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Introduction
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.
My focus
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.
Representative experience
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 multinational corporation before the Massachusetts Inspector General’s Office in pricing investigation.
- Represented a manufacturing facility in negotiation of Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act matter in federal court in Boston.
- Represented a Minority/Women-Owned Business supplier before the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston.
- 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.
- Argued and won case before Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on accountant and auditor’s liability.
- 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.
Looking ahead
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.
Insights
- 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)
In the news
- The Boston Globe
Boston Beer Co. scores a win on lawsuit over Truly hard seltzer sales
Nov 29, 2023This article quotes Boston Complex Disputes partner George Skelly on Boston Beer Co.’s complete victory in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, a decision that affirmed a District Court dismissal of a proposed securities class-action lawsuit against the company. The NP team also included Boston Complex Disputes partner Morgan Nighan, Rochester Privacy and Technology partner Rick McGuirk, Boston Corporate senior counsel Fred Grein, New York City Complex Disputes partner Chris Mason, Boston Privacy and Technology counsel Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero, Boston Complex Disputes associate Matt Costello, and Boston paralegal Erin MacMahon. In addition to the Globe article, The American Lawyer also highlighted the Boston Beer victory in its Litigation Daily column on Tuesday.
- Law360
Second Circuit shelves investor suit over hard seltzer sales
Nov 22, 2023This article covers a Second Circuit Court of Appeals decision affirming a District Court ruling that dismissed a proposed securities class-action lawsuit against Boston Beer Co., scoring a complete victory for the company. The NP team included Boston Complex Disputes partners George Skelly and Morgan Nighan, Rochester Privacy and Technology partner Rick McGuirk, Boston Corporate senior counsel Fred Grein, New York City Complex Disputes partner Chris Mason, Boston Privacy and Technology counsel Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero, Boston Complex Disputes associate Matt Costello, and Boston paralegal Erin MacMahon.
- Law360
Court cans Boston Beer Co. investor suit over hard seltzer
Dec 6, 2022The following article mentions NP for representing The Boston Beer Co. in securing a complete dismissal of a securities class action lawsuit against the company that claimed it hid declining hard seltzer sales to increase stock prices. The NP team includes Boston Complex Disputes partners George Skelly and Morgan Nighan, Rochester partner and Financial Services and Alternative Investment deputy team leader Rick McGuirk, and Boston Cybersecurity & Privacy counsel Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero.
- Law360
Boston Beer beats investor suit over hard seltzer sales forecasts
Dec 6, 2022The following article mentions NP for representing The Boston Beer Co. in securing a complete dismissal of a securities class action lawsuit against the company that claimed it hid declining hard seltzer sales to increase stock prices. The NP team includes Boston Complex Disputes partners George Skelly and Morgan Nighan, Rochester partner and Financial Services and Alternative Investment deputy team leader Rick McGuirk, and Boston Cybersecurity & Privacy counsel Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero.
- Boston College Law Magazine
Together at last
This article highlights the pro bono work of Privacy & Technology counsel Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero and Government Investigations & White Collar Defense associate Brianna Portu, both of the Boston office, to help a Honduran man’s wife and children reunite with him in the US after helping the man return to the US in 2018 following a 2003 deportation.July 12, 2022 - Law360
Deported man urges justices to review unfair deadline
This article mentions New York Corporate counsel Chris Desiderio and Boston Privacy & Technology counsel Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero for their pro bono representation of a Salvadoran man who is asking the US Supreme Court to review the Fifth Circuit’s refusal to reconsider his decades-old deportation order.April 5, 2022 - New York Times
Senate report: Opaque art market helped oligarchs evade sanctions
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.July 29, 2020 - CNN Business
The art world has a money laundering problem
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.July 29, 2020 - Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
‘In pari delicto’ preempted by statute
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.July 18, 2019 - Law360
Massachusetts accountants liable if they miss client fraud
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.July 9, 2019 - Law360
Accountants, What Are They Good For? Mass. Top Court Asks
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.March 5, 2019 - Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
Once again, lawyers go above and beyond in ’18
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.Dec 20, 2018 - HR Dive
Working to keep employees from being poached? Not so fast.
