David Kovel

David E. Kovel is a managing partner at Kirby McInerney LLP focusing on commodities, antitrust, whistleblower, securities and corporate governance matters.

Mr. Kovel represented a whistleblower client who was awarded nearly $200 million by the whistleblower program of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”).  This landmark CFTC whistleblower award is the largest, publicly-announced single whistleblower award arising under the Dodd-Frank whistleblower reward programs (the CFTC and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)) as well as under other whistleblower programs including the IRS and the federal and state false claims acts.  

Additionally, Mr. Kovel has been recognized as an expert on antitrust and commodities litigation and is a frequent commentator on these matters.  He has an active appellate practice having argued significant commodities, antitrust and whistleblower matters before various appeals courts.  Mr. Kovel also has an active pro bono practice.  

 Mr. Kovel is admitted to the New York State Bar, the Connecticut State Bar, the United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of New York, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, Second Circuit, D.C. Circuit. He has been a member of the New York City Bar Association Committee on Futures and Derivatives Regulation, and is a former member of the New York City Bar Association Antitrust Committee. He graduated from Yale University (B.A.), Columbia University School of Law (J.D.) and Columbia University Graduate School of Business (M.B.A.).