Renee Whyte joined Ropes & Gray’s litigation 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 has also advised clients on corporate finance transactions. Additionally, Renee 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.
As a law student at 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
Litigation
- Conducted internal investigations on behalf of global pharmaceutical and medical device firms related to potential FCPA concerns involving anti-bribery risks and advised clients on the implementation of compliance policies.
- Conducted an internal investigation on behalf of a major financial institution regarding allegations that a former employee breached their fiduciary duties to the company and engaged in outside business dealings as well as advised the company on a related lawsuit filed in Texas state court against the former employee and the Company.
- Represented a pharmaceutical company in a product liability class action lawsuit brought in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, securing the dismissal of majority of the plaintiffs.
- Represented a leading financial institution in connection with a class action lawsuit brought in the Southern District of New York by purported trafficking victims, alleging novel claims under the Trafficking and Violence Protection Act and related business torts arising from client relationships.
- Counseled private equity, investment management and public company clients in responding to SEC inquiries concerning alleged securities law violations.
- Counseled a U.S.-based broker-dealer of a large Latin American investment bank in connection with a FINRA enforcement action related to supervisory requirements and AML policies and procedures.
- Assisted multiple private equity and investment management clients in connection with SEC examination and enforcement matters.
- Advised private equity and pharmaceutical companies in civil investigative inquiries from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
- Counseled a major private equity firm in advising on pre-and post-closing litigation risk.
- Conducted pre-acquisition due diligence on behalf of private equity firms and other clients focused on potential compliance and litigation risks.
- Part of teams advising financial institutions on third-party subpoena responses.
- Represented a biopharmaceutical company in arbitration before the American Arbitration Association in connection with claims relating to the breach of a research collaboration, option and license agreement.
- Represented a pharmaceutical company in JAMS Arbitration proceedings regarding a license agreement dispute. Reached a settlement on favorable terms.
- Represented a sports apparel company and youth sports producer in multi-district civil litigation related to allegations of athlete abuse.
- Represented various academic institutions, nonprofits and a hospital in resolving claims brought in New York State court related to allegations of historical sexual misconduct by former employees. Reached favorable settlements in many of these cases.
- Represented a technology company in connection with a breach of contract lawsuit brought in New York State court.
- Advised the special committee of a social networking company on the potential risks of redeeming outstanding warrants.
- Regularly advise investment advisers on a wide range of corporate, regulatory and compliance matters.
Capital Markets / M&A
- Represented various underwriters in initial public offerings for special purpose acquisition companies.
- Represented the underwriters in a $160 million initial public offering of a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company.
- Represented Becton Dickinson in its acquisition of Venclose, a provider of solutions for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency.