As an associate in the Litigation and Enforcement group, Thanithia Billings represents clients in a wide array of complex litigation matters from pre-suit strategy through trial and appeal. Her practice also includes internal investigations, anti-corruption due diligence, and white-collar criminal defense. Thanithia works with a diverse group of clients, including private equity firms, public companies, and investment management firms. She also maintains a robust pro bono practice, including representation in housing and immigration court, as well as providing aid to nonprofit organizations in constitutional challenges to government actions.
During law school, Thanithia served as the editor-in-chief of the Boston College Law Review and on the executive board of Boston College's Black Law Students Association and Boston College's LGBT student organization. She also worked as a teaching assistant for Property Professor Zygmunt Plater, Criminal Law Professor Paulo Barrozo, and Law Practice Professor Elisabeth Keller.
Before joining Ropes & Gray, Thanithia clerked for the Honorable Jill A. Pryor in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the Honorable William H. Orrick, III in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Experience
Complex Civil & Appellate Litigation
- Defending global pharmaceutical company in litigation in Delaware Superior Court in connection with subsidiary regulatory violations
- Representing global medical device company in False Claims Act qui tam action brought in Massachusetts federal court
- Defending physical therapy provider in case alleging fraud and violations of several states’ consumer-protection statutes.
- Representing American specialty chemicals company in mass tort litigation
- Represented the City of Boston in a First Amendment case, Shurtleff v. City of Boston, before the United States Supreme Court.
- Member of team that secured affirmance from the Second Circuit of the dismissal of $1 billion in fraudulent conveyance claims against shareholders that invested in a major publicly-traded fashion company prior to its leveraged buyout and subsequent bankruptcy
- Represented major international technology company in connection with federal and multi-state antitrust investigations and litigation.
- Represented S&P 500 health care provider in multibillion dollar False Claims Act qui tam action brought in Florida federal court, leading to grant of summary judgment in client's favor.
- Represented a New York based private equity firm and its limited partners in fraudulent conveyance litigation in Alabama in connection with a dividend recapitalization of a portfolio company.
- Represented founder and CTO of biotechnology company in Delaware Chancery Court action opposing proposed merger.
- Represented foreign subsidiaries of asset management company in litigations in federal court relating to the Madoff investment fraud.
Internal Investigations & Government Enforcement
- Representing global medical device company in connection with federal investigation.
- Representing private equity company in DOJ False Claims Act inquiry
- Conducted investigation on behalf of a technology and healthcare private equity company into allegations of criminal misconduct by a former member of senior management.
- Represented global healthcare company in connection with federal FCA investigation and subsequent qui tam litigation.
- Represented portfolio company of private equity firm in SEC inquiries.
- Represented employee witnesses in connection with federal investigation into alleged violations of U.S. fraud, anti-corruption, procurement integrity, and anti-kickback laws.
- Regularly advise private equity firms, investment banks, and pension funds regarding litigation risk due diligence in connection with mergers, acquisitions, credit agreements, joint ventures, and other key transactions and business relationships.
Pro Bono
- Representing prisoner in appeal related to dismissed 8th Amendment claim before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- Part of litigation team working with the Greater Boston Legal Services representing families in Massachusetts’ emergency shelter system in class action against the Commonwealth.
- Part of litigation team working with the ACLU of Massachusetts challenging the federal government’s ongoing practice of denying access to records that may aid an immigrant’s defense or application for benefits.
- Representing veteran in appeal of denial of benefits from Board of Veterans Appeals in U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
- Represented federal contractors and grantees in successful challenge of Executive Order that prohibited workplace diversity trainings and grant-funded work that explicitly acknowledges and confronts the existence of structural racism and sexism in our society.
- Filed amicus brief on behalf of the Massachusetts Medical Society and the Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation of Massachusetts in Kligler v. Healy before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
- Filed amicus brief on behalf of Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Commonwealth v. Rainey before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts