An experienced litigator with more than a decade of experience managing complex investigations and enforcement matters, Meghan Gilligan Palermo’s practice focuses on serving a wide range of investment advisors, global financial institutions, health care companies, and multinational corporations as outside E-Discovery counsel. Meghan is a trusted advisor to firm clients on a variety of issues including information governance, complex investigation management, mobile device and structured data discovery, privilege strategy, and efficient and innovative applications of document review technology. Meghan’s more than 10 years of experience as a litigator is an asset to clients seeking innovative, cost-effective solutions for E-Discovery and project management needs in investigations and litigations of all sizes.
In her capacity as a Senior E-Discovery Attorney, Meghan also develops best practices and strategies for electronic discovery and matter management as part of Ropes & Gray’s interactive E-discovery training for attorneys, the #1-ranked formal training program for the past several years by Vault.
Meghan maintains an active pro bono practice with a focus on indigent criminal defense, immigrant rights, and women and children. In 2017, she served as an Assistant Federal Defender in the Southern District of New York, where she represented numerous defendants in felony cases at all stages of prosecution, including as second chair in a high-profile terrorism trial. That year, Meghan was awarded Her Justice’s Commitment to Justice Award for her representation of a client in Queens Family Court.
Prior to joining the firm, Meghan clerked for the Honorable Thomas I. Vanaskie in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
Experience
E-Discovery Representative Work
- Leads e-discovery strategy around preservation, collection, and Technology Assisted Review in Second Requests from DOJ and FTC.
- Led e-discovery strategy around preservation, collection, and review in fast-paced, high-profile internal investigation by a higher education institution.
- Led e-discovery strategy around preservation, collection, Technology Assisted Review, and privilege in response to SEC inquiries into cryptocurrency investments, insider trading, and revenue recognition matters.
- Led internal investigation by sponsor into potential FCPA and accounting fraud violations at China-based portfolio companies, including designing and leading complex e-discovery strategy for cross-border preservation, collection, and review of multi-jurisdictional data sources.
- Represented major global financial institution in inquiry by DOJ concerning potential violations of anti-money laundering laws, including designing and implementing document preservation, collection, and production strategy.
- Represented federally qualified health center in joint civil investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and state attorney general focused on alleged violations of the federal and state False Claims Acts, including leading the collection, analysis, and production of complex data sources.
- Led internal investigation on behalf of U.S. energy company related to FCPA and anti-money laundering risks in Latin America, including spearheading e-discovery strategy around voluminous preservation, collection, and Technology Assisted Review of decades-old document sources.
- Counsel to major pharmaceutical company in antitrust enforcement action by Federal Trade Commission and state attorney general focused on bundling and rebate walls, including designing bespoke review workflows and privilege strategies.
- Represented major foreign financial institution in criminal investigation by the DOJ under U.S. Tax Program for Swiss Banks and related inquiries by foreign regulators, including designing collection, review, and production strategy tailored to comply with multiple applicable privacy law regimes.*
Representative Pro Bono Work
- Advised nonprofit and private clients regarding COVID-19 relief program eligibility and related issues, including the Paycheck Protection Program.
- Counsel to juveniles in proceedings for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.
- Represented client in appeal of second degree murder conviction and clemency petition.*
- Represented client in petition to enforce child support order in Queens Family Court.*
- Advised national nonprofit regarding legal challenges related to firearms legislation.*
*Experience prior to joining Ropes & Gray