Michael McGovern

• General Civil
• Litigation

New York

Since 2006

New York, 2006

Pennsylvania

Since 1987

Pennsylvania, 1987

Washington

Since 1988

Washington, D.C., 1988

Partner

Ropes & Gray

Current

Current

Michael’s practice includes representation of corporate and individual clients in criminal and civil litigation and federal and state investigations involving health care fraud, tax fraud, securities fraud and antitrust issues. Currently acting as lead counsel in internal investigation into alleged backdating of stock options granted by public company Currently defending large hospital system in qui tam action alleging violations of the False Claims Act Acted as lead counsel in internal investigation of alleged anti-competitive behavior by CEO of a public company Currently representing individual in international money laundering investigation pending in Southern District of New York Immediately prior to joining Ropes Gray, Michael served for over seven years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, where he held supervisory positions in both the Organized Crime and Terrorism Unit and the General Crimes Unit. In those capacities, he supervised groups of more than 20 Assistant U.S. Attorneys in grand jury investigations and prosecutions of complex organized crime, racketeering, securities fraud, money laundering, murder, and terrorism cases. In 2004, Michael received the Department of Justice's award for superior performance as an Assistant United States Attorney. Before entering government service, Michael was a partner in a large international law firm, where for over a decade he concentrated his practice on the defense of individual and corporate clients in various civil RICO and white collar criminal matters, including cases involving allegations of securities fraud, bank fraud, government contracting fraud, FCPA violations, health care fraud, and public corruption. Trial ExperienceBoth as a federal prosecutor and as a defense lawyer, Michael has tried over a dozen criminal cases in federal courts around the country.Among Michael's most significant trials are the following: United States v. Peter Gotti (S.D.N.Y.) – Lead AUSA in prosecution and conviction at trial of Official Boss of Gambino Organized Crime Family on RICO murder conspiracy charges United States v. James Palermo (S.D.N.Y.) – Lead AUSA in prosecution and conviction at trial of Acting Boss of Decavalcante Organized Crime Family on RICO murder charges United States v. Michael Silvestri, et al. (S.D.N.Y.) – Prosecuted and convicted at trial New York City Police Department Detective on accessory to murder and obstruction of justice charges United States v. Charles Wilson (N.D. Tex.) – Defended at trial President of Arizona Savings and Loan on bank fraud charges resulting in jury acquittal on all counts United States v. Admiral John M. Poindexter (D.D.C.) – Defended at trial and on appeal National Security Advisor to the President of the United States on false statement and obstruction of justice charges resulting in reversal on appeal of all counts of conviction and subsequent dismissal of indictment

Georgetown University Law Center

J.D.

1987

cum laude, Executive Editor, American Criminal Law Review

Fordham University

M.A.

1984

magna cum laude

Fairleigh Dickinson University

B.A.

1983

magna cum laude