Business & Tort Litigation Investigations & White Collar Defense Issues & Appeals Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection

Jones Day: One Firm Worldwide
rgergesshields@jonesday.com
213.243.2719

Rasha Gerges Shields is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer who focuses on complex civil litigation, white-collar criminal defense, and internal corporate investigations. She has been the lead trial counsel in federal court and has argued before the California Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the California Court of Appeal, and federal and state trial courts.

Prior to rejoining Jones Day in 2014, Rasha was an Assistant United States Attorney in Los Angeles for more than seven years, where she also served as the Deputy Chief of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Section. As a federal prosecutor, she tried numerous criminal trials, argued appeals, and directed federal and local law enforcement agencies in dozens of federal criminal grand jury and wiretap investigations. In addition to prosecuting her own cases, Rasha supervised other prosecutors, evaluated investigations for federal prosecution, and trained law enforcement agents.

Rasha is committed to public service and serving pro bono clients. She is a member of the board of directors of the California Women's Law Center, a member of the board of governors of the Arab American Lawyers of Southern California, and co-chair of LACBA's Dialogues on Freedom Committee. She also volunteers in the Teen Court program at El Rancho High School.

Rasha serves on Jones Day's Firmwide Diversity, Inclusion & Advancement Committee. She and her family immigrated to the United States from Egypt when she was two years old. Rasha was the first person in her extended family to obtain a postgraduate degree.

EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Global packaging company conducts independent investigation in Netherlands of breached shipping container

Federated defends employee arbitration program

Wrongfully convicted client seeks compensation for over 20 years of imprisonment

HONORS & DISTINCTIONS

Recognized in Los Angeles Business Journal as among the "Most Influential Lawyers: White Collar and Cyber Crime" (2015)

"Rising Star," Southern California Super Lawyers

Government service commendations from the DEA, ATF, LAPD, California Narcotic Officers' Association, City of Los Angeles, and the L.A. County District Attorney's Office

EDUCATION

University of California, Los Angeles (J.D. 2001; Order of the Coif; Moot Court President; Recipient of the Law Guild of Beverly Hills Eleanor Klein Merit Award); University of California, Irvine (B.A in Political Science with honors 1997; Phi Beta Kappa)

BAR ADMISSIONS

California, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Ninth Circuits, and U.S. District Courts for the Central, Eastern, and Southern Districts of California

CLERKSHIPS

Law Clerk to the Honorable Ferdinand F. Fernandez, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (2002-2003) and the Honorable Gary A. Feess, U.S. District Court, Central District of California (2001-2002)

GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Served as an Assistant United States Attorney, Central District of California (2007-2014), including Deputy Chief, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Section