
Alyssa focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation, financial services litigation, and white collar and government investigations, and class actions for clients across industries including financial services, technology, and insurance. She has expertise in the international trade and anti-money laundering space, particularly in assisting with the drafting and implementation of internal policies for clients looking to mitigate risk. She has experience in researching and drafting motions, discovery responses, and filings for federal and Massachusetts state court cases, as well as taking depositions, arguing motions and managing witnesses at trial. Alyssa has also worked on matters involving the Massachusetts consumer protection law, M.G.L. c. 93A, state and federal unfair competition laws, and antitrust laws. She has experience defending clients in mortgage and consumer banking cases, as well as in bankruptcy and related adversary proceedings.
She maintains an active pro bono practice providing legal representation to survivors of human trafficking in criminal matters and post-conviction relief proceedings, victims of domestic abuse and asylum seekers. She has given trainings and presentations on obtaining relief for survivors of human trafficking.
Prior to joining Mintz, Alyssa was an associate in the Boston office of an international law firm, where she handled litigation for a variety of clients, including a territorial instrumentality debtor. Earlier, she was an associate and summer associate in the Washington, DC office of a New York-based global law firm, where she advised clients on antitrust matters, white collar matters, and government and internal investigations. At each of those firms, she served as a mentor to summer associates and represented asylum seekers and other pro bono clients.
During law school, Alyssa served as an intern in the US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division’s Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices. She was also an intern in the Women’s Refugee Commission’s Washington, DC office and a law and policy intern at the Poverty & Race Research Action Council. In law school, she was the reactions editor for the Georgetown Journal of Law and Modern Critical Race Perspectives and served as a peer advisor and executive member of the Women’s Legal Alliance.
Before law school, Alyssa had an internship with a Massachusetts workers’ compensation law firm.
Experience
- Successfully defended Citizens Bank against putative class allegations of aiding and abetting fraud and breach of fiduciary in connection with a $100 million Ponzi scheme. The Western District of NY dismissed the complaint, with prejudice. The dismissal was upheld by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Represented a hedge fund in a case where a former employee claimed an ownership stake in the fund which our client contended was obtained through a breach of fiduciary duty. The case involved novel issues of law on fiduciary duty and wiretap law.
- Represented a large financial services client in multiple disputes that have settled or been favorably resolved.
viewpoints
Don’t Text and Trade: Regulators Crack Down on the Use of Improper Communication Channels
June 20, 2023 | Blog | By Pete Michaels, Alyssa C. Scruggs
No More Mr. Nice BI: Reg BI Violation Leads to Expulsion for FINRA Member Firm
May 19, 2023 | Blog | By Pete Michaels, Alyssa C. Scruggs
Heightened Risk for Banks as Account Fees Land on “Junk Fee” Agenda
May 11, 2023 | Blog | By Keith Kollmeyer, Alyssa C. Scruggs, Caroline B. Enright
It’s Going to be a Big Year for FINRA
March 21, 2023 | Blog | By Pete Michaels, Alyssa C. Scruggs
Request for Good Faith Finding in New York Article 77 Proceedings May Not Waive Privilege
March 8, 2023 | Blog | By Keith Kollmeyer, Alyssa C. Scruggs
It Gets BIgger: FINRA Joins the SEC In Bringing Reg BI Enforcement Actions
October 21, 2022 | Blog | By Pete Michaels, Alyssa C. Scruggs
High Risk, No Reward: SEC’s First Reg BI Enforcement Action
June 21, 2022 | Blog | By Pete Michaels, Michael Pastore, Alyssa C. Scruggs
Massachusetts Securities Division Lawsuit a Bullseye for Robinhood
April 5, 2022 | Blog | By Pete Michaels, Alyssa C. Scruggs
Call it a Comeback: The Likely Return of ESG Investing in ERISA Accounts
June 4, 2021 | Blog | By Pete Michaels, Alyssa C. Scruggs
Not So Fast: DOL Changes Course on Trump-Era ESG Investment Rule
March 22, 2021 | Blog | By Alyssa C. Scruggs
News & Press
Twenty-Five Mintz Attorneys Named To Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers List
November 21, 2023
Fifty-Nine Attorneys Recognized as 2023 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
October 12, 2023
Mass. Banking Brief: The Notable Compliance Updates In Q3
October 12, 2023
Alyssa Scruggs Receives 2023 Richard Mintz Pro Bono Award For Her Work With Human Trafficking Survivors
August 04, 2023
Reg BI Expulsion Shows FINRA Is On The Offensive
June 8, 2023
Twenty-Eight Mintz Attorneys Named To Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers List
November 22, 2022
The Rise of Shareholder Activism and Litigation Related to Environmental, Social, and Governance Investing
April 14, 2021
Anti-Money Laundering Risks in Real Estate Transactions
July 15, 2020
Events & Speaking
Navigating the Massachusetts Vacatur Law for Human Trafficking Survivors: A Panel Discussion
Boston Bar Association
Webinar

Recognition & Awards
- Best Lawyers in America "Ones to Watch": Commercial Litigation (2024)
- Massachusetts Super Lawyers: Rising Star - Civil Litigation: Defense (2018-2023)
- Boston Magazine Top Lawyers – Commercial Litigation (2022-2023)
Involvement
- Board of Directors, Resolve New England (2023 - present)
- Board of Directors, CitySprouts 2021 - present)
- Steering Committee, Society of 1918, College of William & Mary (2021 - present)
- Member, Boston Bar Association (2017 – present)
- Member, American Bar Association (2015 – present)
- Former Member, Board of Directors, Alumni Association, College of William & Mary (2013 – 2016)
- Former Chair, Young Guarde Council, College of William & Mary (2013 – 2016)
- Former Member, Campaign Steering Committee, For the Bold, The Campaign for William & Mary (2015 – 2020)
- Former Mentor, Public Interest Fellows Program, Georgetown University Law Center (2013 – 2019)