Roberto M. Braceras
Areas of Practice
Roberto Braceras, a partner in the firm's Litigation Department, specializes in white collar criminal defense, securities fraud, and complex commercial and products liability litigation. Mr. Braceras has handled a variety of criminal and civil cases in state and federal court, at the trial and appellate level, for corporate and individual clients. He also has defended a variety of investigations before the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and self-regulatory organizations. Most recently, Mr. Braceras has brought three cases to trial - two criminal cases in federal court and a civil case in Massachusetts state court.
Work for Clients
Mr. Braceras' criminal defense experience includes the successful representation of a top university, various corporations, mutual fund companies, and individuals in grand jury investigations. Such representations have resulted in declined prosecutions and favorable settlements. He also has defended federal criminal charges at trial.
Mr. Braceras' civil litigation experience includes the defense of individuals and corporations in SEC investigations, class action securities lawsuits, and cases involving charges of fraud and violations of the federal False Claims Act. He has briefed and argued dozens of dispositive motions in both state and federal court and recently presented a successful argument before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Mr. Braceras also has led a number of internal investigations of financial institutions and corporations.
Among his current matters, Mr. Braceras is defending a former officer of a large pharmaceutical company under investigation by the SEC and Department of Justice for alleged accounting improprieties and a medical products manufacturer under investigation for purported export control violations. He is also defending a major securities firm in a commercial dispute involving investment banking fees, individual defendants under indictment in federal court in New Jersey and Massachusetts, and defendants in ERISA and securities class actions pending in the Southern District of New York. Mr. Braceras also...more » Mr. Braceras' criminal defense experience includes the successful representation of a top university, various corporations, mutual fund companies, and individuals in grand jury investigations. Such representations have resulted in declined prosecutions and favorable settlements. He also has defended federal criminal charges at trial.
Mr. Braceras' civil litigation experience includes the defense of individuals and corporations in SEC investigations, class action securities lawsuits, and cases involving charges of fraud and violations of the federal False Claims Act. He has briefed and argued dozens of dispositive motions in both state and federal court and recently presented a successful argument before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Mr. Braceras also has led a number of internal investigations of financial institutions and corporations.
Among his current matters, Mr. Braceras is defending a former officer of a large pharmaceutical company under investigation by the SEC and Department of Justice for alleged accounting improprieties and a medical products manufacturer under investigation for purported export control violations. He is also defending a major securities firm in a commercial dispute involving investment banking fees, individual defendants under indictment in federal court in New Jersey and Massachusetts, and defendants in ERISA and securities class actions pending in the Southern District of New York. Mr. Braceras also represents a large mutual fund company in defending against claims asserted under the Investment Company Act of 1940. In addition, he is leading an internal investigation of a mutual fund management company involving, among other things, alleged trading abuses. less »
Professional Activities
Mr. Braceras was appointed to the Massachusetts Ballot Law Commission by the Governor of Massachusetts and is a former member of the Massachusetts Judicial Nominating Commission. He also was recently appointed to a Federal Magistrate Merit Selection Panel. In addition, Mr. Braceras is a member of the Board of Directors of Discovering Justice, a civic education program supported by the federal court. He serves on Goodwin Procter’s Pro Bono Committee and is the firm’s liaison to the Boston Lawyer’s Group – an organization founded in 1986 to promote the retention and advancement of minority attorneys in Boston. Mr. Braceras also serves as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals in the town in which he lives.
Publications/Presentations
Mr. Braceras has written and lectured on issues related to white collar criminal defense and securities fraud. He is the author of “Late Trading and Market Timing,” published by The Review of Securities & Commodities Regulation and is the co-author of “'Corruptly Persuading' The Obstruction of Justice” in the White Collar Crime Reporter and “Circuit Grapples with 'Honest Services' Fraud” in the New York Law Journal. In addition, Mr. Braceras was a featured speaker at the 18th Annual ABA National Institute on White Collar Crime and the 3rd Annual MCCA CLE Expo.
Professional Experience
Prior to joining Goodwin Procter, Mr. Braceras worked as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice in the Criminal Division, Fraud Section. During his tenure with the Department of Justice, he investigated and prosecuted various complex federal crimes, including telemarketing fraud, money laundering, wire fraud, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act offenses. While with the Justice Department, Mr. Braceras represented the United States in Mexico City in discussions with the Mexican government concerning extradition issues. He also prosecuted numerous domestic violence, narcotics, and firearms cases with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and prosecuted bank fraud cases with the New England Bank Fraud Task Force.
Following law school, Mr. Braceras served as a law clerk to the Honorable Nathaniel M. Gorton of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Bar and Court Admissions
Mr. Braceras is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, and before the New York Supreme Court, Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York.
Honors and Awards
In 1997, the Attorney General presented Mr. Braceras with a Special Achievement Award for his superior performance as a Department of Justice Trial Attorney.
Education
J.D., Yale Law School, 1994
A.B., Dartmouth College, 1991 (magna cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa)
|