Rachel Cannon

Rachel Cannon is a member of Dentons’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice and White Collar and Government Investigations practice. She focuses on trial work, investigations, complex civil litigation and white collar criminal defense.

A seasoned trial lawyer, she was part of the trial team that successfully prevented the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission from enjoining a Chicago trader in a recent high-profile “spoofing” case.

An experienced investigator, she regularly conducts investigations at the request of senior management or boards of directors on matters ranging from sexual misconduct to financial fraud and bribery. Rachel also advises entrepreneurs about regulatory issues surrounding initial coin offerings, cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.

Prior to joining Dentons, Rachel served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Chicago, where she supervised the bankruptcy fraud program and worked in the Securities and Commodities Fraud Section.

She also prosecuted a wide variety of fraud cases involving more than US$100 million in losses, and has indicted corporations, executives, doctors, investment advisors, consultants, real estate developers and public officials, among others. Rachel received a number of awards during her time as an AUSA.

She also served as a periodic trial advocacy instructor for the CFTC, the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission. She has tried 19 jury trials and dozens of bench trials, and has briefed and argued numerous cases in the US Court of Appeals.

Education:

• University of Chicago Law School, 1998, JD
• University of Chicago, 1994, BA, English with honors, Phi Beta Kappa, Honorary Student Marshall (awarded to the top five percent of students in graduating class)

Admissions and qualifications:

• Illinois
• US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar

Experience:

• Igor B. Oystacher and 3Red Trading: Successfully prevented the CFTC from enjoining a Chicago trader and his trading firm in a “spoofing” and market manipulation case. (CFTC v. Igor B. Oystacher and 3Red Trading, LLC, No. 15-c-9196, Northern District of Illinois)
• Criminal defendant: Representing, in a federal criminal case, a former managing partner of an AmLaw 100 law firm accused of embezzling US$2 million from a client. (16 CR 99, Northern District of Georgia)
• Compass Lexecon and FTI Consulting, Inc.: Successfully represented in a dispute with the state of Illinois over the disclosure of expert income in an antitrust case. (Illinois v. AU Optronics Corp. et al., 10-CH-34472)
• Numerous global and local companies: At the request of senior management or the board of directors, led internal investigations into a wide variety of allegedly improper activities committed by employees and other affiliates.

Community Involvement and Pro Bono:

• Rachel has counseled both governmental and non-governmental organizations in various Eastern European emerging democracies. She has taught judges, prosecutors, investigators, and independent agencies about U.S. constitutional and criminal procedure, and provided training on how to investigate and prosecute corruption.
• Pro Bono Advisory Committee for the Northern District of Illinois

Prior to joining Dentons, Rachel was an assistant United States attorney at the United States Attorney’s Office in Chicago. She also served as an assistant state’s attorney for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, during which time she was profiled by Jerry Crimmins in the article “Following Her Dream,” in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (January 22, 2002).