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Maureen Ruane has extensive trial and appellate experience in a wide variety of civil matters, including securities and derivative litigation, business litigation, civil conspiracy, consumer fraud, and class actions. A former federal prosecutor, Ms. Ruane also devotes a significant portion of her practice to defending individuals and corporations who are being investigated for, or who have been charged with, a variety of federal and state offenses, including tax fraud, healthcare fraud, securities fraud, bribery, and kick-back schemes. In addition, Ms. Ruane has conducted numerous internal investigations for corporate clients, and she regularly represents attorneys in professional disciplinary matters. Ms. Ruane is Co-Chair of Lowenstein Sandler's Appellate Practice Group, and a member of the firm's Class Action and Derivative Litigation Practice Group and its White Collar Criminal Defense Practice Group.
Ms. Ruane has been recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, which in 2008 touted her as a "a popular rising star, who wins respect for her work on fraud, corruption and disciplinary matters," with "experience at both the trial and appellate level." In the 2007 edition, Chambers described her as "excellent, highly prepared and knowledgeable." In 2007, Ms. Ruane was selected by the New Jersey Law Journal as one of New Jersey’s "Forty Under 40." Ms. Ruane was also selected in 2007 as a "Super Lawyer and Rising Star" by New Jersey Monthly Magazine.
Prior to rejoining Lowenstein Sandler in 2004, Ms. Ruane served for six years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of New Jersey. While at the United States Attorney's Office, Ms. Ruane served in both the Criminal and Appeals Divisions. In the Criminal Division, Ms. Ruane successfully investigated, prosecuted, and tried to federal juries a wide array of fraud and criminal cases, including those involving charges of large-scale bank fraud, consumer fraud, government fraud, interstate theft, money laundering, and obstruction of justice. In the Appeals Division, Ms. Ruane briefed in excess of 45 appeals, and she argued before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals on more than a dozen occasions. In 2002, Ms. Ruane received a United States Department of Justice Performance Award in appreciation and recognition of her sustained superior work performance.
Before joining the United States Attorney's Office, Ms. Ruane spent more than four years as a litigator at Lowenstein Sandler, where she concentrated her practice in complex commercial litigation. Following her graduation from law school, Ms. Ruane clerked in the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey for the Honorable Murry D. Brochin.
Presently, Ms. Ruane is a Founding Trustee and Vice President of One Hundred Women Making a Difference, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to benefit disadvantaged women and children in New Jersey. Ms. Ruane also currently serves as the Treasurer for the Home School Association of Aquinas Academy, a private Roman Catholic grammar school in Livingston, New Jersey -- where two of her four children are enrolled. Previously, Ms. Ruane served for six years on the Board of Trustees of Essex County Court Appointed Special Advocate (“CASA”), an independent, court-authorized, nonprofit organization that works through professionally trained and supervised volunteers to promote the welfare of foster children in Essex County, New Jersey. Ms. Ruane served as President of CASA’s Board of Trustees from 2000 to 2001. Ms. Ruane also was a member of Leadership New Jersey, Class of 2007.
Representative Matters
Derivative Litigation: Ms. Ruane currently represents Princeton University and various University officials in Robertson v. Princeton University, a high-profile derivative litigation that raises a number of issues of first impression concerning donor intent, academic freedom, and fiduciary duties of directors of a supporting charitable organization. Plaintiffs seek, among other things, to sever the ties between the University and the Robertson Foundation, a supporting organization with assets of approximately $900 million that is dedicated to funding the expanded graduate program of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. The case is currently set for trial in January 2009.
Civil Consumer Fraud Investigations: Ms. Ruane represents three of New Jersey's largest universities in connection with investigations by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office concerning possible consumer fraud violations relating to student lending practices.
Tax Fraud Prosecution and Follow-on Professional Disciplinary Matter: Ms. Ruane recently represented an individual in connection with what the New Jersey Attorney General's Office referred to as the largest tax fraud prosecution in New Jersey's history. In addition, Ms. Ruane represented the same individual before the Office of Attorney Ethics, the Disciplinary Review Board, and argued before the New Jersey Supreme Court with regard to the disposition of the client's license to practice law.
Internal Investigation and Tax Fraud Investigation: Ms. Ruane conducted an internal investigation of a company being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service for various tax fraud violations. She also represented a principal of the business in connection with the federal investigation.
Bribery Prosecution and Investigation: Ms. Ruane recently served as counsel to a developer who was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bribery, mail fraud, and obstruction of justice. She also recently represented another individual in connection with a separate federal investigation concerning an unrelated bribery and political corruption scheme.
Grand Jury Investigations and Internal Investigations: Ms. Ruane regularly handles matters involving clients who have received grand jury subpoenas or have been advised that their conduct may be the subject of a grand jury investigation. Some of the clients Ms. Ruane represents are the officers and directors of private entities, as well as public and private institutions. Ms. Ruane coordinates the clients' responses to the subpoenas, often conducts internal investigations in connection with the subject matter or conduct under investigation, and negotiates with the prosecuting authorities regarding the ultimate disposition of the matters.
Speaking Engagements
- "Limitation of Indemnification and Advancement of Attorneys’ Fees: An Overview of the Historical and Current State of the Law," Corporate Counsel Institute, January 24, 2007
- "Recent Trends in the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act: What Companies Should Know and Can Do to Protect Themselves," HealthCare Institute of New Jersey, March 15, 2006
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Robert J. Kipnees and Maureen Ruane are spotlighted for their selection to Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, a guide to the nation's top lawyers and law firms.,
The Progress, August 1, 2008
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Rutgers University School of Law - Newark
(J.D., 1993),
Senior Articles Editor, Rutgers Law Review and Member, Rutgers National Moot Court Team
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Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
(B.A., 1990),
with honors
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New Jersey
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Pennsylvania
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1994,
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
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2008,
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
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- American Bar Association
- New Jersey State Bar Association
- Barrister, Arthur T. Vanderbilt Inn of Court
- Firm Liaison, HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ)
- Member, Leadership New Jersey, Class of 2007
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