Ross E. Morrison

Ross E. Morrison, a Partner in the firm’s New York office, represents financial services corporations and other clients in complex civil litigation, including trials and appeals and government enforcement matters, including civil fraud and other investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), United States Attorney’s Offices, state attorneys general, and federal agency inspectors general.

Mr. Morrison also conducts internal investigations on behalf of clients, often involving concurrent litigation or government investigations. Mr. Morrison is a former Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) for the Southern District of New York, where he held the supervisory positions of Acting Chief Appellate Attorney and Deputy Chief Appellate Attorney in the Civil Division.

During his more than 10 years as an AUSA, he tried numerous cases before juries and the bench, argued countless substantive motions in a wide variety of matters, and represented the United States in more than a dozen appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. As Acting Chief and Deputy Chief Appellate Attorney, he reviewed government appellate briefs, prepared AUSAs for oral argument, and served as a point of contact with the DOJ.

In addition, Mr. Morrison led investigations of entities and individuals accused of engaging in financial or other fraud, and violating the False Claims Act (FCA), criminal laws and civil rights laws. Mr. Morrison also practiced employment law at a major Manhattan law firm for more than four years prior to his time as an AUSA.

At the firm, Mr. Morrison handles investigations and litigations involving claims of fraud, unfair business practices, alleged violations of the FCA, Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA), and criminal laws, and employment discrimination and retaliation under federal and state laws, among others. Noteworthy matters include the representation of:

• Multiple top banks in FCA and FIRREA investigations by the DOJ and United States Attorney’s Offices into mortgage lending and servicing practices
• An insurer in a putative nationwide class action alleging Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy claims involving the provision of lender placed insurance;
• A mortgage servicer in litigation involving breach of contract claims by an investment manager for institutional investors; obtained the dismissal of the case in United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and affirmance of that decision by the Second Circuit, see Truman Capital Advisors, LP v. Nationstar Mortgage, LLC, 599 Fed. Appx. 6 (2d Cir. 2015)
• A bank in a litigation involving claims of fraud and improper lending practices in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York; obtained a favorable settlement on the eve of trial
• Multiple indirect auto finance companies in federal and state investigations into subprime auto loan origination and securitization practices
• A committee of the board of directors of a bank in an internal fraud investigation involving senior executives
• A mortgage lender in a FIRREA investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, resulting in a favorable pre-suit settlement

Mr. Morrison has served as an adjunct professor at Fordham and Cardozo Law Schools. He received his J.D. from Harvard University and his B.A. from Wesleyan University. After law school, he clerked for federal district court Judge Shira A. Scheindlin in the Southern District of New York.