Carole S. Rendon

Practice Areas

Former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Carole Rendon possesses a wealth of experience in a range of matters, including criminal prosecution, private defense and civil litigation. As the first woman to serve as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and later as the United States Attorney, Carole both supervised and personally handled high-profile, crisis-level litigation, much of which involved intense public and media scrutiny. As the chief federal law enforcement officer, Carole enforced a wide range of criminal and civil statutes, including False Claims Act litigation and the prosecution of public corruption, civil rights, consumer fraud and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). She also oversaw and personally handled high-profile civil litigation, including as lead counsel on the Consent Decree providing comprehensive reform for the Cleveland Division of Police.

Carole has significant experience managing critical internal investigations and complex commercial, regulatory and criminal matters, with a particular depth of knowledge regarding the False Claims Act, FCPA, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), insider trading, securities and shareholder litigation, as well as advising clients on structuring compliance programs to help avoid such problems. She has represented companies and individuals in high stakes criminal, civil, internal and congressional investigations.

Carole is Co-Leader of the White Collar, Investigations and Securities Enforcement and Litigation team. She also serves as a member of BakerHostetler’s Policy Committee, the firm’s national board of directors.

Professional Memberships

Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference: Life Member

Litigation Counsel of America: Senior Fellow

Women’s White Collar Defense Association

National Association of Former United States Attorneys

ATIXA-certified Title IX Investigator

Federal Bar Association: Board of Directors (2017 to 2019)

American Bar Association (1998 to Present)

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (1998 to Present)

-- White Collar Crime Institute: Co-Chair (2018)

-- Trustee (2005 to 2008 and 2013 to 2017)

-- 3Rs Program (2006 to 2017)

-- Membership Committee (2013 to 2015)

-- Citizens’ Legal Academy: Co-Chair (2012 to 2013)

-- Minority Clerkship Committee (2007 to 2009)

-- Women in the Law Section: Chair (2007 to 2008)

-- Trustee (2005 to 2008, 2013 to 2017)

-- Criminal Law Section: Chair (2005 to 2006)

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation: Fellow (2005 to Present)

John M. Manos Inn of Court: Barrister (2000 to Present)

Eighth District Judicial Conference

-- Life Member

-- Co-Chair (2018)

-- Delegate (2007 to 2010)

Federal Public Defender Reappointment Review Committee (2019)

Federal Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Ohio: Selection Panel (2016)

Toledo Women’s Bar Association (2011 to 2014)

Cleveland Marshall College of Law: Visiting Advisory Committee (2008 to 2011)

Litigation Associates of America (2008 to 2010)

Federal Defender for the Northern District of Ohio: Selection Panel (2007)

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (2005 to 2009)