Vikas Khanna joins Sills Cummis & Gross as head of white collar defense

Former Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna has joined Sills Cummis & Gross, one of  New Jersey’s most influential law firms, as chair of its White Collar Defense and Investigations practice.

Khanna served in the U.S. Attorney’s office from 2011 to 2019, where he prosecuted numerous high-profile cases, including the Bridgegate case.  He rejoined the office in 2022 when Philip Sellinger named him First Assistant U.S. Attorney.  He became Acting U.S. Attorney following Sellinger’s departure in December, and served until the appointment of John Giordano as the state’s interim federal prosecutor in March.

“What drew me to the firm is its strong white collar platform, high-level work, collaborative culture, and commitment to client success,” said Khanna.  “Given the current enforcement landscape, there’s a need for experienced counsel who understands how to investigate wrongdoing and navigate government scrutiny.”

As a federal prosecutor, Khanna had served as deputy chief of the Health Care and Government Fraud Unit and as deputy chief of the Criminal Division.  He is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School.

Max Crane, the firm’s managing partner, noted that Khanna’s “leading high-profile investigations and advising clients in complex, high-stakes matters will be a tremendous asset.”

“His insight and leadership will strengthen the depth of our white collar practice and enhance the strategic counsel we provide to clients navigating regulatory scrutiny and government enforcement,” Crane said.

The firm was founded by Arthur Sills, a former attorney general of New Jersey and, briefly in 1969, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor.   Sills was a close political ally of the legendary David Wilentz, a former attorney general and Middlesex County Democratic boss who prosecuted the kidnapping and murder of aviator Charles Lindbergh’s young son.