Nader S. Raja - Lawyer in Charlotte, NC

Nader Raja regularly works with clients facing complex and high-stakes litigation, enforcement, and regulatory issues. Naders experience ranges from handling class actions and complex business and securities litigation to representing companies in parallel civil and criminal investigations by governmental authorities and regulators across the globe. His clients greatly value his judgment and work ethic in developing effective legal strategies and providing practical business advice.

Nader has substantial experience defending financial services clients in all phases of litigation in state and federal courts across the United States. He handles a diverse range of litigation matters, including class actions, securities fraud claims under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, lawsuits alleging breaches of fiduciary duties, lender liability and mortgage servicing claims, and litigation arising out of commercial contracts and transactions.

In addition to traditional litigation, Nader is well seasoned in representing clients that are the subject of high-profile government investigations and conducting internal investigations. He has represented clients in domestic inquiries and investigations by the Department of Justice (Main Justice and U.S. Attorneys Offices), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), as well as cross-border matters involving the European Commission (EC), the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Naders involvement in these investigations includes overseeing document reviews, conducting witness interviews, working with expert consultants on complex data analysis, and written submissions, presentations, and settlement conferences with various enforcement authorities in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Nader complements his white-collar defense and investigations work with a regulatory advice practice in which he helps clients navigate complex regulatory requirements applicable to their businesses, working to ensure that their compliance efforts are effective and robust. He works closely with his clients on the implementation of corporate compliance programs and the development and enhancement of policies, procedures, training programs, and other internal controls designed to strengthen regulatory compliance and to prevent, deter, and detect improper conduct. Clients frequently rely on him for practical compliance advice, assistance implementing and conducting risk assessments, and designing strategies that can minimize the risk of enforcement action.

In addition, Nader is actively involved in the community and maintains an active pro bono practice in which he strives to perform at least 50 hours of pro bono services annually. As chair of the firms Housing Rights Pro Bono Project and co-champion of the Charlotte Triage Eviction Project, Nader leads a team of volunteers focused on advocating for tenants living in substandard living conditions who are facing the threat of homelessness due to wrongful and retaliatory evictions.

Representative Experience

• Trading Investigations: Represented a major financial institution in parallel civil and criminal investigations by the Fraud Section of the DOJ and the CFTC into spoofing and market manipulation
• Reference Rate Investigations: Represented a major financial institution in a multi-year investigation by the CFTC and a state attorneys office regarding alleged manipulation of the U.S. Dollar International Swaps and Derivatives Association Fix (USD ISDAFIX), a then-leading global benchmark for interest rate swap transactions
• Securities Class-Action Litigation: Secured dismissal of all claims in a putative class action alleging securities law violations in connection with a proposed merger
• Broker-Dealer Litigation: Represented a major broker-dealer in a private arbitration brought by a former ultra-high net worth customer seeking over $100 million in damages based on allegations of unauthorized trading, unsuitable transactions, churning, and excessive mark-ups
• Lender-Liability Litigation: Substantial experience defending lender liability and mortgage servicing claims involving allegations of predatory lending, fraud, wrongful foreclosure, and state and federal consumer protection statutes, including the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)
• Commercial Litigation: Secured dismissal of contract and tort claims on behalf of a major bank in an action by a Brazilian aircraft operator and its owners alleging fraud in connection with the Brazilian tax-advantaged financing of an aircraft lease transaction
• Compliance Counseling: Provide ongoing advice regarding remedial measures and compliance undertakings, including in connection with reporting obligations under consent orders and non-prosecution agreements