Rob Fisher is an accomplished trial lawyer and legal strategist who represents clients facing bet-the-company government investigations or charges brought by agencies such as the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and the various state attorneys general. He also serves as the practice group leader for the firm’s Government Investigations & White Collar Defense practice.
Rob served as an Assistant United States Attorney for almost a decade and during that time handled some of the federal district’s most complex and high-profile white-collar fraud cases. He has received numerous awards for his work as a federal prosecutor including the U.S. Department of Justice Director’s Award. Rob was recently retained as an expert witness in the management and defense of government and regulatory investigations and was also nominated by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to serve as a member of the Commonwealth’s Task Force on the Preservation of Evidence. Based upon his work as a defense attorney and prosecutor, Rob has been interviewed by Anderson Cooper for CBS’s 60 Minutes, has been featured in two Netflix documentaries, and is frequently quoted in numerous national publications such as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Boston Globe.
I utilize my experience as a former federal prosecutor and state assistant attorney general to represent companies, boards of directors, and individuals in internal investigations or enforcement actions by any of the various state and federal agencies or United States Attorneys’ Offices. I’ve served as lead trial counsel in dozens of state and federal trials and successfully handled appeals before the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. I have also represented FINRA in lengthy hearings before that regulator’s Office of Hearing Officers.
I am a former Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General and spent nearly a decade as a federal prosecutor for the United States Attorney’s Office in Boston with much of this time as a member of the Public Corruption and Special Investigations Unit. In this role, I led dozens of grand jury investigations and handled the prosecution of a broad range of sophisticated, high-profile, white-collar federal cases involving federal program bribery, health care fraud, international trade violations, embezzlement, identity theft, extortion, obstruction of justice, money laundering, RICO conspiracies, and mail and wire fraud. I have conducted trainings for the FBI and other federal and foreign law enforcement agencies and traveled with the FBI to Europe while conducting training regarding bribery and corruption for European law enforcement officials.
My experience as a former prosecutor provides me a unique perspective when assisting my clients with government investigations and regulatory matters, including subpoenas by federal or state agencies, internal corporate investigations, criminal and civil enforcement proceedings, and defense of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) cases.
I also help clients resolve complex securities and compliance matters, including securities fraud, stock manipulation, insider trading, conversion of investor funds, mail and wire fraud, tax fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering.
Prior to joining the firm, I served as a senior litigation counsel for FINRA. I handled some of the regulatory authority’s most significant cases involving violations of federal securities laws and ethical rules. I also represented FINRA in disciplinary hearings and settlement negotiations.
I leverage my background and understanding of the financial regulatory landscape to help my clients navigate federal security laws and industry rules and regulations.
The federal government, state governments, and various regulators will continue to be aggressive in the areas of financial fraud, money laundering, health care fraud, corporate or white-collar misconduct, and public and private corruption, including the investigation of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations. In the current highly regulated environment, businesses and individuals should be cognizant of their compliance and due diligence responsibilities and, if and when there are investigations or violations, it is important that they receive strategic advice and counsel from lawyers that know firsthand how these agencies and regulators investigate and prosecute cases.
CBS This Morning | February 23, 2022
This TV news segment on the exoneration of MIT professor Gang Chen, who faced charges under the Department of Justice’s China Initiative aimed at combatting Chinese spying, features Government Investigations & White Collar Defense practice group leader Rob Fisher on our representation of Chen and the major flaws in the government’s case that led to a full dismissal of charges.
Bloomberg Law | February 17, 2022
This roundup of notable moves and hires in the legal industry includes the selection of Boston partner Rob Fisher to lead the firm’s Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice.
Law360 | February 17, 2022
Boston partner Rob Fisher is profiled in this article covering his appointment as leader of the firm’s Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice. The article also quotes Litigation Department head Tony Barron related to Rob’s new role.
The National Law Journal | February 02, 2022
This article, which covers the growing shift among former federal and state prosecutors to join private practice, includes the arrival of Long Island Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Tim Sini to NP. The article features insight from both Tim and GIWC practice group leader Rob Fisher, of Boston, on the anticipated surge of enforcement activity that could be driving this trend, and the networking among former prosecutors that often helps guide them to top law firms.
The Wall Street Journal | January 26, 2022
This article, based on an interview with MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen, quotes Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher on the belief in Mr. Chen’s innocence and the strategy in defending him against the government’s charges.
Science | January 25, 2022
Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher is quoted extensively in this article detailing what happened in the government’s case against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen, and why the government ultimately dropped the charges against him.
