Sophia G. Kielar

Associate

   

Sophia Kielar represents clients in matters related to white collar criminal defense, government enforcement and internal investigations with a focus on cryptocurrency, and complex commercial litigation.


About Sophia

Sophia’s experience includes representation of individuals and businesses, as both plaintiffs and defendants, in both criminal and civil contexts. Her practice encompasses arbitration and litigation involving civil and criminal fraud, civil rights violations, and commercial disputes. She has defended clients in federal criminal court at all stages of prosecution, including arguing at sentencing hearings, negotiating with the government, and preparing witnesses for proffer sessions. She has advised company executives, served as pool counsel in federal enforcement investigations, and devoted countless hours advocating for the rights of indigent defendants.

Sophia has developed a deep understanding of cryptocurrency and its intersection with securities and commodities laws and regulations. She has represented key employees of a multi-million-dollar crypto trading company in CFTC, SEC, and DOJ investigations, and has been published for her subject matter expertise on U.S. crypto regulation.

Previously, Sophia worked as a commercial and environmental litigation associate at a Washington, D.C. law firm. While in law school, Sophia served as an honors intern for Commissioner Allisson Herren Lee at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and an intern for the Violent and Organized Crime Unit at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

Outside of her legal practice, Sophia passionately dedicates her time to organizations that promote the diversity and inclusion of underserved communities, specifically women of color, in matters related to law and policy. In 2021 and 2022, she served as Co-Chair of the Women of Color Taskforce and as an active member of the Diversity Committee of the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia.


EDUCATION

Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., 2020) (President, Latin American Law Students Association)

Barnard College, Columbia University (B.A. in Political Science, cum laude, 2017)


GOVERNMENT SERVICE

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Honors Program Intern (2019)

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Legal Intern (2018)


BAR & COURT ADMISSIONS

New York

District of Columbia

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia


Associations & Memberships

Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA)

Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS)