Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero focuses his litigation practice on defending corporations and individuals facing investigations by government entities and related complex civil actions. Ronaldo also defends plan sponsors and fiduciaries in ERISA litigation. In addition to serving as a leader of the firm’s e-Discovery team, Ronaldo maintains an active pro bono practice.
I focus on defending businesses and executives in the energy, health care, defense contracting, and higher education industries facing enforcement action or civil or criminal liability under the False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, state environmental laws, or state consumer protection statutes. 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, to criminal or civil trial, appeal, and follow-on litigation. I also defend plan fiduciaries and sponsors in ERISA class actions.
I have represented major national pharmaceutical companies in prominent federal and state investigations concerning product marketing and contracting practices; a university president in a compensation investigation brought by the Office of the Attorney General; a major component supplier in responding to a civil investigative demand by the Massachusetts Attorney General; a major developer in a joint state-federal environmental investigation that resulted in an Attorney General civil complaint; an energy executive in the first-ever federal false statement to FERC prosecution; a major defense contractor in parallel civil and criminal False Statement/False Claims Act investigations of billing practices from the Philadelphia United States Attorney’s Office through suspension/debarment proceedings; 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; multiple witnesses in a federal investigation of a prominent national skilled nursing facility service provider; a defendant in a federal investigation arising from Boston’s Big Dig construction project; a business executive facing both administrative and follow-on investigations resulting from allegedly improper waste treatment; and witnesses in a federal grand jury investigation of alleged federal campaign finance violations. I also served on a team that defended a prominent collateral manager in an SEC investigation concerning collateralized debt obligations.
I have a strong background in civil litigation and arbitration. Currently, I serve 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. Recently, I earned a total defense verdict after a two-week trial for a major energy company in an intensely litigated four-year dispute; obtained a multimillion-dollar summary judgment for a municipality in a contract dispute; advised in a high-profile property licensing dispute before the federal district court in Connecticut; and represented an international client before a 40-day multiparty arbitration session. In addition to successfully briefing matters in state and federal court, and arguing dispositive motions as part of those proceedings, I recently argued and won a precedent-setting case before a federal circuit court of appeal.
In 2014, I served as a special assistant district attorney in Middlesex County, where I tried multiple cases to jury verdict; I was also designated a special assistant Attorney General in connection with a civil matter.
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 a 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.
Mr. Rauseo-Ricupero was a major contributor to the recently published Massachusetts E-Discovery and Evidence.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Foster’s Daily Democrat | October 23, 2017
Manchester commercial litigation partner Dan Deane, associate Nate Warecki and Boston government investigations and white collar defense associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero were quoted in the following coverage of a hearing regarding their pro bono class action case involving Indonesian Christians facing deportation.
Foster’s Daily Democrat | October 21, 2017
Manchester commercial litigation partner Dan Deane, associate Nate Warecki and Boston government investigations and white collar defense associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero were mentioned in the following coverage for their pro bono class action case involving Indonesian Christians facing deportation.
WMUR | October 19, 2017
Manchester commercial litigation partner Dan Deane, associate Nate Warecki and Boston government investigations and white collar defense associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero were quoted in the following coverage of Friday’s hearing regarding their pro bono class action case involving Indonesian Christians facing deportation.
Foster’s Daily Democrat | October 19, 2017
Manchester commercial litigation partner Dan Deane, associate Nate Warecki and Boston government investigations and white collar defense associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero were quoted in the following coverage of a hearing regarding their pro bono class action case involving Indonesian Christians facing deportation.
Foster’s Daily Democrat | October 04, 2017
This article on Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, Trump nominee to ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom, includes the court win by Manchester commercial litigation partner Dan Deane, associate Nate Warecki and Boston government investigations and white collar defense associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero to delay the deportation of dozens of Indonesian immigrants.
Portsmouth Herald | September 25, 2017
This article recaps a federal court decision to delay the deportation of dozens of Indonesian immigrants living in New Hampshire. Manchester commercial litigation partner Dan Deane, associate Nate Warecki and Boston government investigations and white collar defense associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero are providing pro bono representation to these immigrants.
Foster's Daily Democrat | September 25, 2017
This article is about Manchester commercial litigation partner Dan Deane, associate Nate Warecki and Boston government investigations and white collar defense associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero’s pro bono class action case involving Indonesian Christians facing deportation.
Boston College Law School, J.D.
Harvard College, B.A., cum laude
Massachusetts
Mr. Rauseo-Ricupero has been named a Massachusetts SuperLawyer Rising Star in White Collar defense every year since 2013, received the Massachusetts Lawyer’s Weekly 2013 “Excellence in Pro Bono Award,” was named firmwide “Pro Bono Attorney of the Year” for 2012, and was the recipient of the 2011 “Pro Bono Recognition Award” from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.
Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero 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, and the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys.
Since appointment by Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino in 2007, he has served on the City of Boston Scholarship Committee. 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.