The Boston Globe | January 20, 2022
The following article covers the federal government’s motion to dismiss charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher, and the team defending Dr. Chen also includes Boston GIWC partner Brian Kelly and associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif. In addition, GIWC associates Tom Barnico of Boston and Bobby McManigal of Washington, DC, Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes associate Henry Caldwell, and Boston GIWC paralegal Joelle MarkAnthony have done critical work on this matter.
The New York Times | January 20, 2022
The following article covers the federal government’s motion to dismiss charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher, and the team defending Dr. Chen also includes Boston GIWC partner Brian Kelly and associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif. In addition, GIWC associates Tom Barnico of Boston and Bobby McManigal of Washington, DC, Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes associate Henry Caldwell, and Boston GIWC paralegal Joelle MarkAnthony have done critical work on this matter.
Associated Press | January 20, 2022
The following article covers a federal judge’s dismissal of all charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher. The team defending Chen also includes Boston GIWC partner Brian Kelly and associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif. In addition, GIWC associates Tom Barnico of Boston and Bobby McManigal of Washington, DC, Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes associate Henry Caldwell, and Boston GIWC paralegal Joelle MarkAnthony have done critical work on this matter.
The Washington Post | January 20, 2022
The following article covers a federal judge’s dismissal of all charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher. The team defending Chen also includes Boston GIWC partner Brian Kelly and associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif. In addition, GIWC associates Tom Barnico of Boston and Bobby McManigal of Washington, DC, Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes associate Henry Caldwell, and Boston GIWC paralegal Joelle MarkAnthony have done critical work on this matter.
Law360 | January 20, 2022
The following article covers a federal judge’s dismissal of all charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher. The team defending Chen also includes Boston GIWC partner Brian Kelly and associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif. In addition, GIWC associates Tom Barnico of Boston and Bobby McManigal of Washington, DC, Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes associate Henry Caldwell, and Boston GIWC paralegal Joelle MarkAnthony have done critical work on this matter.
The Wall Street Journal | January 20, 2022
The following article covers a federal judge’s dismissal of all charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher. The team defending Chen also includes Boston GIWC partner Brian Kelly and associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif. In addition, GIWC associates Tom Barnico of Boston and Bobby McManigal of Washington, DC, Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes associate Henry Caldwell, and Boston GIWC paralegal Joelle MarkAnthony have done critical work on this matter.
South China Morning Post | January 15, 2022
The following article covers reports that federal prosecutors have recommended dropping criminal charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partners Brian Kelly and Rob Fisher, and the team defending Mr. Chen also includes Boston GIWC associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif.
Reuters | January 14, 2022
The following article covers reports that federal prosecutors have recommended dropping criminal charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partners Brian Kelly and Rob Fisher, and the team defending Mr. Chen also includes Boston GIWC associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif.
Law360 | January 14, 2022
The following article covers reports that federal prosecutors have recommended dropping criminal charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partners Brian Kelly and Rob Fisher, and the team defending Mr. Chen also includes Boston GIWC associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif.
The Washington Post | January 14, 2022
The following article covers reports that federal prosecutors have recommended dropping criminal charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partners Brian Kelly and Rob Fisher, and the team defending Mr. Chen also includes Boston GIWC associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif.
The Wall Street Journal | January 14, 2022
The following article covers reports that federal prosecutors have recommended dropping criminal charges against MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen related to his China ties. The stories quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partners Brian Kelly and Rob Fisher, and the team defending Mr. Chen also includes Boston GIWC associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif.
The Wall Street Journal | December 20, 2021
This article on the Justice Department’s cases against US academics for their alleged ties to China discusses challenges related to prosecuting such cases. The story focuses on MIT professor and NP client Gang Chen, and quotes Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher.
Law360 | September 09, 2021
This article—in the case of an MIT professor facing fraud charges for not disclosing contracts, appointments, and awards from various entities in China when applying for a Department of Energy grant—covers a judge’s assertion that prosecutors must replace sweeping, vague indictment language with specific details. The story mentions Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partners Rob Fisher and Brian Kelly for representing the professor.
Law360 | July 26, 2021
Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher is quoted in this roundup of reactions to President Biden’s nomination of Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins as Massachusetts’ next U.S. Attorney.
Law360 | July 02, 2021
This article covering Robinhood Financial’s settlement and record-setting $70 million fine with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority quotes Boston Government Investigation & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher, who notes that a settlement with one regulator does not protect a business from being a target of another enforcement authority.
