Overview
Grace J. Lee is a partner in the firm’s Litigation practice. Her practice involves a variety of regulatory investigations for financial institution clients, complex commercial litigations for U.S. and non-U.S. clients, and cross-border disputes. Grace has represented investment banks, other companies, and directors and officers in numerous securities and other matters in state and federal courts. She has also represented companies in investigations by DOJ, the SEC, the CFTC, bank regulatory, state regulatory, FINRA, and other authorities.
Grace has been recognized by The Legal 500 as a “Next Generation Lawyer” in Financial Services Litigation (2023), recognized in the “40 & Under Hot List” by Benchmark Litigation (2020 and 2021) and recognized by Legal Media Group as a “Rising Star” in Litigation (2020).
Experience
- Represent several major financial institutions in separate antitrust actions related to BBSW, European government bonds, municipal bonds, and bond financing
- Representing major financial institution in CFTC investigation of certain swaps trading activity
- Representing financial institutions in connection with regulatory inquiries including by the State Department, the DOJ, and FINRA
- Representing various underwriters of securities offerings by ARCP in a securities class action
- Representing General Electric Company in a putative shareholder action in connection with a merger transaction
- Represented board of directors in connection with an internal investigation to respond to shareholder demand
- Represented major financial institution in FINRA investigation of sales of restricted securities
- Represented Barclays in a securities litigation in connection with residential mortgage-backed securities
- Represented Countrywide and several affiliates in multiple disputes brought by institutional purchasers of private-label residential mortgage-backed securities
- Represented LG Electronics in consumer class actions relating to cellular phones and washing machines
- Represented an insurance company in obtaining a jury verdict dismissing a $15 million employment agreement claim
- Represented a leading Asian electronics company in connection with a confidential pre-arbitration dispute
- Represented non-U.S. companies in ICC and LCIA international arbitrations
- Assisted in independent monitorship of York in connection with a deferred prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice relating to FCPA violations
Qualifications
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Education
University of Illinois, College of Law
J.D., magna cum laude
- University of Illinois Law Review, Topics Editor
University of Illinois
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Admissions
- New York
- Connecticut
- Washington, DC
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Courts
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
- United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
Of Note
Pro Bono
- Grace is also actively involved in pro bono work. Her pro bono work includes successfully representing a human rights activists from the Central African Republic in gaining asylum in the United States, and representing a client who was falsely arrested by the police in a jury trial in federal court, where she secured a favorable jury verdict for the client.
Publications
- Co-author, “Expert Discovery, Expert Testimony and Trial Considerations,” A Practical Guide to Discovery in Connecticut, Fall 2010 (1st Supplement, 2013)
Awards
- Recognized by The Legal 500 as a "Next Generation Lawyer" in Financial Services Litigation (2023)
- Recognized in “40 & Under Hot List” by Benchmark Litigation (2020 and 2021)
- Recognized by Legal Media Group as a “Rising Star” in Litigation (2020)