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Rachel G.
Skaistis

Partner, Litigation

rskaistis@cravath.com
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Rachel G. Skaistis focuses her practice on advising boards of directors and management in connection with government and internal investigations, shareholder demands, derivative actions and accounting restatements. Ms. Skaistis represents clients in matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the False Claims Act, insider trading, accounting and securities fraud and governance issues. She also handles a wide variety of general litigation, arbitration and appellate matters, including in the areas of employment, securities, bankruptcy and general commercial disputes.

Ms. Skaistis represented a Special Committee of the Board of Twitter, Inc. (n/k/a X) in connection with a shareholder litigation demand letter and advised a special litigation committee of the Board of Directors of Alphabet Inc. (the parent of Google) in shareholder legal proceedings related to past workplace conduct and data privacy issues. She has represented a special committee of the Board of Directors of Prudential Financial; the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Campbell Soup; a special committee of the Board of Directors of Cognizant Technology Solutions; special committees of the Board of Directors of MetLife; special committees of the Board of Directors of The Hartford Financial Services Group; a special committee of the Board of Directors of Bank of New York Mellon; and the Board of Directors of General Electric Company and its various committees in numerous matters for over a decade.

In addition to her special committee work, Ms. Skaistis has a robust litigation practice. Recent matters include:

  • Represented Qualcomm and certain of its directors and officers in a consolidated purported shareholder securities class action suit in California federal court filed in the wake of antitrust investigations and litigation concerning the company’s patent licensing and modem chipset businesses. She also represented Qualcomm and certain of its current and former officers in related stockholder derivative litigation in Delaware.   
  • Represented Biogen in a qui tam action alleging that Biogen caused the submission of false claims to multiple federal healthcare programs through purported kickback schemes related to certain of Biogen’s multiple sclerosis drugs, which settled.

  • Represented Novartis Pharmaceuticals in antitrust litigation brought on behalf of putative classes of direct and indirect purchasers, as well as several plaintiffs suing in an individual capacity, alleging an unlawful agreement with another drug manufacturer to delay generic competition for the drug Exforge®. Shortly before trial, Novartis reached a series of settlements with the parties to end nearly five years of litigation.

  • Represented Crown Castle International Corp., the nation’s largest provider of communications infrastructure, and certain of its officers and directors in connection with putative securities class action litigation and related stockholder derivative litigation alleging that Crown Castle made false and misleading statements regarding revenue from its cell tower installation services. She also represented Crown Castle in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation related to certain of the company’s accounting policies where the SEC staff recently determined not to recommend an enforcement action by the Commission.

In the global investigations space, Ms. Skaistis represented Telia Company in connection with FCPA investigations by the SEC, Department of Justice (DOJ) and Swedish and Dutch authorities, resulting in one of the largest FCPA resolutions ever. The resolution did not require the company to retain a compliance monitor, implement changes to its compliance program or periodically self-report on its compliance program to the DOJ or SEC.

Many of the other matters that Ms. Skaistis handles are non-public government and internal investigations, including FCPA investigations in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, insider trading investigations and investigations related to workplace misconduct. Ms. Skaistis’s other clients have included:  Credit Suisse, Deloitte & Touche, INEOS, JPMorgan Chase, Novartis and Time Warner/Warner Media.

Multiple publications such as Global Investigations Review, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, Benchmark Litigation, Lawdragon and The Best Lawyers in America have recognized Ms. Skaistis for her work in investigations, securities and business litigation, white collar criminal defense and regulatory enforcement. Ms. Skaistis has been named to Benchmark Litigation’s “Top 250 Women in Litigation” list, Crain’s New York Business’s list of “Notable Women in Law” and by Lawdragon as a nationwide “Legend.”

Ms. Skaistis devotes substantial time to pro bono service. She is one of the liaison partners for Cravath’s relationship with Montefiore Children’s Hospital and Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, through which the Firm represents patients who need legal services related to their medical care. She also is the liaison partner for Her Justice, an organization that procures pro bono legal services for low‑income women and children. She also serves on the boards of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (“NYLPI”) and ExpandEd Schools, on the advisory committee of the National Women’s Law Center and as a member of the New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice. 

Ms. Skaistis was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received a B.A. in 1992 from Yale College. After graduating from Yale, Ms. Skaistis worked as a newspaper reporter in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1997, she received a J.D. cum laude from Cornell, where she was Managing Editor of the Cornell Law Review.

Ms. Skaistis joined Cravath in 1997. In 1999, Ms. Skaistis served as a law clerk to Hon. Shira A. Scheindlin of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She rejoined Cravath in 2000 and was elected a partner in 2004. Ms. Skaistis is a member of the Firm’s Office of the General Counsel and Co‑Chair of the Diversity Committee.  

Ms. Skaistis represented a Special Committee of the Board of Twitter, Inc. (n/k/a X) in connection with a shareholder litigation demand letter and advised a special litigation committee of the Board of Directors of Alphabet Inc. (the parent of Google) in shareholder legal proceedings related to past workplace conduct and data privacy issues. She has represented a special committee of the Board of Directors of Prudential Financial; the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Campbell Soup; a special committee of the Board of Directors of Cognizant Technology Solutions; special committees of the Board of Directors of MetLife; special committees of the Board of Directors of The Hartford Financial Services Group; a special committee of the Board of Directors of Bank of New York Mellon; and the Board of Directors of General Electric Company and its various committees in numerous matters for over a decade.

In addition to her special committee work, Ms. Skaistis has a robust litigation practice. Recent matters include:

  • Represented Qualcomm and certain of its directors and officers in a consolidated purported shareholder securities class action suit in California federal court filed in the wake of antitrust investigations and litigation concerning the company’s patent licensing and modem chipset businesses. She also represented Qualcomm and certain of its current and former officers in related stockholder derivative litigation in Delaware.   
  • Represented Biogen in a qui tam action alleging that Biogen caused the submission of false claims to multiple federal healthcare programs through purported kickback schemes related to certain of Biogen’s multiple sclerosis drugs, which settled.

  • Represented Novartis Pharmaceuticals in antitrust litigation brought on behalf of putative classes of direct and indirect purchasers, as well as several plaintiffs suing in an individual capacity, alleging an unlawful agreement with another drug manufacturer to delay generic competition for the drug Exforge®. Shortly before trial, Novartis reached a series of settlements with the parties to end nearly five years of litigation.

  • Represented Crown Castle International Corp., the nation’s largest provider of communications infrastructure, and certain of its officers and directors in connection with putative securities class action litigation and related stockholder derivative litigation alleging that Crown Castle made false and misleading statements regarding revenue from its cell tower installation services. She also represented Crown Castle in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation related to certain of the company’s accounting policies where the SEC staff recently determined not to recommend an enforcement action by the Commission.

In the global investigations space, Ms. Skaistis represented Telia Company in connection with FCPA investigations by the SEC, Department of Justice (DOJ) and Swedish and Dutch authorities, resulting in one of the largest FCPA resolutions ever. The resolution did not require the company to retain a compliance monitor, implement changes to its compliance program or periodically self-report on its compliance program to the DOJ or SEC.

Many of the other matters that Ms. Skaistis handles are non-public government and internal investigations, including FCPA investigations in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, insider trading investigations and investigations related to workplace misconduct. Ms. Skaistis’s other clients have included:  Credit Suisse, Deloitte & Touche, INEOS, JPMorgan Chase, Novartis and Time Warner/Warner Media.

Multiple publications such as Global Investigations Review, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, Benchmark Litigation, Lawdragon and The Best Lawyers in America have recognized Ms. Skaistis for her work in investigations, securities and business litigation, white collar criminal defense and regulatory enforcement. Ms. Skaistis has been named to Benchmark Litigation’s “Top 250 Women in Litigation” list, Crain’s New York Business’s list of “Notable Women in Law” and by Lawdragon as a nationwide “Legend.”

Ms. Skaistis devotes substantial time to pro bono service. She is one of the liaison partners for Cravath’s relationship with Montefiore Children’s Hospital and Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, through which the Firm represents patients who need legal services related to their medical care. She also is the liaison partner for Her Justice, an organization that procures pro bono legal services for low‑income women and children. She also serves on the boards of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (“NYLPI”) and ExpandEd Schools, on the advisory committee of the National Women’s Law Center and as a member of the New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice. 

Ms. Skaistis was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received a B.A. in 1992 from Yale College. After graduating from Yale, Ms. Skaistis worked as a newspaper reporter in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1997, she received a J.D. cum laude from Cornell, where she was Managing Editor of the Cornell Law Review.

Ms. Skaistis joined Cravath in 1997. In 1999, Ms. Skaistis served as a law clerk to Hon. Shira A. Scheindlin of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She rejoined Cravath in 2000 and was elected a partner in 2004. Ms. Skaistis is a member of the Firm’s Office of the General Counsel and Co‑Chair of the Diversity Committee.  

Education

  • J.D., 1997, Cornell Law School
    cum laude
  • B.A., 1992, Yale College

Clerkships

  • Hon. Shira Ann Scheindlin, U.S.D.C. for the Southern District of New York

Admitted In

  • New York

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

  • Advisory Board, Back to Business Law

Organizations

The After‑School Corporation

  • Board of Directors

National Women’s Law Center

  • Leadership Advisory Committee

New York Lawyers for the Public Interest

  • Board of Directors

Rankings

Benchmark Litigation

  • Litigation Star - New York (2025-2017)
  • Future Star (2016, 2015)

Benchmark Top 250 Women in Litigation (2024‑2018)

Best Lawyers in America

  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2025)
  • Litigation: Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) (2025-2019)

Chambers USA

  • Securities Litigation - New York (2024-2021)
  • Securities Regulation: Enforcement - National (2018‑2014)

Crain’s New York Business

  • Notable Women in Law (2021)

Global Investigations Review

  • 100 Women in Investigations

Lawdragon

  • Legends of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2023)
  • 500 Leading Global Litigators (2024)
  • 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2025‑2013)
  • 500 Leading Litigators in America (2025, 2024, 2023)

The Legal 500 US

  • Antitrust (2012)
  • Securities Litigation (2023, 2022, 2019, 2017-2015)
  • White‑Collar Criminal Defense (2023‑2016)

Super Lawyers ‑ New York

  • Business Litigation (2021-2018)

Deals & Cases

January 23, 2025

SEC Closes Investigation into Eros Media World plc and Affiliates; Internal Investigation Reveals No Wrongdoing

On January 22, 2025, Eros Media World plc, a global media and entertainment company, announced that its internal review of certain accounting practices and internal controls has been concluded, with the Audit Committee determining that no revenues of the Company recognized during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, were inappropriately recognized, and finding no impairment in the intangible assets and goodwill reflected on the Company’s Form 6‑K dated March 31, 2021. In addition, the Audit Committee found no material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting.

Deals & Cases

March 21, 2024

Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd. Wins Summary Judgment Dismissing Fraud Claims

On March 20, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted summary judgment in favor of Cravath client Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd. (“KOM”), dismissing an action alleging claims for fraud, aiding and abetting fraud and conspiracy. Plaintiffs, a set of energy and investment funds managed by EIG Management Company, LLC (collectively, “EIG”) claimed that KOM failed to disclose that it was engaged in a bribery scheme with Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (“Petrobras”), the Brazilian oil company, and with a company under Petrobras’s control, Sete Brasil Participações, S.A. (“Sete”). According to EIG, this failure to disclose caused EIG to invest over $220 million in Sete, defrauding EIG.

Deals & Cases

September 11, 2023

Amgen Successfully Defends Against FTC Challenge, Securing Clearance for its $27.8 Billion Acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics

Cravath represented Amgen, one of the world’s largest biopharmaceutical companies, in successfully defending against a Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) challenge to Amgen’s pending $27.8 billion acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics (“Horizon”)—securing a consent order on September 1, 2023 that The Wall Street Journal described as “a rare instance” of the FTC “throwing in the towel on litigation.”