Law360 | June 15, 2021
In covering a federal judge’ s rejection of a plea agreement with no jail time for a former mayor’ s chief of staff, this article quotes Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher on the broader topic of not taking it for granted that judges will rubber-stamp plea agreements.
Law360 | May 28, 2021
This article, on former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia’s corruption case and a potential appeal due to COVID restrictions, quotes Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher on why it may be difficult to raise objections related to such restrictions because courts have been showing the issues can be mitigated.
Boston Business Journal | May 12, 2021
This article looking at why the majority of Massachusetts banks are still wary of cannabis-related transactions quotes Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher on the compliance and regulatory burden banks face and that cannabis transactions may not be worth the trouble.
The Boston Globe | May 08, 2021
This article on Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins potentially becoming the next US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts quotes Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher related to both Rollins and her possible replacement, First Assistant District Attorney Daniel Mulhern.
Sirius XM POTUS Politics | April 20, 2021
Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher joined the radio program to discuss his participation in two hit Netflix documentaries: “Operation Varsity Blues” and “This Is a Robbery.” In the interview, Rob explains how he came to work on the Gardner Museum art heist case when he was a federal prosecutor.
The Bond Buyer | April 15, 2021
Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher is quoted in this article about client NatAlliance Securities’ settlement with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority over alleged violations of Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board Rule G-13, noting that FINRA could use the case to put others in the bond community on notice.
The Wall Street Journal | March 16, 2021
This review of Netflix’s new docudrama on the college admissions scandal quotes Boston Government Investigations & White Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher from the film, and mentions Rob for defending client John Vandemoer, Stanford University’s former sailing coach.
Law360 | March 02, 2021
This article, on the trial of two men accused of tricking banks into approving marijuana-related transactions for delivery service Eaze Technologies, covers Tuesday’s testimony by an Eaze executive under an immunity agreement. The story mentions Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher and associate Scott Seitz for representing the Eaze executive in the case, which could have profound consequences for the U.S. marijuana industry.
Law360 | February 04, 2021
This article covers a motion to sanction the Boston U.S. Attorney for making misleading statements to the press, in violation of local rules, in the case of an MIT professor facing fraud charges for not disclosing information from various entities in China when applying for a Department of Energy grant. The story mentions Boston partners Rob Fisher and Brian Kelly, and associates Brianna Nassif and Scott Seitz, all of the Government Investigations & White Collar Defense group, for representing the MIT professor.
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly | February 04, 2021
This feature article on the formation of NP’s State Attorneys General team quotes Boston Government Investigations & White Collar Defense partners Bill Codinha and Rob Fisher throughout the story on the team’s work both in Massachusetts and across the country. The article also quotes Litigation chair Scott O’Connell and mentions the team’s co-leaders, Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Erica Buckley and Government Investigations & White Collar Defense partner Travis Hill, both in New York City.
Bloomberg Law | February 01, 2021
The launch of the firm’s State Attorneys General practice team is included in this roundup of notable legal news. The team is led by New York Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Erica Buckley; New York partner Travis Hill and Boston partners Bill Codinha and Rob Fisher, of the Government Investigations & White Collar Defense group.
Associated Press | January 31, 2021
This article, covering new U.S. court rules for highly sensitive documents as a result of a Russian hacking campaign, quotes Boston Government Investigations & White Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher and mentions his representation of an MIT professor facing fraud charges for not disclosing contracts, appointments, and awards from various entities in China when applying for a Department of Energy grant.
New York Law Journal | January 28, 2021
The launch of the firm’s State Attorneys General practice team is included in this roundup article of notable legal news. The team is led by New York Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Erica Buckley; New York partner Travis Hill and Boston partners Bill Codinha and Rob Fisher, of the Government Investigations & White Collar Defense group.
Law360 | January 22, 2021
This article covers a letter signed by more than 100 MIT faculty members in support of MIT professor Gang Chen, who faces fraud charges for not disclosing information from various entities in China when applying for a U.S. Department of Energy grant. The letter calls the investigation of Prof. Chen “deeply flawed“ with &ldquomisleading“ assertions in the charges. The article mentions Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partners Rob Fisher and Brian Kelly, and associates Scott Seitz and Brianna Nassif for representing Prof. Chen.
The Well News | January 15, 2021
The following article, covers an MIT professor who faces fraud charges for not disclosing contracts, appointments, and awards from various entities in China when applying for a Department of Energy grant, quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher, who is defending the professor.
