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Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero



Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero focuses his litigation practice on defending corporations and individuals facing investigations by government entities and related complex civil actions. He is the chair of the firm’s Electronic Discovery & Digital Evidence team and a member of the firm’s Antitrust, Regulatory, and Unfair Trade Practices team. Ronaldo also defends plan sponsors and fiduciaries in ERISA litigation. He maintains an active and widely-recognized pro bono practice.

Ronaldo served as special assistant district attorney in Middlesex County Massachusetts and special assistant attorney general.

What do you focus on?

I focus on defending businesses and executives in the energy, health care, defense contracting, and higher education industries facing enforcement actions or civil or criminal liability under the False Claims Act, health care statutes, state environmental laws, or state consumer protection acts. I have experience advising clients on matters at various stages—from internal investigation to subpoena or civil investigative demand response through to civil or criminal enforcement and criminal or civil trial, appeal, and follow-on litigation. I have successfully argued and won cases before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, U.S. Courts of Appeal, and trial courts, including matters of first impression.  I have a strong background in civil litigation and arbitration. I also defend plan fiduciaries and sponsors in ERISA class actions and advise on antitrust matters.

I have written and counseled widely on topics related to e-discovery, and have advised many clients in a wide range of industries on issues from retention and collection through production and motion practice in this area.

What do you see on the horizon?

Major changes in the federal administration have shifted enforcement priorities, which have led to state statutes and regulations taking a more important role in investigations, and state attorneys general taking the lead in many joint investigations. These changes, which are most pronounced in the environmental and financial services sectors, indicate that knowledge of state prosecutorial methods will be increasingly important to many businesses and executives.

Representative Cases and Matters

Government Investigations

  • Represented multiple parties before the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, including on multi-state investigations, on matters ranging from municipal contracting, higher education (on behalf of a college president) and state-wide provision of services to public agencies, environmental actions, and public charities matters.
  • Represented a potential witness in an investigation by United States Senate Permanent Select Committee on Investigations.
  • Represented executive in first-ever false-statement-to-FERC investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office.
  • Represented a major national pharmaceutical company in prominent federal and state investigations concerning product marketing and contracting practices.
  • Represented a major defense contractor in parallel civil and criminal investigations of billing practices from the Philadelphia United States Attorney’s Office.
  • Represented a health care industry executive targeted in an investigation of alleged off-label sales and kickback activities involving the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services.
  • Represented multiple witnesses in a federal investigation of a prominent national skilled nursing facility service provider.
  • Represented a defendant in a federal investigation arising from Boston’s Big Dig construction project.
  • Represented witnesses in a federal grand jury investigation of alleged federal campaign finance violations.

Litigation and Arbitration

  • Second-chaired a two-week trial that resulted in a total defense verdict for a major energy company in an intensely litigated four-year dispute.
  • Obtained a multi-million-dollar summary judgment for a municipality in a contract dispute.
  • Represented national instrument manufacturer in major state-wide consolidated criminal action affecting ~36,000 cases.
  • Advised on antitrust compliance and follow-on multiple-jurisdiction securities litigation defense strategy related to transaction for major international pharmaceutical company.
  • Representing client in a civil RICO action brought by an alleged competitor.
  • Participated in team representing a collateral manager in adversary proceeding before U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
  • Advised in a high-profile intellectual property licensing dispute before the federal district court in Connecticut.
  • Represented an international construction client before a 40-day multiparty arbitration session.
  • Served on an ERISA litigation team representing a university and a fiduciary advisor to another university in ERISA class actions challenging the prudence of retirement plan fees and investment offerings.

Prior Experience

Ronaldo previously worked in the Office of the Prosecutor in the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, as legal assistant to the general counsel of International Crisis Group, in the Office of United States Senator John F. Kerry, and in the chambers of U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf.

