Rachel Cannon

Practice Areas

Rachel Cannon works on high-stakes matters for individuals and companies. Described by Chambers as "really smart, really strong, and really skilled," she focuses her practice on trial work, investigations, white-collar criminal defense, and complex civil litigation. A seasoned trial lawyer, she has tried 19 jury trials and dozens of bench trials, and has briefed and argued numerous cases in the US Court of Appeals. Rachel was one of the lead lawyers who successfully prevented the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission from enjoining a Chicago trader in a recent high-profile "spoofing" case. She also teaches Trial Advocacy as an adjunct professor at Northwestern Law School.

An experienced investigator, Rachel conducts internal investigations for domestic and global publicly traded and privately held companies on topics ranging from accounting fraud to bribery to sexual misconduct. She recently conducted an internal investigation for a local professional sports team. Rachel also represents executives and members of senior management during company or government investigations of alleged wrongdoing, and has secured declinations for executives ensnared in high-profile public corruption probes.

Rachel also works extensively in cryptocurrency matters, and advises entrepreneurs about regulatory issues surrounding cryptocurrencies, initial coin offerings, and blockchain technology. She helps companies conduct regulatory and other types of due diligence in connection with offering or accepting cryptocurrencies for payment. She has also helped secure declinations for cryptocurrency companies before the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Rachel previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Chicago, where she supervised the bankruptcy fraud program and worked in the Securities and Commodities Fraud Section. She also prosecuted a wide variety of fraud cases involving more than US$100 million in losses, and has indicted corporations, executives, doctors, investment advisors, consultants, real estate developers and public officials, among others. Rachel received a number of awards during her time as an AUSA. She also served as a periodic trial advocacy instructor for the CFTC, the DOJ, and the SEC.

Career

Previously served as an Assistant US Attorney in Chicago, supervising the bankruptcy fraud program and in the Securities and Commodities Fraud Sections.

Professional Memberships

Woman’s board of directors- Art Institute of Chicago

Women’s board of directors - Joffrey Ballet

Board of directors - the Chicago Bar Foundation

Economic Club of Chicago

Personal

Adjunct Professor - Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law