August 2008

Subprime Solutions

Skillfully Navigating the Credit Crisis

We are pleased to present the August edition of Subprime Solutions, a newsletter from Mintz Levin’s Subprime Practice Group that gathers news on the subprime and credit crises from a variety of sources, to keep you apprised of breaking developments in this ever-evolving area and its far-reaching consequences.

Please note this month’s “Spotlight on Bridget Rohde.” As a member of the Subprime Practice, White Collar Defense, and Corporate Compliance and Internal Investigations groups, Bridget has brought her unique combination of experiences regarding the proactive and, if necessary, reactive steps to be taken when responding to SEC and other regulatory inquiries into subprime origination and investment.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Subprime Solutions.
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In This Edition

Spotlight on Bridget Rohde
In the News
Government and Regulatory
Events

Spotlight on Bridget Rohde

Bridget is a Member in the firm’s New York office and practices in the Litigation Section. As a member of the Subprime Practice, White Collar Defense, and Corporate Compliance and Internal Investigations groups, Bridget has brought her unique combination of experiences regarding the proactive and, if necessary, reactive steps to be taken when responding to SEC and other regulatory inquiries into subprime origination and investment. As a reflection of this expertise, Bridget co-hosted a webinar with co-chairs Jack Sylvia and Rich Moche, entitled “Take Stock of Your Own House: Proactively Responding to the Subprime Crisis.” She also authored an article with the same title on CFO.com in July. Additionally, she served as a panelist during the IQPC Conference entitled, “Subprime and the Credit Crisis.”

Before joining Mintz Levin, Bridget was Chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, supervising approximately 100 Assistant U.S. Attorneys prosecuting cases involving business and securities fraud, public corruption, organized crime and racketeering, violent crimes and terrorism, narcotics, money laundering, and tax offenses.

From her sixteen years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Bridget has extensive experience in federal court, where she won numerous jury trials. Bridget also has extensive experience conducting complex criminal investigations. As a result, she has briefed and argued many cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Bridget’s trial record includes the conviction of a reputed powerful Russian mobster following a several-week extortion trial in federal court in Brooklyn. A month-long immigration fraud trial of this same defendant similarly resulted in conviction. Other significant litigation involved the racketeering prosecution of a Gambino family soldier and his associates for illegal domination of the scrap metal industry and the labor racketeering prosecution of Colombo family members and associates, as well as labor union officials for mail fraud and related offenses. These cases derived from multi-agency investigations conducted under Bridget’s leadership and involved extensive witness interviews, document review, and pre-trial litigation.

Bridget has frequently been recognized for her outstanding trial and investigative skills. She received the prestigious Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant U.S. Attorney from the United States Attorney General. She also received the Federal Prosecutor of the Year Award from the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation. Additionally, Bridget has lectured at the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, the New York County Lawyer’s Association, and elsewhere on criminal law, trial advocacy, ethical issues, racketeering, and other topics.

Recently, Bridget has been a panelist at the MIT CFO Conference and the IQPC Conference, “Subprime and the Credit Crisis.” Bridget has also published a number of articles including “Getting Ahead of Fraud and Abuse” (N.Y.L.J., June 21, 2007); “Employing Proactive Investigative Techniques to Facilitate a Global Culture of Integrity and Avoid FCPA Violations” (Metro. Corporate Counsel, Sept. 2007); “Post-Transaction Review of the Newly Acquired Entity” (N.Y.L.J., Sept. 20, 2007); and “Another Nail in the Pretexting Coffin” (N.Y.L.J., Sept. 24, 2007). Bridget is a member of a number of professional associations, including the Federal Bar Council, the New York City Bar, and the International Association of Independent Private Sector Inspector Generals.

Bridget is a magna cum laude graduate of the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1983. She received her Juris Doctor degree, with honors, from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1986. Bridget thereafter clerked for the Honorable Frederic N. Smalkin of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Before becoming an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Bridget was a litigation associate at Piper & Marbury in Baltimore.

How the Mortgage Giants Lead the Market Deeper into Crisis

The Washington Post - August 22, 2008

Attorney General Cuomo Announces Settlements with Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, and Deutsche Bank to Recover Billions for Investors in Auction Rate Securities

Press Release, New York State Attorney General’s Office - August 21, 2008

Attorney General Cuomo Announces Settlements with JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley to Recover Billions for Investors in Auction Rate Securities

New York Attorney General’s Office - August 14, 2008

Attorney General Cuomo Announces Landmark Settlement with Citigroup to Recover Billions in Auction Rate Securities for Investors Nationwide

Press Release, New York State Attorney General’s Office - August 7, 2008

Lessons From the Subprime Crisis

November 19, 2008
Cato Institute
F.A. Hayek Auditorium
Washington, D.C.

Understanding Complex Financial Institutions 2008

December 10, 2008
PLI New York Center
New York, New York

Subprime Practice Group

Richard H. Moche, Co-Chair
(617) 348-1696
RMoche@mintz.com

John F. Sylvia, Co-Chair
(617) 348-1820
JSylvia@mintz.com

Nancy D. Adams
(617) 348-1865
NDAdams@mintz.com

Kevin N. Ainsworth
(212) 692-6745
KAinsworth@mintz.com

Jeffry A. Davis
(858) 320-3003
JADavis@mintz.com

Eric J. Freeman
(617) 348-3072
EFreeman@mintz.com

Daniel O. Gaquin
(617) 348-1874
DOGaquin@mintz.com

Jerome Gotkin
(212) 692-6712
JGotkin@mintz.com

Jeremy B. Hayden
(858) 320-3024
JBHayden@mintz.com

Kim V. Marrkand
(617) 348-1807
KMarrkand@mintz.com

John T. Morrier
(617) 348-3051
JMorrier@mintz.com

Peter R. Pendergast
(617) 348-1628
PPendergast@mintz.com

Bridget M. Rohde
(212) 692-6883
BMRohde@mintz.com

Kristen S. Scammon
(617) 348-4429
KSScammon@mintz.com

Adam L. Sisitsky
(617) 348-1689
ALSisitsky@mintz.com