Andrew A. Ruffino

Andrew Ruffino is a litigator in the firm’s New York office.  He represents financial institutions and other corporate clients in class actions involving antitrust and consumer protection claims, securities law, and corporate governance issues.  He also has extensive experience in litigation and investigations focusing on accounting issues, including options backdating, accounting for derivatives, revenue recognition, and purchase accounting.  Mr. Ruffino has served as counsel to court-appointed fiduciaries in SEC enforcement proceedings.  He has also prosecuted insurance coverage actions on behalf of corporate policy-holders.  Mr. Ruffino is a member of Covington’s Management Committee, and has served as a vice chair of the firm’s litigation department and co-chair of its E-Discovery practice group.

Representative Matters

• Counsel to a large bank in class action litigation involving antitrust, commodities fraud, and RICO claims relating to alleged manipulation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”).
• Counsel to a major credit card issuer in numerous class actions involving claims under consumer protection statutes, antitrust law, and the Truth in Lending Act.
• Defended Freddie Mac in securities class action and shareholder derivative litigation arising out of $5 billion earnings restatement.  Achieved settlement after favorable class certification ruling.
• Defended financial institution in securities class actions with claims under Section 11 and Rule 10b-5 arising out of allegedly understated loss reserves.  Obtained dismissal with prejudice of all claims.
• Represented a major credit card issuer in antitrust treble damages action alleging a conspiracy among banks and Visa and MasterCard to foreclose banks from issuing American Express cards.
• Won a pre-discovery summary judgment motion and sanctions on behalf of a financial institution in a case involving trading in commodities derivatives. 
• Represented special committees of board members at Adelphia Communications Corp. and Tyco International Ltd. in connection with widely-publicized allegations of mismanagement by senior executives at those companies.
• Defended professional service firm in multi-jurisdiction malpractice litigation relating to tax strategies.

Honors and Rankings

• Legal 500 US, Mergers, Acquisitions & Buyouts - Antitrust (2013)
• Euromoney, Benchmark: The Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys - Future Litigation Star, NY (2009) and Litigation Star, NY (2010-2011) 

Pro Bono

• Represented parent of grammar school student in Establishment Clause lawsuit challenging public school’s Pledge of Allegiance recitation requirement (Myers v. Loudon County Public Schools, 418 F.3d 395 (4th Cir. 2005)).
• Handled Surrogate’s Court proceedings and estate-related matters on behalf of minor child of victim of September 11 terrorist attacks.
  

Publications and Speeches

• "Something to Watch This Proxy Season: Next Generation Executive Compensation Lawsuits," Covington E-Alert (2/12/2013), Co-Author
• "You've Got Mail (and the Government Wants It)," Covington & Burling Webinar (9/22/2010)
• "Investors Sanctioned for Failing to Preserve ESI in Securities Fraud Action," Covington E-Alert (1/21/2010), Co-Author