Rachael G. Pontikes [ Associate ]
Duane Morris LLP
Suite 3700
190 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60603-3433
USA
Phone: 312.499.6757
Fax: 312.277.6903
Email:
RGPontikes@duanemorris.com
Rachael G. Pontikes practices in multiple areas of commercial litigation nationwide, including administrative law, general contract and tort disputes, consumer litigation, banking litigation, immigration, and white-collar criminal law. Ms. Pontikes represents clients in heavily-regulated industries in the healthcare industry, financial services area, and educational arena. Ms. Pontikes' approach is to work with her clients to find creative solutions to issues which arise from the labyrinth of state and federal regulations.
Ms. Pontikes represents a broad range of financial institutions in the securities, futures and derivatives markets in federal trial and appellate courts and in customer and broker disputes before the National Association of Securities Dealers. She also represents compounding pharmacies in major disputes against the Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration in state and federal court and agency administration proceedings throughout the United States. She has advised educational institutions in state and federal regulatory and administrative matters.
Ms. Pontikes is highly active in civic and pro bono activities, serving as a volunteer attorney for the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), a member of the Chicago Lyric Opera's Junior Guild Board, and a mentor to female University of Chicago law students. She is also an active member of the Securities Industry Association, Compliance Legal Division, the National Society of Compliance Professionals, and the Hellenic and Women's bar associations.
Ms. Pontikes is a 2001 graduate of the University of Chicago Law School and an honors graduate of Wesleyan University, where she was elected Phi Beta Kappa. She is fluent in Italian and proficient in modern Greek.
Areas Of Practice
- Commercial Litigation
- Appellate Advocacy
- Healthcare Litigation
- Pharmacy - Financial Services Law
- Postsecondary Education
- Consumer Litigation
Representative Matters
- Represented seven teenage girls, in federal trial and appellate courts, against Joe Francis and the Girls Gone Wild companies for allegedly producing child pornography.
- Successfully represented clearing broker in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit defending a challenge to a U.S. District Court confirmation of a pre-hearing summary judgment granted in favor of the clearing broker. Olson v. Wexford Clearing Services Corp., 397 F.3d 448 (7th Cir. 2005)
- Represents compounding pharmacies in major disputes against the Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration in federal appellate courts, federal trial courts and agency administration proceedings, specifically in Drug Enforcement Administration proceedings, throughout the United States.
- Represents consumers and consumer service providers in Magnuson and Moss actions, both individual and class, in state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels.
- Successfully obtained asylum in the United States for an African woman, a victim of domestic violence, pro bono for the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC).
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Hellenic Bar Association
- Women's Bar Association
- Securities Industry Association - Compliance Legal Division
- National Society of Compliance Professionals
- University of Chicago Women's Mentoring Program
- University of Chicago Alumni Admissions Committee
Admissions
- Illinois
- Supreme Court of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- Trial Bar of U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Education
- University of Chicago Law School, J.D., 2001
- Wesleyan University, B.A., Philosophy and Italian Studies, with honors, 1996
Elected Phi Beta Kappa