Professional Experience
Formerly Chief of the White Collar Crime Section of the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, a major portion of Ralph's practice involves complex commercial disputes, environmental litigation matters and advice to lawyers and law firms involving separation and dissolution of practices, including defense of professional negligence claims. Ralph also has extensive experience in construction and real estate disputes.
Ralph represents individuals and corporations in white-collar criminal investigations by governmental agencies encompassing environmental, health care, securities fraud, antitrust, tax and government procurement matters.
A respected speaker, having addressed both legal and community organizations, Ralph was recently named as one of Ohio's Super Litigation Attorneys and was also named as one of Cleveland's leading white collar defense attorneys by Chambers USA.
Areas Of Emphasis
Antitrust and Unfair Trade Practices
Ralph's significant antitrust, malpractice, unfair trade, and commercial litigation experience, both as defense counsel and a prosecutor includes:
- Litigating real estate, title, zoning and construction contract disputes relating to major office building projects, abandoned industrial facilities and residential properties.
- Representation of accountants and attorneys in the defense of professional malpractice claims in federal and state court proceedings. Representation of lawyers and law firm in disputes arising from separation of practices and termination of employment, including dissolution of a law firm under Bankruptcy Court supervision.
- Defending and prosecuting claims of unfair competition, majority/minority shareholder disputes, trade secret covenant-not-to compete and tortuous interference with business relationships including claims asserted under civil (federal and state) RICO statutes and the Economic Espionage Act.
- Representation of borrowers and lending institutions including loan participation agreement disputes.
Presentations
- "Negotiations 101: Plea Agreements, Sentencing, Attorney-Client Privilege, Pre-Trial Diversion (1.0)," panel discussion in seminar on "White Collar Crime: Latest Trends and Best Practices," sponsored by the CMBA and Federal Bar Association, Northern District of Ohio Chapter, December 17, 2010
Professional & Community Associations
- Fellow, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- American and Ohio Bar Associations
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
- Master Bencher, A.J. Celebrezze Inn of Court
- Life Member, Conference of the Eighth Judicial District of Ohio
- Member, Judicial Advisory Committee to the U.S. District Court (Northern District of Ohio)
- Member of Panel of Mediators for Commercial Disputes - Cuyahoga County, Ohio Common Pleas Court
- Member, U.S. Attorney's Advisory Council
- Leadership Cleveland, Class of 2006
Education
T.M. Cooley School of Law, J.D., 1976
University of Notre Dame, B.A., 1971
Licensed to Practice
- U.S., Ohio and Florida Supreme Courts
- Numerous Federal district and appellate courts
Awards & Recognitions2010 - Selected for inclusion in Inside Business magazine's current listing of Northeast Ohio's "Leading Lawyers," an honor bestowed upon only one percent of the region's practicing attorneys - Civil LitigationAV rated by Martindale-Hubbell 2008-2009 - Recognized as a leading practitioner in the field of criminal law by the London-based publications, The International Who's Who of Business Crime Lawyers, 2008 and The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, 2009 2006-2007 - Recognized in the 2006 & 2007 editions of Corporate Counsel Magazine: Best Lawyers - Environmental Law 2006-2012 - Selected for inclusion in the 2006-2012 editions of The Best Lawyers in America. Listed in current edition for Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Litigation - Construction; Litigation - Environmental. 2005-2012 - Selected for inclusion in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Ohio) 2004-2012 - Selected for inclusion in Ohio Super Lawyers magazine. Areas of practice: Business Litigation; Criminal Defense: White Collar; Environmental Litigation. |
Articles by Ralph E. CascarillaJune 2005 – Client Alert on Environmental Law: Toxic Release Inventory Data Due July 1 |