Deals & Cases

June 16, 2017

Qualcomm Directors and Officers Win Dismissal of Shareholder Derivative Suit Related to Purported FCPA Violations

On June 16, 2017, the Delaware Court of Chancery dismissed a stockholder derivative lawsuit brought against current and former directors and officers of Qualcomm Incorporated alleging, among other claims, that defendants breached their fiduciary duties by allegedly failing to prevent purported FCPA violations by the company. In granting the dismissal, Vice Chancellor Tamika R. Montgomery‑Reeves held that the complaint did not plead sufficient facts to infer that the individual defendants had acted in bad faith or that the directors faced a substantial likelihood of personal liability such that plaintiffs’ failure to make a demand on the board to bring a suit was excused.

Deals & Cases

December 02, 2016

BNY Mellon Wins Dismissal of Forex Derivative Suits Following Internal Investigation

On December 2, 2016, Vice Chancellor Sam Glasscock III of the Delaware Court of Chancery dismissed two shareholder derivative lawsuits alleging that The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation improperly handled foreign exchange transactions. His decision was based in part on an independent internal investigation conducted by Cravath that concluded the claims had no sound legal basis.

Activities

March 07, 2025

Rachel Skaistis Speaks at the Federal Bar Council’s “Raising the Bar: A Conversation with Women Judges and Lawyers on Mentorship and Success”

On March 6, 2025, Cravath partner Rachel G. Skaistis spoke at the Federal Bar Council’s “Raising the Bar: A Conversation with Women Judges and Lawyers on Mentorship and Success,” which was held in New York. The panel, which was hosted in celebration of Women’s History Month, explored the pivotal role of mentorship in shaping careers and fostering leadership. Rachel joined judges and fellow legal practitioners for a conversation on driving progress for the next generation of lawyers in the courtroom.

Publications

February 04, 2025

Rachel Skaistis, Eric Hilfers and Jenny Zhang Author U.S. Chapter of IEL’s 2025 Guide to Workplace Investigations

Cravath partners Rachel G. Skaistis and Eric W. Hilfers, and of counsel Jenny X. Zhang, authored a chapter on key issues that organizations need to consider as they initiate, conduct and conclude investigations in the U.S. for International Employment Lawyer’s “Guide to Workplace Investigations,” which was published in January 2025. The chapter reviewed who should conduct a workplace investigation, what data protection or other regulations apply when gathering physical evidence, what confidentiality obligations apply during an investigation and more.

Activities

December 12, 2024

Rachel Skaistis Featured in Lawdragon’s “Lawyer Limelight” Series

On November 12, 2024, Cravath partner Rachel Skaistis was profiled in Lawdragon’s “Lawyer Limelight” series alongside her sister Hannah Ross, who is a partner at a different New York-based law firm. In the joint Q&A, Rachel and Hannah discussed their parallel paths to partnership and reflected on their individual practices in securities law. Describing what she is proudest of in her work, Rachel said: “I have had the privilege of working with such amazing lawyers, and I’ve gotten to learn from so many litigation styles. But it is nice to get to a point where you feel like you have found a style of practicing and advising your clients that is true to who you are.” The sisters also spoke about the mentors and role models, including each other, who helped shape their careers as female litigators.

Activities

August 15, 2024

Benchmark Litigation Names Four Partners Among “Top 250 Women in Litigation” for the Thirteenth Consecutive Year

Cravath partners Christine A. Varney, Karin A. DeMasi, Rachel G. Skaistis and Lauren A. Moskowitz were recognized by Benchmark Litigation in the 2024 edition of the “Top 250 Women in Litigation,” which honors “the most distinguished women in the world of litigation.” Inclusion in the list is based on a review of individual litigators’ professional activities, client feedback surveys and one‑on‑one interviews. This is the eleventh consecutive year in which Christine has been selected for inclusion in the publication. Karin and Rachel are recognized for the seventh year, and Lauren is recognized for the fourth year.

Publications

February 16, 2018

U.S. SEC 2019 Budget Request Prioritizes Cybersecurity Enforcement and Management of Internal Cybersecurity Risk

On February 14, 2018, Cravath prepared for its clients a memo entitled “U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 2019 Budget Request Prioritizes Cybersecurity Enforcement and Management of Internal Cybersecurity Risk.” The memo discusses the SEC’s request for a $1.66 billion budget for the 2019 fiscal year, reflecting a notably increased focus on strengthening the Commission’s cybersecurity enforcement efforts and supporting enhancements to its technology systems and broader risk program.

