Rachel S. Mechanic
- New York
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Rachel has more than 15 years of experience representing clients in complex litigations, securities enforcement proceedings, and white-collar criminal matters.
Rachel Mechanic is a seasoned litigator who represents leading financial institutions and technology companies in high-stakes, complex disputes across the country. Her practice spans a broad spectrum of commercial litigation, including breach of contract, negligence, fraud, and product liability matters. A zealous advocate both in and out of the courtroom, Rachel brings extensive trial and arbitration experience in forums nationwide, delivering results for clients when it matters most.
In addition to her litigation practice, Rachel routinely defends clients in investigations and enforcement actions conducted by the DOJ, SEC, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), state attorneys general offices, and other governmental and regulatory bodies. Rachel also represents law firms and lawyers in professional liability disputes.
A community leader, Rachel maintains an active pro bono practice. She represents clients in post-conviction proceedings, immigration matters, and family law actions. Rachel also represents clients involving their role as amici, including in connection with two recent seminal Second Amendment cases before the Supreme Court of the United States.
Education & Credentials
Education
- Cornell Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2009
- The George Washington University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2006
Bar and Court Admissions
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New York
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New Jersey
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Related Employment
- Richards Kibbe & Orbe LLP, New York, NY
- Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, NY
- J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., New York, NY
Clerkships
- Hon. Edgardo Ramos, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Professional Recognition
Selected as a New York Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine, 2012, 2017, 2019-2026
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Women’s White Collar Defense Association, Chapters Committee
Professional Experience
Civil Litigation, Arbitration and Enforcement Proceedings
- Served as national counsel defending Fortune 10 technology company in high-stakes tort and product liability matters in state and federal courts throughout the country
- Representing corporate trustee in multiple commercial disputes concerning terminations of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) trusts
- Represented corporate trustee in multiday bankruptcy trial involving allegations of fraud and bad faith
- Represented financial advisory in two-week FINRA arbitration relating to claims of unsuitable investment recommendations
- Represented technology startup company in dispute with former financial adviser
- Represented an Am Law 25 law firm in dispute regarding letter-of-credit transaction
- Represented national retail brand in contract dispute with commercial auditor
- Represented adviser to medical weight loss startup company in a U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York litigation alleging trade secret misappropriation, including defense against consecutive temporary restraining orders (TROs)
- Represented cryptocurrency company in connection with enforcement action by the SEC relating to alleged unregistered offerings of securities
- Represented major multinational travel company in groundbreaking Delaware Chancery Court litigation concerning whether COVID-19 and aftermath constitute a material adverse event or a departure from the ordinary course sufficient to avoid closing a multibillion-dollar share sale
- Represented brokerage firm in connection with multidistrict class-action federal litigation concerning the ISDAFIX benchmark rate*
*Prior experience
Government and Regulatory Investigations
- Representing multiple traders in FINRA investigations relating to allegations of spoofing
- Represented financial adviser in FINRA investigation concerning allegations of insider trading
- Represented multiple individuals in connection with regulatory inquiries and civil litigation concerning the purchase and sale of RMBS
- Represented individual in connection with state attorney general investigation involving sexual harassment allegations
- Represented multiple victims of investor fraud in parallel DOJ and SEC investigations
- Represented brokerage firm in connection with industrywide CFTC investigation into the setting of the ISDAFIX benchmark rate*
- Represented more than 20 executives and managers of a global bank in money laundering and Iran sanctions investigations by the DOJ, Manhattan district attorney, New York Federal Reserve, New York Department of Financial Services, New York attorney general, and an independent monitor*
- Represented accounting department executives and managers in DOJ and SEC investigations of the accounting practices of a public company*
- Represented a senior executive of underwriting firm in an SEC investigation relating to disclosures in municipal bond offering materials*
- Represented a global bank in DOJ and SEC investigations and related prosecutions relating to undisclosed markups*
- Represented multiple traders in FINRA investigations relating to best execution requirement*
- Represented multiple financial advisors in FINRA investigations relating to Form U4 disclosures*
- Represented chief engineer of automobile manufacturer in connection with criminal, regulatory, and civil inquiries into defect issues*
*Prior experience
Board Committees and Representation
- Represented a demand committee of a global financial services institution with respect to shareholder derivative demands alleging that officers and directors breached their fiduciary duties by failing to respond adequately to red flags of money laundering violations*
*Prior experience
Other
- Represented financial advisers in connection with Form U4 expungement actions*
- Represented individuals in connection with Form U5 disclosures*
*Prior experience
