Renee Pesiri

RENÉE PESIRI has significant experience handling all phases of high-stakes trial, arbitration, and litigation matters in many jurisdictions and subject matter areas, including false advertising, unfair competition, unfair and deceptive practices, complex commercial disputes, shareholder demands, employment litigation, suits against departed employees, theft of confidential information, breach of fiduciary duty and duty of loyalty, and misappropriation of corporate opportunities.

Renée also handles regulatory matters, including regulatory government investigations. She defends individuals and companies — including public tech, fin-tech, and biopharmaceutical companies — during complex investigations by various government entities including the SEC, FCC, FTC, DEA, DOJ, and state AG offices.

In law school, Renée participated in the Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy Clinic, where she co-authored a patent reexamination request on behalf of the Electronic Frontier Foundation challenging a patent repeatedly asserted against municipalities that use vehicle tracking and notification technology. Renée also received the Jurisprudence Award in Information Privacy Law. After college, Renée worked at a tech start-up, where she participated in all aspects of the development and launch of a smartphone app, featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, Mashable, Gizmodo, and ABC News.

Renée’s recent notable white collar defense and government enforcement matters include:

• Trial counsel for Zovio and Ashford University in action brought by the California Attorney General alleging unfair trade practices and violations of California’s false advertising law based on allegations of recruiting misconduct and seeking US$75 million in restitution and civil penalties.
• Defended DIRECTV against the Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit alleging misleading and deceptive advertising and seeking injunctive and monetary relief of US$4 billion, resulting in a voluntary abandonment of the case by the Federal Trade Commission.
• Represented a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in parallel investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice criminal and civil divisions related to allegations of false and misleading promotional practices.
• Defended public fintech company during SEC investigation into potential violations of fiduciary duties and inadequate compliance program.
• Representation of a publicly traded drug development company in an SEC investigation regarding statements concerning efficacy and study outcomes.
• Represented large brokerage firm during parallel investigations by multiple states into trading practices.
• Represented a major international pharmaceutical company in investigation by California’s Department of Insurance. 
• Represented an individual in connection with an SEC investigation concerning compliance with security regulations.
• Represented a large telecommunications company in parallel investigations by multiple federal entities.
• Represented an education company during investigation by California Attorney General into business practices.
• Represented an insurance company in investigation by state’s department of financial services.

Renée’s recent commercial litigation cases include:

• Represented plaintiff in litigation against competitor and former employees regarding recruitment and data theft. Secured US$10 million victory for client, including attorneys’ fees and costs.
• Represented plaintiff in breach of contract dispute related to ownership of past work. Mediation resulted in favorable outcome for client.
• Represented multinational technological manufacturer in its defense against contract dispute brought by one of the company’s suppliers. Causes of action included fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, breach of implied-in-fact contract, and unjust enrichment. 
• Represented multinational technology company in two shareholder derivative suits.
• Represented investment firm in firm’s claims against departed employee for breach of contract, theft of trade secrets, and breach of fiduciary duty.

• Associate Deputy San Francisco Chair, SidleyWomen
• Women’s White Collar Defense Association
• Women in Business Law Mentorship Program

• Part of a team of Sidley lawyers investigating the hiring practices of the San Francisco Police Department as part of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Transparency, Accountability and Fairness in Law Enforcement convened by SF District Attorney George Gascon. Authored chapter on hiring that appeared in the final report.
• Defended deposition in connection with action against police officers for excessive force.
• Secured a 15-month sentence for a client charged with violating 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), though the client was facing 15-21 months.
• Attained a three-month sentence for a client charged with acting as a drug courier in connection with a larger conspiracy. The client was facing 21-27 months and had previously pleaded guilty to the same offense in state court.
• After appearances in state courts, successfully expunged a former convict’s lengthy record.  
• Attained closure of immigration proceedings pending against a teenager.
• Drafted application for Combat-Related Special Compensation for a veteran with PTSD.