Rachel G. Skaistis focuses her practice on advising boards of directors and management in connection with government and internal investigations, shareholder demands, derivative actions and accounting restatements. Ms. Skaistis represents clients in matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the False Claims Act, insider trading, accounting and securities fraud and governance issues. She also handles a wide variety of general litigation, arbitration and appellate matters, including in the areas of employment, securities, bankruptcy and general commercial disputes.

Ms. Skaistis represented a Special Committee of the Board of Twitter, Inc. (n/k/a X) in connection with a shareholder litigation demand letter and advised a special litigation committee of the Board of Directors of Alphabet Inc. (the parent of Google) in shareholder legal proceedings related to past workplace conduct and data privacy issues. She has represented a special committee of the Board of Directors of Prudential Financial; the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Campbell Soup; a special committee of the Board of Directors of Cognizant Technology Solutions; special committees of the Board of Directors of MetLife; special committees of the Board of Directors of The Hartford Financial Services Group; a special committee of the Board of Directors of Bank of New York Mellon; and the Board of Directors of General Electric Company and its various committees in numerous matters for over a decade.

In addition to her special committee work, Ms. Skaistis has a robust litigation practice. Recent matters include:

  • Represented Qualcomm and certain of its directors and officers in a consolidated purported shareholder securities class action suit in California federal court filed in the wake of antitrust investigations and litigation concerning the company’s patent licensing and modem chipset businesses. She also represented Qualcomm and certain of its current and former officers in related stockholder derivative litigation in Delaware.   
  • Represented Biogen in a qui tam action alleging that Biogen caused the submission of false claims to multiple federal healthcare programs through purported kickback schemes related to certain of Biogen’s multiple sclerosis drugs, which settled.

  • Represented Novartis Pharmaceuticals in antitrust litigation brought on behalf of putative classes of direct and indirect purchasers, as well as several plaintiffs suing in an individual capacity, alleging an unlawful agreement with another drug manufacturer to delay generic competition for the drug Exforge®. Shortly before trial, Novartis reached a series of settlements with the parties to end nearly five years of litigation.

  • Represented Crown Castle International Corp., the nation’s largest provider of communications infrastructure, and certain of its officers and directors in connection with putative securities class action litigation and related stockholder derivative litigation alleging that Crown Castle made false and misleading statements regarding revenue from its cell tower installation services. She also represented Crown Castle in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation related to certain of the company’s accounting policies where the SEC staff recently determined not to recommend an enforcement action by the Commission.

In the global investigations space, Ms. Skaistis represented Telia Company in connection with FCPA investigations by the SEC, Department of Justice (DOJ) and Swedish and Dutch authorities, resulting in one of the largest FCPA resolutions ever. The resolution did not require the company to retain a compliance monitor, implement changes to its compliance program or periodically self-report on its compliance program to the DOJ or SEC.

Many of the other matters that Ms. Skaistis handles are non-public government and internal investigations, including FCPA investigations in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, insider trading investigations and investigations related to workplace misconduct. Ms. Skaistis’s other clients have included:  Credit Suisse, Deloitte & Touche, INEOS, JPMorgan Chase, Novartis and Time Warner/Warner Media.

Multiple publications such as Global Investigations Review, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, Benchmark Litigation, Lawdragon and The Best Lawyers in America have recognized Ms. Skaistis for her work in investigations, securities and business litigation, white collar criminal defense and regulatory enforcement. Ms. Skaistis has been named to Benchmark Litigation’s “Top 250 Women in Litigation” list, Crain’s New York Business’s list of “Notable Women in Law” and by Lawdragon as a nationwide “Legend.”

Ms. Skaistis devotes substantial time to pro bono service. She is one of the liaison partners for Cravath’s relationship with Montefiore Children’s Hospital and Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, through which the Firm represents patients who need legal services related to their medical care. She also is the liaison partner for Her Justice, an organization that procures pro bono legal services for low‑income women and children. She also serves on the boards of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (“NYLPI”) and ExpandEd Schools, on the advisory committee of the National Women’s Law Center and as a member of the New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice. 

Ms. Skaistis was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received a B.A. in 1992 from Yale College. After graduating from Yale, Ms. Skaistis worked as a newspaper reporter in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1997, she received a J.D. cum laude from Cornell, where she was Managing Editor of the Cornell Law Review.

