Partner and Co-Chair of Goodwin's white collar defense practice, and former Chief of the Major Crimes Unit at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
Rich leads Goodwin's Government Investigations, Enforcement & White Collar Defense practice, where he handles criminal defense matters, SEC enforcement actions, FCPA reviews, internal corporate investigations, and high-stakes commercial litigation. He previously sat on the firm's Executive Committee.
Before entering private practice, Rich ran the Major Crimes Unit inside the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, overseeing roughly two dozen federal prosecutors handling the office's white collar caseload — from securities fraud to public corruption.
He now serves as a Regent of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the most selective trial-lawyer organizations in the country, and previously chaired its Downstate New York committee. Twice, The American Lawyer named him "Litigator of the Week" for verdicts in cases that drew national attention — among them the first credit-derivatives insider trading prosecution and the KPMG tax shelter trial.
"A seasoned trial lawyer, effective in the courtroom, with sophistication to match."
— Market Sources, Chambers USAA practice built at the intersection of criminal exposure, regulatory scrutiny, and complex civil litigation.
A selection of representative engagements — spanning individual defense, corporate investigations, and civil trial work. Full docket available on request.
Counsel in securities litigation and government inquiries stemming from the bank's unauthorized-accounts matter.
Lead trial counsel in SDNY civil securities litigation concerning disclosure obligations tied to alleged corruption.
Defense against what prosecutors called the largest insider trading case on record, involving more than $276 million in alleged gains.
Full acquittal after a two-and-a-half-month trial in what the government described as the largest criminal tax case in U.S. history — while co-defendants were convicted on multiple counts.
All charges dismissed after a month-long bench trial in the first-ever credit default swap insider trading case.
After five years of pretrial litigation and an affirmed Third Circuit ruling, secured dismissal via deferred prosecution agreement in a "channel stuffing" case.
Representation in DOJ and SEC inquiries into alleged FCPA violations tied to gifts and entertainment for Chinese officials.
Representation in an SEC inquiry into alleged misstatements and accounting practices.
Lead trial counsel in a class action alleging anti-kickback and RESPA violations tied to mortgage reinsurance.
Defended a FIRREA and False Claims Act matter over mortgage loan sales; the Second Circuit later directed judgment dismissing all claims.
Defense of the world's oldest private Swiss bank against DOJ, IRS, and U.S. Attorney's Office tax-evasion allegations.
Internal investigation into alleged large-scale asset diversion by Chinese officers, plus related civil securities defense.
Full dismissal secured in a case the New York Attorney General billed as the largest internet spyware matter on record.
Lead trial counsel in retirement-plan litigation, settled on favorable terms after extensive expert cross-examination preparation.
Successful defense against trade secret, contract, and interference claims, including a two-week ICC arbitration in London.
Named Lawyer of the Year, Criminal Defense (General Practice), New York City — Best Lawyers in America.
Recognized annually by Best Lawyers for White-Collar and General Practice Criminal Defense.
Ranked Band One in Chambers USA for New York white collar defense; also ranked globally by Chambers Global.
Named NY White Collar Lawyer of the Year (Best Lawyers) and honored by the UJA White Collar & Securities Enforcement Group.
Listed in Legal 500 US, Who's Who Legal: Investigations, GIR 100, and U.S. News Best Lawyers.
Elected to a four-year term as Regent of the American College of Trial Lawyers.