Michael J. Rinaldi

Michael J. Rinaldi practices in the area of litigation with a focus on white-collar criminal defense, corporate and regulatory investigations, and complex business litigation.

Mr. Rinaldi routinely represents businesses, institutions, and individuals in matters involving the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and other federal and state criminal and regulatory agencies.  His practice includes defending clients in SEC investigations, civil enforcement actions, and administrative proceedings.  He also represents a wide range of businesses and individuals in criminal and regulatory inquiries and counsels clients on matters involving the securities laws, international sanctions, anti–money laundering (AML) rules, cryptocurrency and digital assets, alleged market manipulation, and professional conduct regulations.  He leads internal investigations into alleged employee or executive misconduct.

Before joining Duane Morris, Mr. Rinaldi served as Deputy Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In that position, Mr. Rinaldi investigated, prosecuted, and supervised the investigation and prosecution of financial crimes, including securities fraud, bank fraud, intellectual property crimes, and money laundering. He has litigated all stages of criminal prosecutions, including through trial. Among his duties at the U.S. Attorney’s Office were co-chairing the Office’s Money Laundering Working Group and serving on the Office’s Coronavirus Task Force, both of which involved regular interactions with federal and state criminal and regulatory agencies. As Deputy Chief for Economic Crimes, Mr. Rinaldi supervised the Office’s investigations and prosecutions related to Theft of Major Artwork and related offenses. Mr. Rinaldi also managed relationships with regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Prior to his service at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Rinaldi served as a trial attorney in the Securities and Financial Fraud Unit of the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, investigating and litigating matters related to securities fraud, commodities fraud, procurement fraud, and insider trading. Before his work for the U.S. Department of Justice, Mr. Rinaldi was senior trial counsel at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Mr. Rinaldi received his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and his undergraduate degree from Villanova University. He began his career by clerking for the Honorable Leo E. Strine, Jr., of the Delaware Court of Chancery. Mr. Rinaldi is a lecturer in law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Previously, Mr. Rinaldi served as an elected School Director in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and was appointed Treasurer of the School District.