Ms. Skaistis joined Cravath in 1997. In 1999, Ms. Skaistis served as a law clerk to Hon. Shira A. Scheindlin of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She rejoined Cravath in 2000 and was elected a partner in 2004. Ms. Skaistis is a member of the Firm’s Office of the General Counsel and Co‑Chair of the Diversity Committee.  

Ms. Skaistis represented a Special Committee of the Board of Twitter, Inc. (n/k/a X) in connection with a shareholder litigation demand letter and advised a special litigation committee of the Board of Directors of Alphabet Inc. (the parent of Google) in shareholder legal proceedings related to past workplace conduct and data privacy issues. She has represented a special committee of the Board of Directors of Prudential Financial; the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Campbell Soup; a special committee of the Board of Directors of Cognizant Technology Solutions; special committees of the Board of Directors of MetLife; special committees of the Board of Directors of The Hartford Financial Services Group; a special committee of the Board of Directors of Bank of New York Mellon; and the Board of Directors of General Electric Company and its various committees in numerous matters for over a decade.

In addition to her special committee work, Ms. Skaistis has a robust litigation practice. Recent matters include:

  • Represented Qualcomm and certain of its directors and officers in a consolidated purported shareholder securities class action suit in California federal court filed in the wake of antitrust investigations and litigation concerning the company’s patent licensing and modem chipset businesses. She also represented Qualcomm and certain of its current and former officers in related stockholder derivative litigation in Delaware.   
  • Represented Biogen in a qui tam action alleging that Biogen caused the submission of false claims to multiple federal healthcare programs through purported kickback schemes related to certain of Biogen’s multiple sclerosis drugs, which settled.

  • Represented Novartis Pharmaceuticals in antitrust litigation brought on behalf of putative classes of direct and indirect purchasers, as well as several plaintiffs suing in an individual capacity, alleging an unlawful agreement with another drug manufacturer to delay generic competition for the drug Exforge®. Shortly before trial, Novartis reached a series of settlements with the parties to end nearly five years of litigation.

  • Represented Crown Castle International Corp., the nation’s largest provider of communications infrastructure, and certain of its officers and directors in connection with putative securities class action litigation and related stockholder derivative litigation alleging that Crown Castle made false and misleading statements regarding revenue from its cell tower installation services. She also represented Crown Castle in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation related to certain of the company’s accounting policies where the SEC staff recently determined not to recommend an enforcement action by the Commission.

In the global investigations space, Ms. Skaistis represented Telia Company in connection with FCPA investigations by the SEC, Department of Justice (DOJ) and Swedish and Dutch authorities, resulting in one of the largest FCPA resolutions ever. The resolution did not require the company to retain a compliance monitor, implement changes to its compliance program or periodically self-report on its compliance program to the DOJ or SEC.

Many of the other matters that Ms. Skaistis handles are non-public government and internal investigations, including FCPA investigations in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, insider trading investigations and investigations related to workplace misconduct. Ms. Skaistis’s other clients have included:  Credit Suisse, Deloitte & Touche, INEOS, JPMorgan Chase, Novartis and Time Warner/Warner Media.

Multiple publications such as Global Investigations Review, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, Benchmark Litigation, Lawdragon and The Best Lawyers in America have recognized Ms. Skaistis for her work in investigations, securities and business litigation, white collar criminal defense and regulatory enforcement. Ms. Skaistis has been named to Benchmark Litigation’s “Top 250 Women in Litigation” list, Crain’s New York Business’s list of “Notable Women in Law” and by Lawdragon as a nationwide “Legend.”

Ms. Skaistis devotes substantial time to pro bono service. She is one of the liaison partners for Cravath’s relationship with Montefiore Children’s Hospital and Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, through which the Firm represents patients who need legal services related to their medical care. She also is the liaison partner for Her Justice, an organization that procures pro bono legal services for low‑income women and children. She also serves on the boards of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (“NYLPI”) and ExpandEd Schools, on the advisory committee of the National Women’s Law Center and as a member of the New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice. 