Publications and Presentations

  • Massachusetts E-Discovery and Evidence, annual treatise published by Matthew Bender/Lexis 2013-2019 (distributed to all Massachusetts state court judges) (Drafter)
  • “Leveraging Latinidad in BigLaw”, Hispanic National Bar Association Region I, 2019 (Panelist)
  • “Human Rights in Action: Bringing Home a Wrongly-Deported U.S. Resident from Honduras,” Boston College Center for Human Rights and International Justice, 2019 (Panelist)
  • “Chapter 19: Electronic Discovery,” Massachusetts Superior Court Practice Manual, 4th edition 2017; 3rd edition 2015. (Co-author)
  • “Bring Your Own Dilemmas—‘Custody’ in the Digital Age,” Financier Worldwide, April, 2017 (Co-author)
  • “Third-Party Subpoena Response,” National E-Discovery Leadership Institute, 2016. (Panelist)
  • “Practicing with Professionalism,” Boston Bar Association, April 2015, June 2015 (Panelist)
  • “How the New Discovery Rules Affect You,” Massachusetts Social Law Library, 2015 (Panelist)
  • “Risk of Exclusion Remains Potent for Health Care Industry Executives” Bloomberg BNA Insights: Medical Devices Law & Industry Report, 2012 (Author)

Senate report: Opaque art market helped oligarchs evade sanctions

New York Times | July 29, 2020

Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice group leader and partner David Vicinanzo, based in Manchester, was mentioned for representing art adviser Gregory Baltser against allegations that he and his art agency transacted with U.S.-sanctioned individuals in the art industry. Boston Complex Commercial Disputes counsel Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero is also supporting this matter.

The art world has a money laundering problem

CNN Business | July 29, 2020

Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice group leader and partner David Vicinanzo, based in Manchester, was mentioned for representing art adviser Gregory Baltser against allegations that he and his art agency transacted with U.S.-sanctioned individuals in the art industry. Boston Complex Commercial Disputes counsel Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero is also supporting this matter.

‘In pari delicto’ preempted by statute

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly | July 18, 2019

This story mentions Boston Complex Commercial Disputes counsel Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero for his representation of the Chelsea Housing Authority in a recent victory before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Massachusetts accountants liable if they miss client fraud

Law360 | July 09, 2019

This article mentions Boston Complex Commercial Disputes counsel Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero for his representation of the Chelsea Housing Authority in a complex matter before the Supreme Judicial Court to determine proportional liability for fraud committed by the authority’s former director.

Accountants, What Are They Good For? Mass. Top Court Asks

Law360 | March 05, 2019

Boston commercial complex disputes counsel Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero is quoted in this article and noted as the attorney representing Chelsea Housing Authority in Massachusetts in an accounting lawsuit.

Once again, lawyers go above and beyond in ’18

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly | December 19, 2018

Boston Complex Commercial Disputes counsel Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero is mentioned in this roundup of Massachusetts lawyers who gave back through pro bono service in 2018. This year, Ronaldo worked to halt the deportations of 50 Indonesian immigrants living in New Hampshire whose status had been jeopardized by the cancellation of an agreement with ICE.

Working to keep employees from being poached? Not so fast.

HR Dive | November 04, 2018

Washington DC partner Alycia Ziarno and associate Brian Whittaker, and Boston counsel Ricardo Rauseo-Ricupero, all of the Complex Commercial Disputes practice group, are quoted in this article about their recent webinar detailing key considerations and best practices regarding “no-poach” agreements.

Government begins returning migrant children to their parents

Boston Globe | July 05, 2018

Complex Commercial Disputes counsel Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero and Government Investigations & White Collar Defense associate Julia Lippman, both of the Boston office, are mentioned as co-counsel on a lawsuit that prompted the reunification of client Angelica Gonzalez-Garcia and her 8-year-old daughter.

Local law firms help reunite family separated under Trump policy

Boston Business Journal | July 05, 2018

Complex Commercial Disputes counsel Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero and Government Investigations & White Collar Defense associate Julia Lippman, both of the Boston office, are mentioned as co-counsel on a lawsuit that prompted the reunification of client Angelica Gonzalez-Garcia and her 8-year-old daughter.

Long ordeal continues for local Indonesians

Seacoastonline.com | March 19, 2018

This op-ed discusses the Indonesian Christian immigrants in New Hampshire facing deportation and mentions Nixon Peabody’s work to successfully halt the deportations in order to reopen the individuals’ immigration cases. The pro bono team includes Manchester commercial litigation partner Dan Deane and associate Nate Warecki, and Boston government investigations and white collar defense associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero.

Removal of 50 Indonesian Christian immigrants put on hold

Law360 | February 01, 2018

Nixon Peabody’s pro bono team, which includes Manchester commercial litigation partner Dan Deane and associate Nate Warecki, and Boston government investigations & white collar defense associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero, is featured in this article noting a judge’s decision to halt immigration officials from deporting a group of Indonesian Christians living in New Hampshire.

