and managed staff of 19 document reviewers across heavy litigation projects
- →Testified before Grand Jury as Thelen's 30(b)(6) witness on document management and retention — testimony resulted in non-prosecution
- →Coordinated production of subpoenaed documents and privilege logs to U.S. Attorney's Office
- →Prepared trial exhibits, witness binders, and full trial support from opening arguments through final jury instructions
- →Representative actions: US v. Ralphs (141-day labor strike investigation), In re Shell Oil Company
Education
Juris Doctor
The George Washington University Law School
Washington, D.C.
- ·Highest Honors — Pre-Trial Litigation (American Jurisprudence Award)
- ·Highest Honors — Trial Advocacy
- ·Highest Honors — White Collar Crime
- ·Research Fellow to Law Professor William Kovacic
- ·Law Clerk, D.C. Public Defender's Office (1999–2000)
- ·Judicial Intern, D.C. Superior Court, Hon. Judge José López (1999)
Bachelor of Arts, English
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC
- ·Cum Laude
- ·Dean's List, College of Liberal Arts
- ·1997 Distinguished Leadership Award, Office of Multicultural Student Affairs
Contact Mr. Wilkins
Schedule a confidential consultation about your tariff recovery potential.
Kwilkins@rosenthalkessler.comFree Eligibility Check →Submitting information does not create an attorney-client relationship.
By the Numbers
Practice Areas
Prior Firms
- Bird Marella (Boxer Wolpert)
- BakerHostetler, LLP
- Thelen Reid Brown Raysman
- Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
- Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw
- D.C. Public Defender's Office
Work With Kerrick Wilkins
Bring the same forensic rigor that recovered billions from the Madoff fraud to your tariff recovery claim. Schedule a confidential consultation today.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. No attorney-client relationship is created by submitting information.