Author
Rod J. Rosenstein
Browsing
Biography
Rod Rosenstein is a member of the North America Litigation & Government Enforcement Practice Group and the Global Dispute Resolution Practice Group, based in Baker McKenzie's Washington, DC office. He is co-chair of the firm's National Security Practice, a team of former US government officials, former prosecutors, trade practitioners, and data privacy and cyber lawyers. During the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, Rod held senior political appointments as the Deputy Attorney General of the United States, US Attorney for the District of Maryland, and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for tax enforcement in the US Department of Justice. He previously served as an Assistant US Attorney and a Criminal Division trial attorney and represented the US government in 23 jury trials while arguing 21 civil and criminal cases in appellate courts and the US Supreme Court. He also served as a law clerk to Judge Douglas Ginsburg of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
As the second-highest ranking Department of Justice official, Rod managed a USD 28 billion budget and oversaw 115,000 employees in the Department’s litigating divisions, law enforcement agencies and US Attorney’s Offices. He developed policies concerning corporate criminal prosecutions and parallel domestic and foreign investigations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters, and health care fraud cases. He also approved significant proposed criminal and civil enforcement actions, False Claims Act settlements, and corporate monitor appointments. Rod led the Cyber-Digital Task Force and the Task Force on Market Integrity and Consumer Fraud, and reviewed national security issues as a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
Practice Focus
Rod is a highly skilled trial and appellate lawyer with more than three decades of experience in resolving complex civil and criminal matters and representing companies and universities in federal and state enforcement investigations and congressional investigations. He advises clients facing sensitive regulatory, enforcement, and litigation challenges, including government investigations, crisis management, national security and cybersecurity issues, tax controversies, internal investigations, compliance, and monitoring.
Representative Legal Matters
Rod’s recent matters include:
Representing a university in a congressional investigation.
Representing a company in a federal investigation of potential criminal antitrust violations.
Representing a company in a federal investigation of potential criminal tax violations.
Representing a company in a federal investigation of potential criminal violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Representing a company in a federal investigation of potential criminal violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
Representing a defendant charged with conspiring to evade US sanctions.
Representing an individual in a federal investigation of potential criminal money laundering violations.
Representing a defendant in a federal False Claims Act lawsuit.
Representing a company in a state civil lawsuit filed by a state attorney general alleging environmental violations.
Representing a company in a federal civil lawsuit involving alleged antitrust violations.
Representing a corporate executive in a federal investigation of potential criminal tax violations.
Representing a law firm in a federal lawsuit relating to potential criminal tax violations.
Representing a company in a private civil lawsuit concerning alleged state healthcare and antitrust violations.
Representing a trade association in a federal civil lawsuit by a state attorney general involving alleged antitrust violations.
Representing a company in an enforcement action filed by a state attorney general involving alleged licensing violations.
Representing a company in a federal tax audit.
Representing a company in a federal civil lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act.
Professional Honors
Chambers – Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
Benchmark Litigation – Washington, DC, White Collar Crime
Chief’s Award, Metropolitan Police Department, 2021
Public Servant Award, Armenian Bar Association, 2019
Kentucky Colonel Appointment, Governor of Kentucky, 2018
Distinguished Service Award, Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association, 2017
Courage in Government Award, Greater Baltimore Committee, 2017
Governor’s Citation, State of Maryland, 2017
J. Joseph Curran Public Service Award, Maryland Bar Foundation, 2017
President’s Award, Mid Atlantic Regional Gang Enforcement Network, 2017
Peter A. DiRito Award, Federal Bar Association, 2012
Fraud Fighter of the Year, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, 2009
Leadership in Law Award, Maryland Daily Record, 2007
Traphagen Distinguished Alumnus, Harvard Law School, 2006
Chief’s Award, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, 2005
Wasserstein Public Interest Fellow, Harvard Law School, 1997
Professional Associations and Memberships
American Bar Association
American Law Institute
American Bar Foundation
American College of Tax Counsel
Federal Bar Association
Maryland State Bar Association
National Association of Former US Attorneys
Legal Services Corporation
Edward Bennett Williams Inn of Court
Lawyers’ Round Table Law Club of Baltimore
Serjeants’ Inn Law Club of Baltimore
Harvard Law School Alumni Association
Wharton Club of DC
Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit (2004)
U.S. Supreme Court (2002)
U.S. Tax Court (2002)
Maryland~United States (2002)
U.S. District Court, District of Maryland~United States (2000)
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit (1998)
U.S. District Court, District of Columbia~United States (1995)
District of Columbia~United States (1992)
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit (1991)
U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit (1990)
Pennsylvania~United States (1989)
Education
Harvard Law School (JD, cum laude) (1989)
University of Pennsylvania Wharton School (BS, summa cum laude) (1986)
Languages
English
Publications & Presentations
Co-author, “Proposed Changes to FARA will Result in More Questions than Answers,” JD Supra, Jan. 7, 2025
Author, “Tax Leadership Vacuum in Justice Department Must Come to an End,” Bloomberg Law, August 2024
Co-author, “D.C. Circuit Rules Out Injunctive Relief for Past FARA Violations, Leaving Criminal Prosecution as the Only Remedy,” JD Supra, June 21, 2024
Author, “A Closer Look at the Federal Criminal Enforcement Slump,” Law 360, January 2024
Co-author, “Justice Manual Updates Bring Needed Clarity On Policy Shifts,” Law 360, April 2023
