Ralph C. Ferrara

Ralph Ferrara's practice includes a wide range of litigation, business, regulatory and corporate governance matters. He represents corporations and individuals in complex securities class and shareholder derivative actions as well as contested mergers and acquisitions; advises corporate clients on Securities and Exchange Commission reporting and disclosure requirements; represents corporations and individuals in government investigations and enforcement proceedings; conducts corporate internal investigations; handles consumer financial services issues; and counsels corporate officers and boards on all of these matters.

Ralph and his team practice in the intersection where class actions, shareholder derivative suits, SEC enforcement matters and white collar prosecutions meet and have the experience and skills to provide full representation to their clients across all of these and other areas.

Among other recognition, Ralph has been named one of the country's leading lawyers in nine categories by the Best Lawyers, a status shared by only 100 of the 50,000 lawyers globally recognized by Best Lawyers: "Bet-the-Company" Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, Litigation - Mergers & Acquisitions, Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Litigation – Securities, Securities / Capital Markets Law, and Securities Regulation.

Ralph was inducted to the inaugural honorees of Securities Docket’s Enforcement Hall of Fame, a list of the lawyers who have made the most extraordinary contributions to, and impact upon, the field of securities enforcement over their lifetimes. Securities Docket described Ralph as having “an unmistakable flair for the way he represents his clients…” and as being “the go-to lawyer for Audit Committees who need a knowledge-able and confident attorney to lead their internal investigation.” He is included in Securities Docket’s Enforcement 40, their “group of the best and brightest securities enforcement defense lawyers.”

Ralph has appeared five times before the United States Supreme Court on cases, appeared in each of the Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal and represented clients in state and federal courts across the country.

Ralph was a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton, serving on its Executive Committee and as Managing Partner of its Washington, D.C. office for 23 years. Thereafter, Ralph was associated with Dewey LeBoeuf and more recently with Proskauer Rose.

Ralph served previously as General Counsel of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He has argued several cases before the United States Supreme Court including: Burks. v. Lasker; Transamerica Mortgage Advisors, Inc. v. Lewis; Aaron v. Securities and Exchange Commission; and Steadman v. Securities and Exchange Commission. During his career with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ralph was appointed as Chief of Staff or Special Counsel to three Chairmen.