Helen Gugel is a sought out counselor on all aspects of high-stakes internal and government-facing investigations and related complex litigation. A partner in Ropes & Gray’s litigation & enforcement practice, Helen represents public and private entities, executives and boards of directors in a wide range of civil and criminal matters.
Helen frequently handles high-profile matters relating to market misconduct or potential violations of federal securities and commodities laws before the U.S. Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and self-regulatory organizations such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, among others. She also works with clients to anticipate and mitigate compliance risk.
Helen co-leads the firm’s digital assets, crypto and blockchain taskforce and was recently recognized as one of the Top 20 U.S. Power Women in Crypto by Citywealth. She is also co-author of a leading practitioner’s guide on commodities and futures enforcement published by Bloomberg.
Helen also co-leads the firm’s sensitive investigations practice, conducting internal and independent investigations into allegations of serious wrongdoing, including unlawful or unethical business practices, workplace harassment and other misconduct. She is known for her ability to navigate complex and sensitive issues with the highest level of integrity and professionalism. Although many of her representations are confidential, Helen had a leading role in the independent investigation commissioned by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee into Larry Nassar’s abuse of elite athletes, which resulted in a detailed public report.
Helen maintains a robust pro bono practice focused on criminal defense and criminal justice reform, in which she draws on her experience as a Special Assistant District Attorney in Kings County. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of New York and Indego Africa. In addition, Helen serves as a Steering Committee member of R&G Insights Lab, a Financial Times award-winning differentiated solution for corporate governance and risk in complex business environments.
Prior to joining Ropes & Gray, she clerked for the Honorable Shira A. Scheindlin in the Southern District of New York and worked with several nonprofits in India, Nepal, and Rwanda focused on empowering women.