Ms. Skaistis was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received a B.A. in 1992 from Yale College. After graduating from Yale, Ms. Skaistis worked as a newspaper reporter in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1997, she received a J.D. cum laude from Cornell, where she was Managing Editor of the Cornell Law Review.

Ms. Skaistis joined Cravath in 1997. In 1999, Ms. Skaistis served as a law clerk to Hon. Shira A. Scheindlin of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She rejoined Cravath in 2000 and was elected a partner in 2004. Ms. Skaistis is a member of the Firm’s Office of the General Counsel and Co‑Chair of the Diversity Committee.  

Education

  • J.D., 1997, Cornell Law School
    cum laude
  • B.A., 1992, Yale College

Clerkships

  • Hon. Shira Ann Scheindlin, U.S.D.C. for the Southern District of New York

Admitted In

  • New York

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

  • Advisory Board, Back to Business Law

Organizations

The After‑School Corporation

  • Board of Directors

National Women’s Law Center

  • Leadership Advisory Committee

New York Lawyers for the Public Interest

  • Board of Directors

Rankings

Benchmark Litigation

  • Litigation Star - New York (2025-2017)
  • Future Star (2016, 2015)

Benchmark Top 250 Women in Litigation (2024‑2018)

Best Lawyers in America

  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2025)
  • Litigation: Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) (2025-2019)

Chambers USA

  • Securities Litigation - New York (2024-2021)
  • Securities Regulation: Enforcement - National (2018‑2014)

Crain’s New York Business

  • Notable Women in Law (2021)

Global Investigations Review

  • 100 Women in Investigations

Lawdragon

  • Legends of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2023)
  • 500 Leading Global Litigators (2024)
  • 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2025‑2013)
  • 500 Leading Litigators in America (2025, 2024, 2023)

The Legal 500 US

  • Antitrust (2012)
  • Securities Litigation (2023, 2022, 2019, 2017-2015)
  • White‑Collar Criminal Defense (2023‑2016)

Super Lawyers ‑ New York

  • Business Litigation (2021-2018)

Deals & Cases

January 23, 2025

SEC Closes Investigation into Eros Media World plc and Affiliates; Internal Investigation Reveals No Wrongdoing

On January 22, 2025, Eros Media World plc, a global media and entertainment company, announced that its internal review of certain accounting practices and internal controls has been concluded, with the Audit Committee determining that no revenues of the Company recognized during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, were inappropriately recognized, and finding no impairment in the intangible assets and goodwill reflected on the Company’s Form 6‑K dated March 31, 2021. In addition, the Audit Committee found no material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting.

Deals & Cases

March 21, 2024

Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd. Wins Summary Judgment Dismissing Fraud Claims

On March 20, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted summary judgment in favor of Cravath client Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd. (“KOM”), dismissing an action alleging claims for fraud, aiding and abetting fraud and conspiracy. Plaintiffs, a set of energy and investment funds managed by EIG Management Company, LLC (collectively, “EIG”) claimed that KOM failed to disclose that it was engaged in a bribery scheme with Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (“Petrobras”), the Brazilian oil company, and with a company under Petrobras’s control, Sete Brasil Participações, S.A. (“Sete”). According to EIG, this failure to disclose caused EIG to invest over $220 million in Sete, defrauding EIG.

Deals & Cases

September 11, 2023

Amgen Successfully Defends Against FTC Challenge, Securing Clearance for its $27.8 Billion Acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics

Cravath represented Amgen, one of the world’s largest biopharmaceutical companies, in successfully defending against a Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) challenge to Amgen’s pending $27.8 billion acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics (“Horizon”)—securing a consent order on September 1, 2023 that The Wall Street Journal described as “a rare instance” of the FTC “throwing in the towel on litigation.”

Deals & Cases

June 16, 2017

Qualcomm Directors and Officers Win Dismissal of Shareholder Derivative Suit Related to Purported FCPA Violations

On June 16, 2017, the Delaware Court of Chancery dismissed a stockholder derivative lawsuit brought against current and former directors and officers of Qualcomm Incorporated alleging, among other claims, that defendants breached their fiduciary duties by allegedly failing to prevent purported FCPA violations by the company. In granting the dismissal, Vice Chancellor Tamika R. Montgomery‑Reeves held that the complaint did not plead sufficient facts to infer that the individual defendants had acted in bad faith or that the directors faced a substantial likelihood of personal liability such that plaintiffs’ failure to make a demand on the board to bring a suit was excused.