Federal Judge Blocks Deportation of Indonesians Living Illegally in NH

Reuters | January 31, 2018

In the following coverage, Manchester commercial litigation partner Dan Deane and associate Nate Warecki, and Boston government investigations and white collar defense associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero are mentioned for their pro bono work representing Indonesian Christians in New Hampshire who face possible deportation by ICE.

For Judge These Immigrants in US are Like Jews Fleeing Nazis

Boston Globe | January 17, 2018

This front-page story recaps a federal court hearing for a group of Indonesian Christians seeking to reopen their immigration cases because they fear persecution back home. Manchester commercial litigation partner Dan Deane, Boston government investigations and white collar associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero, and Manchester commercial litigation associate Nate Warecki are representing this group pro bono.

Indonesian Case to Be Heard Wednesday

Foster’s Daily Democrat | January 14, 2018

The story previews a hearing in federal court in Boston about a group of Indonesian Christians living in New Hampshire who are attempting to delay deportation while they reopen their asylum claims.  Manchester commercial litigation partner Dan Deane, Boston government investigations and white collar associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero, and Manchester commercial litigation associate Nate Warecki are representing this group pro bono.

ICE: No cause to delay Indonesian deportations

Foster’s Daily Democrat | December 21, 2017

This article mentions Manchester commercial litigation partner Dan Deane and associate Nate Warecki, and Boston government investigations and white collar defense associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero for representing the Indonesian immigrants facing possible deportation and covers recent developments in the ongoing case.

Judge blocks deportation about-face by U.S. government

Courthousenews.com | November 28, 2017

Manchester commercial litigation partner Dan Deane and associate Nate Warecki, and Boston government investigations and white collar defense associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero were mentioned in this article for their key court victory representing Indonesian immigrants who faced possible deportation.

Federal judge affirms right to halt Indonesian deportations

Seacoast Online | November 27, 2017

Manchester commercial litigation associate Nate Warecki talks about a favorable ruling in U.S. District Court on a pro bono matter that will ensure due process for 51 immigrants from Indonesia. Nate, along with Manchester commercial litigation partner Dan Deane and Boston government investigations and white collar defense associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero  teamed with the ACLU to represent the immigrants, who fled religious persecution in their home country but were threatened with deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

NH Indonesian community celebrates legal victory in deportation case

New Hampshire Union Leader | November 27, 2017

Manchester commercial litigation partner Dan Deane and associate Nate Warecki, and Boston government investigations and white collar defense associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero were mentioned in this article on the 51 Indonesian immigrants who fled their home country due to religious persecution but faced possible deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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Contact

Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero

Counsel

Boston

Phone: 617-345-1071


Fax: 866-591-5780

Boston College Law School, J.D.

Harvard College, B.A., cum laude

Massachusetts

Ronaldo was named a “Super Lawyers Rising Star” in white collar defense from 2013-2016. He is a past recipient of the Massachusetts Lawyer’s Weekly “Excellence in Pro Bono Award,” the inaugural Nixon Peabody firmwide “Pro Bono Attorney of the Year”, and the “Pro Bono Recognition Award” from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.

Ronaldo serves on the board of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. He is a member of the board of editors of the Boston Bar Journal and previously served on the steering committee of the Litigation Section of the Boston Bar Association. He is a member of the Boston Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys, and the Hispanic National Bar Association.

He was appointed by Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino to the City of Boston Scholarship Committee in 2007 and served through 2014. He also serves on the board of the John William Ward Public Service Fellowship and the East Boston Social Centers, and previously served on the Boston Public Library’s Strategic Planning Committee.

  • Argued and obtained federal injunction to block deportation of 50 Indonesian refugees at the request of U.S. Senators.
  • Argued and won a precedent-setting post-deportation case before a federal circuit court of appeal, and effected return of deportee after more than a dozen years; firm awarded Boston College Center for Human Rights and International Justice’s inaugural “Human Rights in Action Award.”
  • Represented Massachusetts housing agency in high-profile action involving agency’s former executive director.
  • Co-counseled to effectuate reunification of family separated by U.S. border policy.
  • Obtained asylum and naturalization for individual whose family member was murdered by a paramilitary-aligned gang in his home country.
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