Elena Fast

Founding and Managing Partner

Elena approaches every case with the discipline of a trial lawyer. Even when a matter may ultimately be resolved without trial, she believes the strongest results come from identifying weaknesses in the prosecution’s case early, conducting an independent investigation, and preparing as though the case will be presented to a jury.

Her work frequently involves extensive review of electronic discovery, financial records, digital communications, cooperating witnesses, forensic evidence, sentencing enhancements, and parallel professional or regulatory consequences.

Fast Law Firm, P.C.  maintains a selective caseload so that each client receives direct access to counsel and a defense tailored to the specific facts, evidence, and risks involved.

Elena represents clients at every stage of the federal criminal process, including:

• Subpoenas and Target Letters
• Pre-indictment and grand-jury investigations
• Search warrants and federal arrests
• Bail and detention hearings
• Plea negotiations and cooperation issues
• Federal trials
• Sentencing and mitigation
• Appeals and post-conviction proceedings
• Extradition and cross-border matters

Her federal practice includes allegations involving fraud, money laundering, tax offenses, healthcare and insurance fraud, narcotics, firearms, conspiracy, organized crime, cybercrime, and other complex federal offenses.

She also advises clients and families on the practical consequences of federal prosecutions, including sentencing exposure, restitution, forfeiture, Bureau of Prisons issues, and the collateral effects of a conviction.

In New York and New Jersey state courts, Elena represents clients charged with serious felonies, including homicides, violent crimes, sex offenses, narcotics offenses, weapons possession, financial crimes, and other high-stakes allegations.

Her experience on both sides of the courtroom allows her to evaluate how a case was investigated, how charging decisions were made, and where the prosecution’s evidence may be vulnerable.

Before entering private practice, Elena served for six years at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, finishing her tenure as a Felony Assistant District Attorney. She handled thousands of criminal matters, presented more than 200 cases to grand juries, and prosecuted serious felony offenses from investigation through trial.

Her prosecutorial experience included the double-homicide case against Nikolai Rakossi, known in the press as the “Russian Rambo.” Because Rakossi could not be extradited to the United States, the prosecution was transferred to the Russian Federation.

Elena worked with the U.S. Department of Justice, Russian prosecutors, and law-enforcement authorities to assist with the transfer of the case and the defendant’s prosecution abroad. Rakossi was ultimately convicted and received the maximum available sentence.

That matter gave Elena early experience in international criminal proceedings, cross-border investigations, witness preparation, and cases attracting significant media attention.

Before founding Fast Law, Elena served as managing partner of a Madison Avenue white-collar criminal-defense firm, where she represented clients in complex federal and state matters.

Earlier in her career, she worked for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, investigating fraud, theft, and mismanagement involving employer-sponsored pension and healthcare plans.

Elena also held financial positions at Vicis Capital UK and State Street Global Advisors. Her background in finance and investigations is particularly valuable in fraud, money-laundering, tax, securities, and other document-intensive cases.

Elena graduated first in her class from the College of Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She also completed part of her undergraduate coursework at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School.

She earned her law degree from the evening division of New York Law School, where she participated in Moot Court while working full time for the U.S. Department of Labor.

Elena is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey, before the Supreme Court of the United States, and before multiple federal appellate and district courts, including the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the District of New Jersey.

• Federal Bar Council
• New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• New York Criminal Bar Association