The Boston Globe | January 14, 2021
The following article, covers an MIT professor who faces fraud charges for not disclosing contracts, appointments, and awards from various entities in China when applying for a Department of Energy grant, quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher, who is defending the professor.
The Wall Street Journal | January 14, 2021
The following article, covers an MIT professor who faces fraud charges for not disclosing contracts, appointments, and awards from various entities in China when applying for a Department of Energy grant, quote Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher, who is defending the professor.
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly | November 04, 2020
This article, covering the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s decision that a workers’ comp insurer could not be required to reimburse for medical marijuana expenses, quotes Cannabis practice co-leader and Boston Government Investigations & White Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher on the issue of forcing an industry to get involved in something that’s illegal at the federal level.
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly | September 24, 2020
This article covers the work of Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher and associate Scott Seitz in getting the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to drop a lifetime ban for their client, after convincing the SEC that further proceedings were required. The story quotes both Rob and Scott.
CNN | August 21, 2020
This story, covering the upcoming sentencing of actress Lori Loughlin and husband Mossimo Giannulli in the college admissions case, quotes Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher, who represented Stanford’s former sailing coach when he pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in the case last year. News outlets across the country have picked up CNN’s story today.
Boston Globe | July 31, 2020
Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher, a former federal prosecutor, is quoted in this article analyzing an appeals court’s decision to overturn convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s death sentence.
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly | February 13, 2020
This roundup of promotions in the Boston legal industry mentions two members of NP’s 2020 new partner class: Government Investigations and White-Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher and Complex Commercial Disputes partner Morgan Nighan.
The Deal | February 04, 2020
This column of notable executive moves in the legal industry included a write-up on the promotion of Nixon Peabody’s 2020 new partner class: Laura Bacon, Shariff Barakat, Katie Baynes, Robert Fisher, Kimberly Harding, Brian Mahoney, Sonia Nayak, Dara Newman Histed, Morgan Nighan, Chris Porzio, Rachel Pugliese, Dana Roper, and Peter Trimarchi.
Reuters Legal | February 03, 2020
This roundup of personnel moves in the legal industry highlights the 13 members of Nixon Peabody’s 2020 new partner class: Laura Bacon, Shariff Barakat, Katie Baynes, Robert Fisher, Kimberly Harding, Brian Mahoney, Sonia Nayak, Dara Newman Histed, Morgan Nighan, Chris Porzio, Rachel Pugliese, Dana Roper and Peter Trimarchi.
Export Compliance Daily | February 03, 2020
This article, which addresses sanctions enforcement by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and related questions from industry stakeholders, includes commentary from Boston Corporate partner Alexandra Lopez-Casero and Government Investigations and White Collar Defense partner Rob Fisher from their webinar hosted by the Massachusetts Export Council on January 30.
Wall Street Journal | December 03, 2019
Boston Government Investigations and White Collar Defense partner-elect Rob Fisher, who represented former Stanford sailing coach John Vandemoer in a case earlier this year, is quoted in this article about Stanford’s internal review of its policies and practices related to the college admissions case.
ABC News | September 14, 2019
Boston Government Investigations and White Collar Defense counsel Rob Fisher, who represents former Stanford sailing coach John Vandemoer, talked to Good Morning America about the latest developments in the college admissions case.
New York Times | September 06, 2019
This article about upcoming sentencings of several parents involved in the college admissions case quotes Boston Government Investigations & White Collar Defense counsel Robert Fisher, noting his representation of former Stanford sailing coach John Vandemoer.
Law360 | August 28, 2019
New York City partner Isabelle De Smedt (CORP), Manchester partner Mark Knights (GIWC), Boston counsel Robert Fisher (GIWC), Manchester associate Michael Strauss (CDPG) and Boston associate Scott Seitz (GIWC) authored this column about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit’s recent decision regarding the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act’s anti-bribery provisions and what the decision means for companies needing to comply with the law.
The Boston Globe | August 09, 2019
This article quotes Boston Government Investigations and White Collar Defense counsel Rob Fisher, a former federal prosecutor, on why two Boston City Hall aides were charged with allegedly pressuring an event organizer into hiring union help.
CBS News | June 13, 2019
Boston Government Investigations and White Collar Defense counsel Rob Fisher appeared on CBS This Morning to discuss a major win for his client, former Stanford sailing coach John Vandemoer.
Boston University School of Law, J.D.
Northeastern University, B.S., magna cum laude, University Honors Program
Massachusetts
