Jonathan Fayer, the former federal chief of the economic crimes unit in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, has joined Sills Cummis & Gross as a member and will serve in the firm’s White Collar Practice Group.
Fayer’s arrival marks a continued expansion of the White Collar Practice, which is led by Vikas Khanna, former Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, who joined the firm this summer as chair of the practice group.
Fayer represents individuals and corporations in significant civil, criminal and regulatory matters and internal investigations. His experience spans white collar defense, government and internal corporate investigations, securities litigation and complex commercial litigation. He is a member of the New York State Bar.
As chief of the economic crimes unit, Fayer supervised the office’s most significant and complex white-collar investigations and prosecutions involving securities fraud, accounting fraud, money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act violations, market manipulation, corporate fraud, bank fraud, tax fraud and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations.
As a federal prosecutor, Fayer investigated and tried numerous complex cases, including serving as lead prosecutor on a seven-week jury trial involving a $90 million Ponzi scheme that resulted in guilty verdicts for securities fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice. He has worked extensively on matters involving the Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Federal Reserve Board, Federal Housing Finance Agency, the New Jersey Office of Attorney General, and other federal, state, and local regulators.
“Jonathan’s prosecutorial experience and trial record in high-stakes economic crime matters make him a powerful advocate for our clients,” Sills Cummis Managing Partner Max Crane said. “His arrival strengthens our practice as we enhance our services for companies, boards, executives, and individuals facing government investigations and complex enforcement actions.”
Earlier in his career, Fayer practiced at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and clerked for the Honorable Arthur D. Spatt in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from New York University School of Law and his B.A., cum laude, from Georgetown University.
Khanna, who joined Sills Cummis in July 2025 as Chair of the White Collar Practice Group, previously served as Acting and First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, where he managed every aspect of the Office and led significant trials and investigations across a wide range of enforcement areas. At Sills Cummis, Khanna focuses on white collar criminal defense, government and internal investigations, and complex commercial litigation.
