Pravin B. Rao

Pravin Rao, a partner in the firm’s Litigation practice, is uniquely positioned as both a former Federal and State prosecutor as well as an SEC enforcement Branch Chief to provide comprehensive representation and counseling to clients on complex criminal and civil matters. Pravin has drawn on his unique securities and commercial fraud background to assist a large number of individuals and Fortune 500 companies respond to government inquiries and conduct internal investigations in significant and sensitive areas, including those with financial fraud, FCPA, and corporate governance issues.

Prior to joining Perkins Coie, Pravin served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney where he supervised and developed strategies in investigations that targeted violations of federal criminal law, including commodity and securities fraud, bank fraud, mail/wire fraud, mortgage fraud, bankruptcy fraud, credit card fraud, identity theft, copyright infringement, internet fraud, public corruption, tax offenses, health care fraud, money laundering, arson, narcotics, firearms, civil rights violations, child pornography, perjury and obstruction.

Pravin developed a unique perspective from conducting parallel investigations with the SEC, CFTC, and other regulators in complex cases involving large publicly traded companies, officers and directors, broker-dealers and hedge funds. Pravin has tried 10 jury trials and argued 11 appeals in federal courts, and served as “first chair” in numerous trials and over 25 appeals in state courts.

Before becoming a federal prosecutor, Pravin served as an Enforcement Branch Chief with the SEC, where he directed numerous high profile investigations and litigation involving revenue recognition, financial statement and disclosure fraud, insider trading, investment advisory fraud, prime bank and Ponzi schemes, market manipulation, failure to supervise, broker dealer misconduct, and record-keeping, reporting and registration violations. He has maintained his ties to the SEC, having recently served as Regional Chair of the Association of SEC Alumni.

Pravin is a frequent commentator in the press on the government's fraud enforcement efforts and the SEC, especially where these topics intersect the criminal arena, and has been quoted in BusinessWeek, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, and other TV and print media.  He writes regularly on these same subject areas and is regularly invited to speak to in-house counsel and industry groups.  Pravin has also been retained as an expert witness in civil litigation involving securities issues and in a FINRA arbitration.

Investigations, White Collar Defense & Securities Litigation 

• Conducted internal investigation for company on issues related to the FCPA, Travel Act, and computer privacy security issues 
• Provided counsel to a Fortune 500 company regarding regulatory and criminal exposure on accounting issues under U.S. and foreign laws 
• Conducted FCPA compliance training for international legal directors of multinational company 
• Represented multiple companies in disputes related to Auction Rate Securities (ARS) 
• Conducted investigation for public company of its options granting practices 
• Served as lead counsel for a court-appointed Receiver in a SEC-related matter in Federal Court 
• Represented an individual broker of large financial firm in a FINRA investigation 
• Represented numerous individuals and companies in criminal matters involving allegations of fraud (mail, wire, securities, bank, mortgage, and tax), money laundering, and criminal forfeiture

Parallel Proceedings 

• Represented officers and directors in SEC investigations concerning insider trading, Ponzi schemes, internal controls, revenue recognition issues, and investment advisory fraud, while also assessing and dealing with possible criminal exposure 
• Conducted internal investigation for a multinational company in matters involving the FCPA, and provided counsel on both civil and criminal exposure, and effective remediation efforts 
• Provided counseling to counsel for multinational company on FCPA exposure based on recent changes in DOJ/SEC enforcement efforts 
• Represented and counseled individuals facing simultaneous actions by multiple regulators, including the SEC, CFTC, Federal Reserve, IRS, FINRA, Illinois Department of Securities, and various state prosecutors

Professional Recognition

• Listed as an Illinois Super Lawyer as published by Law & Politics, 2010
• Chairman’s Award for Excellence, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
• Performance Award, U.S. Department of Justice, 2004, 2005, 2006
• Outstanding Service Award, U.S. Internal Revenue Service
• Superior Contribution Award, U.S. Secret Service
• Award for Exceptional Work and Dedication, U.S. Drug Enforcement Admin.
• Outstanding Contribution Award, Illinois Arson Award Committee

Professional Leadership

• Association of SEC Alumni (ASECA), Former Regional Chairman
• Loyola University School of Law, Appellate Advocacy Instructor, 2001 - 2002
• National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys
• Asian American Law Foundation, Board Member
• Asian American Bar Association, Former Board Member and Treasurer
• Indian American Bar Association

Related Employment

• U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois, Chicago, IL, Assistant U.S. Attorney, 2003 - 2007
• Securities and Exchange Commission, Chicago, IL, Branch Chief, 2000 - 2003; Senior Attorney, 1999 - 2000
• Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Chicago, IL, Assistant State’s Attorney, 1995 - 1999 
• Inland Steel Industries, Chicago, IL, Project Manager/Consultant, 1989 - 1992 
• Emerson Electric Co., St. Louis, MO, Financial Analyst, 1988 - 1989