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Partner / Practice Group Leader, Government Investigations & White Collar Defense
Rob Fisher is a Chambers USA ranked trial lawyer and former Assistant United States Attorney who represents clients facing bet-the-company internal and 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 serves as practice group leader for the firm’s Government Investigations & White Collar Defense practice, which is a Chambers Band One practice and was recently honored as a New England Litigation Department of the Year for the second year in a row.
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 defense attorney and a federal prosecutor including the US Department of Justice Director’s Award and was named a Massachusetts Lawyer of the Year (2022).
Rob has successfully defended corporate and individual clients facing almost all variations of federal white-collar offenses. 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, a CNN documentary, and a History Channel documentary, and is frequently quoted in numerous national publications such as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Newsweek, and the Boston Globe. His cases have been featured in Wall Street Journal reporter Melissa Korn’s book Unacceptable: Privilege, Deceit & The Making of The College Admissions Scandal (2020), John Vandemoer’s book Rigged Justice (2021); and WBUR’s Last Seen podcast (2018).
In fall 2022, Rob was recognized by Boston University School of Law, in honor of its 150th anniversary, as one of the 150 people, places, and events that have made an impact on the law school and the world. Rob has previously been retained as an expert witness in matters regarding the management and defense of government and regulatory investigations and was also nominated by former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to serve as a member of the Commonwealth’s Task Force on the Preservation of Evidence.
I utilize my experience as a former federal prosecutor and 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, healthcare 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 investigated and prosecuted 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 regarding a wide range of federal securities fraud offenses. 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, healthcare fraud, money laundering, 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.
This article covers a lawsuit filed by Ascend Elements seeking $5 million in damages from the owner of a Devens building the company intended to turn into a manufacturing facility, which is the result of a months-long dispute between the two parties over the condition of the building. Providence partner and Construction & Real Estate Litigation practice leader Jeff Brenner is mentioned in the coverage for representing Ascend. The NP team also includes Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher and Rochester Complex Disputes associate Sarah Tufano.
Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher of Boston, partner Adam Tarosky of Washington, DC, and associate Jarrad Kirsh of Boston and Washington, DC Complex Disputes counsel Brian Hill contributed this article, discussing a case pending before the US Supreme Court that will determine whether requests to the E-Rate program count as claims under the False Claims Act.
This article covering the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, as well as the impact of recent US Supreme Court cases that center on official misconduct, includes commentary from Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher. Rob discusses an apparent slowing in the flow of corruption cases being brought by the government due to recent Supreme Court case law, and how prosecutors have had to become more novel in their approaches as a result.
This article highlights NP’s second consecutive selection in the “White Collar/Corporate Compliance” category of the New England Legal Awards, and features a Q&A with Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher. Rob’s comments focus on several positive results the group has secured in investigations linked to the US Department of Justice’s China Initiative.
Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher provides third-party comments in this article covering the federal criminal trial of now-disbarred lawyer Thomas Girardi on wire fraud charges. Rob discusses potential complications the prosecution could face, particularly related to the publicity surrounding this case.
This article covers a bankruptcy court’s rejection of Purdue Pharma’s Chapter 11 plan that included a liability release shielding the Sackler family from litigation. Boston partner Rob Fisher, leader of the Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice, is quoted on practical challenges that state attorneys general could face in restarting long-dormant litigation against the Sacklers.
Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher is featured throughout this episode of CNN’s “How It Really Happened” discussing the infamous 1990 art heist at Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Rob worked on the case in his former role as an Assistant US Attorney.
Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher is quoted in this article, which discusses the new Massachusetts law requiring communities served by public transit to build more affordable multifamily housing, and how it presents a significant test for state Attorney General Andrea Campbell.
This article covers a Georgia federal judge dismissing nine of 10 criminal charges against former Georgia Institute of Technology professor Gee-Kung Chang, who was accused of using his post to help bring foreign nationals into the US to covertly work for Chinese telecom firm ZTE. Judge Amy Totenberg overruled a federal magistrate in finding that federal prosecutors hadn’t sufficiently claimed that Chang actually defrauded the university. Boston Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partners Rob Fisher and Brian Kelly are mentioned for representing Chang.
Boston partner Rob Fisher, leader of the Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice, is quoted in this article on the death of Richard “Rick” Abath, the guard who opened the door to two thieves in Boston’s infamous 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art heist. Rob, who previously worked on the case as a prosecutor, discusses the impact the investigation had on Abath’s life and how he was a valuable resource for investigators while reviewing the case.
Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher is quoted in this article, which discusses the grand jury investigation involving suspended Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Chair Shannon O’Brien. Rob explains that grand jury investigations can often last months, if not years, as prosecutors gradually build a case, and that prosecutors often go to lengths to limit knowledge of the eventual target.
This article covers the dismissal of pandemic aid fraud charges against a Massachusetts monk, Andrew Bushell, and his attorney. Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher, who represented Bushell, is quoted in the article, which also refers to NP as a “powerhouse” firm. The NP team representing Bushell also includes Boston GIWC associate Scott Seitz.
This article covers a filing by federal prosecutors in Boston to drop pandemic aid fraud charges against a Massachusetts monk, Andrew Bushell, and his attorney. Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher and Boston GIWC associate Scott Seitz are mentioned in the article for representing Bushell in the case.
Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher is quoted in this article covering a case involving former NBA players who allegedly used fraudulent invoices to defraud the league’s healthcare plan. Rob explains why the case is relatively straightforward given the nature of this type of white-collar litigation.
Reflecting on the four-plus years since news of the “Varsity Blues” college admissions investigation first broke, Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher is quoted in connection with the case involving his client, former Stanford sailing coach John Vandemoer, as well as the overall response from the white-collar bar at the outset in 2019.
Reflecting on the four-plus years since news of the “Varsity Blues” college admissions investigation first broke, Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher is quoted in connection with the case involving his client, former Stanford sailing coach John Vandemoer, as well as the overall response from the white-collar bar at the outset in 2019.
This article covers Alfred University’s decision to close its Confucius Institute following scrutiny over a government grant it received to study advanced weaponry. Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher, who represents the university, is quoted in the article with respect to the school’s decision.
This article on former Massachusetts US Attorney Rachael Rollins’s ascent and subsequent resignation quotes Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher, who worked with Rollins when both were line prosecutors in the US Attorney’s Office.
This article on the selection of Joshua Levy as acting US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts quotes Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher on the possibility of increased focus on white-collar prosecutions, financial crimes, and sophisticated white-collar matters, based on Levy’s background.
Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher is quoted in the following article and radio report, which discuss what’s next for the Massachusetts US Attorney’s Office following the resignation of Rachael Rollins. Rob explains how the US Attorney’s Office can recover quickly and what he anticipates when Josh Levy likely becomes acting US Attorney.
Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher is quoted in the following article and radio report, which discuss what’s next for the Massachusetts US Attorney’s Office following the resignation of Rachael Rollins. Rob explains how the US Attorney’s Office can recover quickly and what he anticipates when Josh Levy likely becomes acting US Attorney.
Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher is featured on this episode of the History Channel’s “History’s Greatest Heists with Pierce Brosnan,” discussing the infamous 1990 art theft at Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher provides third-party comments in this article covering a case that alleges 18 former NBA players and six additional defendants defrauded the league’s healthcare plan. Rob notes that a time-served sentencing floor can be helpful for the defense in a case with a large number of defendants, recalling a similar phenomenon in the college admissions case when his client, former Stanford sailing coach John Vandemoer, avoided prison in the case’s first sentencing.
Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher provides third-party commentary in this article covering the upcoming hacking and insider trading trial of Russian businessman Vladislav Klyushin, who is accused of hacking into the servers of two vendors used by publicly traded companies to make SEC filings. Rob discusses the rarity of this kind of insider trading case and why such cases can be difficult to prove.
This article covering developments following the discovery of classified documents at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, President Biden’s University of Pennsylvania think tank, quotes Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice leader Rob Fisher on the seriousness of the issue.
In this article covering a trade secrets and export controls case against chipmaker Haoyang Yu, Boston partner Rob Fisher, leader of the firm’s Government Investigations and White-Collar Defense practice, provides third-party comments related to the downfall of the Justice Department’s China Initiative. The article mention’s Rob’s successful defense of MIT professor Gang Chen.
This article covering the dismissal or acquittal of several cases stemming from the DOJ’s previous “China Initiative” quotes Boston partner and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense leader Rob Fisher. Rob is quoted with respect to client and MIT professor Gang Chen—whose case was dismissed—noting the lack of clarity from the Department of Energy whether Chen’s affiliation with Chinese government institutions needed to be reported on grant applications.
Boston partner Rob Fisher, leader of the firm’s Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice, provides third-party commentary throughout this article, which covers the Trump Organization’s criminal tax fraud trial beginning this week in Manhattan.
Boston partner Rob Fisher, leader of the firm’s Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice, provides third-party commentary in this article, which fact checks a claim made by former President Donald Trump comparing the FBI raid of his home in Mar-a-Lago to the mishandling of computer data under former President George H.W. Bush. Rob explains why it’s difficult to make the comparison, noting changes in how the federal government handles electronic records versus the hard copy material found in Mar-a-Lago.
In this article, Boston partner Rob Fisher, leader of the firm’s Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice, provides third-party commentary on conflict issues that could arise in special master Raymond Dearie’s investigation into the seizure of classified documents from former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home, due to Dearie’s past involvement in the FISA investigation of former Trump advisor Carter Page.
Boston partner Rob Fisher, leader of the firm’s Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice, is quoted in this article on the recent transport of large groups of migrants by the governors of Florida and Texas to Martha’s Vineyard and outside Vice President Kamala Harris’ Washington, DC home. Rob discusses the potential legal repercussions and possible federal prosecution hurdles that may arise.
Boston partner Rob Fisher, leader of the firm’s Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice, is quoted in this article analyzing a post-trial decision to throw out tax and fraud charges against the former mayor of Fall River, MA, and what it could mean when his corruption conviction goes before the First Circuit this week. Rob, who represented a business owner who testified against the former mayor, explains how the dismissal could ultimately help preserve the conviction.
This article focuses on the arrival of Boston government investigations and white collar defense counsel Rob Fisher to Nixon Peabody, highlighting his experience as a former federal prosecutor.
Boston government investigations and white collar defense counsel Robert Fisher is quoted in this article discussing how modern-day forensic analysis could be the key in solving the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art theft that took place 27 years ago.
Massachusetts
Boston University School of Law, J.D.
Northeastern University, B.S., magna cum laude, University Honors Program
Press Release
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