Benjamin J. Razi

Ben Razi, a partner in our Washington office, represents clients in high-stakes civil litigation and government enforcement matters.  An experienced litigator, Mr. Razi has tried cases to verdict and regularly argues significant motions in state and federal courts across the country.  His practice includes general commercial litigation involving allegations of breach of contract, fraud, and other business torts.  Mr. Razi has expertise in and regularly handles litigation on behalf of pharmaceutical companies, as well as securities litigation, and False Claims Act litigation.  In the white collar area, Mr. Razi defends clients in government investigations and related litigation.

Representative Matters

• Co-lead counsel in successful multi-week jury trial in Maryland state court on behalf of Plaintiff in real estate partnership lawsuit.
• Representing former CEO of IndyMac Bancorp in SEC federal court lawsuit and other litigation arising from government takeover of IndyMac Bank.  See, e.g., In re IndyMac Mortgage-Backed Securities Litigation, 718 F. Supp. 2d 495, 505-07 (S.D.N.Y. 2010) (granting our client's motion to dismiss).
• Co-lead counsel for Plaintiff in Wone v. Price, et al., wrongful death lawsuit arising out of murder of Washington lawyer Robert Wone. Favorable settlement reached after extensive discovery in which Defendants invoked Fifth Amendment rather than attempt to refute Plaintiff’s allegations.
• Won summary judgment for Pfizer and Pharmacia in qui tam False Claims Act case involving alleged kickbacks to doctors and off-label promotion of human growth hormone product.  United States ex. rel Rost v. Pfizer, et al., No. 03-11084-PBS (D. Mass. Sept. 14, 2010).
• Won complete defense victory for GPC Biotech AG following seven day arbitration hearing in high stakes licensing dispute brought by Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Represented Wall Street brokerage firm Jefferies & Company, Inc., in SEC and NASD investigations relating to client entertainment and gifts.

Memberships and Affiliations

• American Bar Association, Litigation Section

Publications and Speeches

• "Rost Decision Limits False Claims Act Liability for Claims Submitted by Third Parties," Covington E-Alert (9/29/2010), Co-Author
• "Disgorgement of Profits is Not Available as Damages Under the False Claims Act," BNA's Federal Contracts Report (7/11/2006), Co-Author
• "Census Politics Revisited: What to Do When the Government Can't Count?," 48 Am. U. L. Rev. 1101 (1999), Author