Janene Marasciullo is a trial attorney with extensive first-chair experience litigating complex commercial, fraud, regulatory and employment disputes, with a particular emphasis on disputes arising within the financial industry. In addition, she represents corporations and individuals during regulatory investigations and grand jury investigations, conducts internal investigations and assists corporations in making voluntary disclosures to federal regulatory agencies. Janene has handled dozens of cases from inception through appeal and has tried cases in federal and state court and at FINRA Dispute Resolution. She has handled appeals in both federal and state courts as well.
Prior to entering private practice, Janene served as a trial attorney in the Civil Division and the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, where she represented the United States complex contract, customs, tax, regulatory and civil fraud matters, and won multiple performance awards, including the Civil Division’s Special Commendation Award. Janene also worked in the Enforcement Department and the Office of General Counsel at NASD, the predecessor to FINRA, where she investigated violations of the federal securities laws and helped formulate NASD policies and practices. While at NASD, Janene won the President’s Award for her work on the Mutual Funds Breakpoints Task Force.
In addition, Janene managed the international trade compliance program and the litigation portfolio at a major international conglomerate and worked at a Washington, DC litigation firm. She began her career as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge D. Brooks Smith.
Areas of Focus
Securities & Financial Services Litigation
Janene regularly represents broker-dealers, insurance companies and financial professionals in connection with regulatory inquiries and during customer disputes, employment disputes and intra-industry disputes. She has also defended officers and directors in securities fraud cases. In addition, Janene counsels firms and financial professionals regarding compliance issues. As a result of her experience in both the public and private sectors, Janene understands the issues created by the challenging economic conditions and the current regulatory climate, and is thus able to help clients avoid problems and resolve disputes on favorable terms.
Regulatory & Enforcement Defense
In addition to representing broker-dealers and financial professionals during FINRA and SEC investigations, Janene represents clients during federal grand jury investigations and has represented clients during investigations involving labor racketeering, government contract fraud and federal program fraud. She has also represented individuals and entities during IRS investigations. As a Department of Justice lawyer, she handled cases involving government contract fraud, customs fraud, tax fraud and bankruptcy fraud.
Employment Litigation
Janene represents employers in a wide variety of discrimination cases and sexual harassment cases. In addition, she has litigated matters involving non-competition agreements and corporate control disputes and regularly advises clients on these issues.
Successfully represented clients during FINRA investigations involving allegations of improper mark-ups, untimely executions and inadequate supervision.
Successfully represented corporations and individuals during federal grand jury investigations concerning government contract fraud, tax fraud, customs fraud, export control violations and labor racketeering.
Successfully represented broker-dealers and registered representatives in customer disputes alleging securities fraud, the sale of unsuitable products, promotion of improper tax shelters, churning, unsuitable options trading and selling away.
Successfully represented the officers and directors of publicly held companies in actions alleging securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.
Conducted successful three-week damages trial in complex contract and takings dispute and successfully defended the decision on appeal.
Obtained a finding of civil contempt against an adversary who had destroyed electronic evidence.
Obtained a defense verdict after seven-week jury trial in sexual harassment case brought by six women.
Successfully defended brokerage firm in whistleblower action by former chief compliance officer.
Successfully represented retired professional athlete in litigation initiated by former employer to enforce non-competition agreements.