Renato Mariotti

About Renato Mariotti

Renato Mariotti is a Chambers-ranked trial attorney who helps clients capitalize on opportunities created by regulatory change and steers them through potential litigation and enforcement challenges. He defends clients facing enforcement actions, conducts internal investigations, advises clients in the digital asset and crypto space, and helps clients navigate challenging issues at the convergence of government investigations, civil litigation, and public relations.Renato has tried and won more than 20 civil and criminal cases in federal and state court, including United States v. Jitesh Thakkar, the first-ever criminal case charging a non-trader with a form of market manipulation. After Renato\'s cross-examination of the government\'s star witness caused him to admit there was no conspiracy, the judge acquitted Mr. Thakkar of conspiracy, finding that no rational jury could find him guilty. When 10 out of 12 jurors voted to acquit on the remaining counts, the Justice Department dismissed them shortly thereafter, resulting in complete acquittal for Mr. Thakkar.Renato spent almost a decade as a federal prosecutor focused on securities and commodities fraud. In that role, he was best known as lead prosecutor in United States v. Michael Coscia, the first prosecution under the anti-spoofing provision of the Dodd-Frank Act. This landmark case signaled a new era of enforcement in automated trading. After securing a first-of-its-kind indictment, Renato successfully defended the constitutionality of the spoofing and commodity fraud statutes. At the end of a lengthy trial, the jury returned a guilty verdict on all 12 counts after less than an hour of deliberation.Renato represents trading firms, FCMs, IBs, DCMs, banks, swap dealers, broker/dealers, and hedge funds in enforcement actions, litigation, arbitrations, and investigations, including government actions by the DOJ, CFTC, SEC, NFA, FINRA, exchanges, and state regulators.Renato also has significant experience representing hospitals, pharmacies, and providers in enforcement matters involving civil False Claims Act litigation and parallel DOJ investigations. Renato successfully negotiated a resolution in a DOJ criminal investigation that avoided any felony conviction for his client despite multiple FBI raids of medical offices and a multi-year investigation by the FBI, HHS, and FDA.Renato is an in-demand media source, legal analyst and commentator who has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, CBS, ABC, and PBS. He has written for publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Time Magazine.

Experience

1. Partner

   Paul Hastings

   Jul 2024 — Present · Chicago, IL, US

   Helps clients navigate challenging issues at the convergence of government investigations, civil litigation, and public relations. Handles clients\' most significant complex commercial litigation matters as well as white collar matters and investigations. Represents parties in SEC, CFTC, and DOJ investigations and enforcement actions. Defends trading firms and individuals in federal and state court and before the SEC, CFTC, FINRA, NFA, and the CME Group Business Conduct Committee. Handles many types of government inquiries, including accounting irregularities, directors and officer liability, whistleblower allegations, board governance and oversight and internal controls. Conducts internal investigations into allegations leveled by government agencies and whistleblowers.

Education

• University of Chicago

  A.B., Political Science

  1994 — 1998

• Yale Law School

  J.D., Law

  1998 — 2001

Skills

• Trials
• Criminal Law
• Commodity Markets
• Derivatives
• Legal Research
• Courts
• Legal Writing
• Litigation
• Equities
• Options
• Jury Trials
• Business Litigation
• Internal Investigations
• Prosecution
• Investigation
• Commercial Litigation
• Cyberlaw
• Antitrust Law
• Fraud
• Private Investigations
• Class Actions
• Fcpa
• Competition Law
• Hedge Funds
• Trade Secrets
• Cybercrime Investigation
• Civil Litigation
• Financial Markets
• Appeals
• Trading
• Securities Litigation
• Trial Practice
• Securities Regulation
• White Collar Criminal Defense