Renee Whyte joined Ropes & Gray’s litigation and enforcement group in 2019. Renee focuses her practice on complex civil litigation, internal investigations and white-collar criminal defense, as well as civil and criminal government enforcement actions. Renee also has a robust pro bono practice, representing clients in various immigration and wrongful conviction matters, and she has served as pro bono counsel in cases brought against government agencies to enforce client rights to certain benefits under state run public assistance programs.

During law school, where she attended Washington University in St. Louis, Renee interned at the St. Louis County Public Defender’s office, where she represented indigent clients in various criminal hearings. She was also associate notes editor of the Jurisprudence Law Review. Prior to law school, Renee attended Adelphi University, where she majored in psychology with a double minor in European studies and art history.

Experience

  • Conducted internal investigations for a U.S.‐based multinational medical device and pharmaceutical company involving anti-corruption issues in China. 
  • Represented major financial institution in litigation filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, concerning alleged torts arising from client relationship.
  • Represented biopharmaceutical company in arbitration before the American Arbitration Association in connection with claims relating to breach of a research collaboration, option and license agreement.  
  • Represents academic institutions in resolving claims related to allegations of historical sexual misconduct by former employees.
  • Regularly conducts pre-acquisition due diligence for clients focused on litigation and compliance risks.
  • Regularly represents clients at various stages of active state and federal litigation. 
  • Regularly represents investment advisers on a wide range of corporate, regulatory and compliance matters.

Areas of Practice