Deals & Cases

December 02, 2016

BNY Mellon Wins Dismissal of Forex Derivative Suits Following Internal Investigation

On December 2, 2016, Vice Chancellor Sam Glasscock III of the Delaware Court of Chancery dismissed two shareholder derivative lawsuits alleging that The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation improperly handled foreign exchange transactions. His decision was based in part on an independent internal investigation conducted by Cravath that concluded the claims had no sound legal basis.

Activities

March 07, 2025

Rachel Skaistis Speaks at the Federal Bar Council’s “Raising the Bar: A Conversation with Women Judges and Lawyers on Mentorship and Success”

On March 6, 2025, Cravath partner Rachel G. Skaistis spoke at the Federal Bar Council’s “Raising the Bar: A Conversation with Women Judges and Lawyers on Mentorship and Success,” which was held in New York. The panel, which was hosted in celebration of Women’s History Month, explored the pivotal role of mentorship in shaping careers and fostering leadership. Rachel joined judges and fellow legal practitioners for a conversation on driving progress for the next generation of lawyers in the courtroom.

Publications

February 04, 2025

Rachel Skaistis, Eric Hilfers and Jenny Zhang Author U.S. Chapter of IEL’s 2025 Guide to Workplace Investigations

Cravath partners Rachel G. Skaistis and Eric W. Hilfers, and of counsel Jenny X. Zhang, authored a chapter on key issues that organizations need to consider as they initiate, conduct and conclude investigations in the U.S. for International Employment Lawyer’s “Guide to Workplace Investigations,” which was published in January 2025. The chapter reviewed who should conduct a workplace investigation, what data protection or other regulations apply when gathering physical evidence, what confidentiality obligations apply during an investigation and more.

Activities

December 12, 2024

Rachel Skaistis Featured in Lawdragon’s “Lawyer Limelight” Series

On November 12, 2024, Cravath partner Rachel Skaistis was profiled in Lawdragon’s “Lawyer Limelight” series alongside her sister Hannah Ross, who is a partner at a different New York-based law firm. In the joint Q&A, Rachel and Hannah discussed their parallel paths to partnership and reflected on their individual practices in securities law. Describing what she is proudest of in her work, Rachel said: “I have had the privilege of working with such amazing lawyers, and I’ve gotten to learn from so many litigation styles. But it is nice to get to a point where you feel like you have found a style of practicing and advising your clients that is true to who you are.” The sisters also spoke about the mentors and role models, including each other, who helped shape their careers as female litigators.

Activities

August 15, 2024

Benchmark Litigation Names Four Partners Among “Top 250 Women in Litigation” for the Thirteenth Consecutive Year

Cravath partners Christine A. Varney, Karin A. DeMasi, Rachel G. Skaistis and Lauren A. Moskowitz were recognized by Benchmark Litigation in the 2024 edition of the “Top 250 Women in Litigation,” which honors “the most distinguished women in the world of litigation.” Inclusion in the list is based on a review of individual litigators’ professional activities, client feedback surveys and one‑on‑one interviews. This is the eleventh consecutive year in which Christine has been selected for inclusion in the publication. Karin and Rachel are recognized for the seventh year, and Lauren is recognized for the fourth year.

Publications

February 16, 2018

U.S. SEC 2019 Budget Request Prioritizes Cybersecurity Enforcement and Management of Internal Cybersecurity Risk

On February 14, 2018, Cravath prepared for its clients a memo entitled “U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 2019 Budget Request Prioritizes Cybersecurity Enforcement and Management of Internal Cybersecurity Risk.” The memo discusses the SEC’s request for a $1.66 billion budget for the 2019 fiscal year, reflecting a notably increased focus on strengthening the Commission’s cybersecurity enforcement efforts and supporting enhancements to its technology systems and broader risk program.

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Celebrating 200 years of partnership. In 2019, we celebrated our bicentennial. Our history mirrors that of our nation. Integral to our story is our culture.

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