Rory leverages his background handling complex legal issues and appeals to effectively represent clients in a wide range of commercial disputes. Rory has particularly deep knowledge and experience regarding disputes arising out of corporate transactions, regularly consulting with transactional counsel in connection with the negotiation and execution of M&A and similar agreements in order to avoid post-transaction issues. His experience in post-transaction disputes includes:
- defense of a global chemical company in a series of international arbitrations arising out of the sale of a subsidiary;
- defense of a multinational trading company in an arbitration arising out of a failed acquisition;
- pursuit of claims on behalf of a multinational research-and-development firm following its discovery of a fraud at a billion-dollar acquisition target; and
- representation of a global pharmaceutical company in actions arising from breaches of representations and warranties and fraud in connection with an acquisition.
Rory’s experience extends to other complex products and transactions. On behalf of securities issuers, underwriters and trustees, Rory has litigated a host of legal and factual issues surrounding the treatment of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS). Among other things, Rory served as the principal draftsperson for several successful motions for summary judgments on behalf of an RMBS trustee facing actions arising from the financial crisis and appellate briefs sustaining those victories and setting precedent on cross-cutting issues in dozens of related cases. Rory also recently briefed and argued an appeal on behalf of a syndicate of lenders facing a series of claims concerning construction of a billion-dollar power plant, achieving dismissal of certain claims and sustaining dismissal of others.
Rory devotes substantial time to pro bono matters as well. He has drafted amicus briefs in cases addressing the rights of same-sex couples and immigrants, successfully challenged the removal of a Sudanese refugee seeking asylum in the United States, and overturned on appeal a criminal defendant’s sentence as unconstitutional and secured a materially lower one on remand.
Prior to joining Mayer Brown, Rory served as a law clerk to Judge Marjorie O. Rendell of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Rory also spent a year as a litigation associate at another international law firm.
