Rita M. Glavin is the founding Principal of Glavin PLLC. Ms. Glavin is an accomplished litigator who is nationally recognized for her work in white collar defense and government investigations. Ms. Glavin has been described by her peers in Chambers USA as “an absolutely fantastic attorney and fierce advocate,” an “experienced trial lawyer who gets terrific results in high-profile cases,” and “one of the best trial lawyers I have ever seen.” The New York Law Journal described her as “formidable and quick on her feet” in the courtroom.
Ms. Glavin has tried more than 20 cases to verdict and was named a Law360 “White Collar MVP” after shepherding the former executive director of the Dewey & LeBeouf law firm to acquittals on all counts after a 14-week jury trial on fraud charges. She has been named a white collar “trailblazer” by The National Law Journal, among the 500 “Leading Lawyers in America” by Law Dragon, and a “National Practice Area Star” and “Top 250 Women in Litigation” for white collar by Benchmark Litigation. City & State NY recently listed her amongst the Albany Power 100, and she was recognized by Global Investigations Review, Women in Investigations 2021.
Ms. Glavin has represented executives, hedge funds, elected officials, traders, public companies, and foreign nationals in a variety of investigations by state and federal authorities including the DOJ, SEC, CFTC, New York State Attorney General’s office, the Manhattan D.A.’s Office, and the New York Department of Financial Services. She has also represented dozens of indigent criminal defendants as a member of the Criminal Justice Act panel for the Southern District of New York.
Prior to founding Glavin PLLC, Ms. Glavin was a partner in the Litigation group and co-head of the Government Enforcement and Internal Investigations practice for Seward & Kissel LLP. Before entering private practice, Ms. Glavin spent almost 12 years as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice, including working as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York and serving as the head of DOJ’s Criminal Division in 2009.
Ms. Glavin began her legal career as a Law Clerk to the Honorable John F. Keenan, Southern District of New York. Ms. Glavin is a graduate of Fordham Law School, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Fordham Law Review and graduated Order of the Coif. She has been a Director for Fordham Law School’s Alumni Association Board since 2008. Ms. Glavin earned her undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Middlebury College.
Updated July 2023