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.Nov 5, 2018 - Boston Globe
Government begins returning migrant children to their parents
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.July 6, 2018 - Boston Business Journal
Local law firms help reunite family separated under Trump policy
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.July 6, 2018 - Seacoastonline.com
Long ordeal continues for local Indonesians
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.March 20, 2018 - Law360
Removal of 50 Indonesian Christian immigrants put on hold
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.Feb 2, 2018 - Reuters
Federal Judge Blocks Deportation of Indonesians Living Illegally in NH
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.Feb 1, 2018 - Boston Globe
For Judge These Immigrants in US are Like Jews Fleeing Nazis
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.Jan 18, 2018 - Foster’s Daily Democrat
Indonesian Case to Be Heard Wednesday
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.Jan 15, 2018 - Foster’s Daily Democrat
ICE: No cause to delay Indonesian deportations
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.Dec 22, 2017 - Courthousenews.com
Judge blocks deportation about-face by U.S. government
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.Nov 29, 2017 - Seacoast Online
Federal judge affirms right to halt Indonesian deportations
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.Nov 28, 2017 - New Hampshire Union Leader
NH Indonesian community celebrates legal victory in deportation case
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.Nov 28, 2017 - Foster’s Daily Democrat
Shaheen pleased by Sununu’s letter on Indonesians
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.Oct 24, 2017 - Foster’s Daily Democrat
Sununu asks Trump to stop deportations
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.Oct 22, 2017 - WMUR
Hearing held to address concerns of Indonesian immigrants facing deportation
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.Oct 20, 2017 - Foster’s Daily Democrat
Court battle continues for Indonesians
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.Oct 20, 2017 - Foster’s Daily Democrat
Sen. Shaheen questions Trump nominee on Indonesian immigration policy
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.Oct 5, 2017 - Portsmouth Herald
Judge puts deportations of local Indonesians on hold
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.Sep 26, 2017 - Foster's Daily Democrat
Suit filed to halt deportation of local Indonesians
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.Sep 26, 2017 - Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
Lawyers fight for disgraced housing chief's pension contributions
This article centers on Chelsea Housing Authority’s attempt (CHA) to secure the pension money of the former CHA executive director who pled guilty to fraud charges. Nixon Peabody provides pro bono representation to the CHA. One of NP’s attorneys who is working on this case, Boston Government Investigations & White Collar Defense associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero, is quoted in the article.May 1, 2014 - Beyond the Billable (A Boston Bar Association Blog)
Sitting Down with Former Mayor's Youth Council Representative Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero
Boston Government Investigations & White Collar Defense associate Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero discusses the Mayor’s Youth Council (MYC). Ronaldo served as a lawyer-mentor representing his community of East Boston on the MYC from 1997-2000.Dec 18, 2013
Admitted to practice
Massachusetts
Education
Boston College Law School, J.D.
Harvard College, B.A., cum laude
Professional activities
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.
Recognition
- Selected, through a peer-review survey, for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 in the field of Commercial Litigation
- Named to the Hispanic National Bar Association’s “Top Lawyers Under 40” list in March 2020, as well as being named a “Super Lawyers Rising Star” in white collar defense from 2013–2016.
- Past recipient of the Massachusetts Lawyer’s Weekly “Excellence in Pro Bono Award,”
- Recipient of the inaugural Nixon Peabody firmwide “Pro Bono Attorney of the Year”
- Recipient of the “Pro Bono Recognition Award” from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.
Pro bono services
- 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.
Insights And Happenings
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View AllRobert Fisher
Partner / Practice Group Leader, Government Investigations & White Collar Defense- Boston
- Office:+1 617.345.1335
- rfisher@nixonpeabody.com
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Hannah Bornstein
Partner / Deputy Practice Group Leader, Government Investigations & White Collar Defense- Boston
- Office:+1 617.345.1217
- hbornstein@nixonpeabody.com
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