Mary EllenPowers

Partner-in-Charge Europe

Washington + 1.202.879.3870

Mary Ellen Powers has represented clients in complex civil litigation and high-profile criminal, regulatory, and congressional investigations for more than 35 years. Her practice has included cross-border disputes and investigations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Mary Ellen is Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day in Europe.

Mary Ellen has defended clients against claims under RICO, the Antiterrorism Act, and the Alien Tort Claims Act and in government investigations arising under the FCPA, the USA PATRIOT Act, and under securities, financial, and consumer regulatory statutes. Representations have included: Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell in a corruption investigation, a Saudi construction company in connection with claims arising out of the 9/11 attacks, Mattel in congressional investigations relating to toys manufactured in China, a pedal manufacturer in congressional and NHTSA investigations involving recalled Toyotas, a Macau bank challenging measures imposed by FinCEN under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act, and First American Bankshares in the global fallout from the BCCI scandal. She has also represented clients in toxic tort and environmental litigation, including securing a jury verdict for IBM in a much-publicized trial of claims that workplace exposures caused cancer and successfully defending against novel medical monitoring claims in a case alleging environmental exposure due to vapor intrusion.

Mary Ellen is a director of Attorneys' Liability Assurance Society and a trustee of the Jones Day Foundation. She has served on the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Committee and as a lecturer in trial advocacy at the George Washington University National Law Center.

Experience

  • Former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell's corruption convictions unanimously vacated by Supreme Court and DOJ later drops caseIn a decisive victory for Jones Day client and former Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell, the Supreme Court unanimously vacated Governor McDonnell's convictions for public corruption offenses, rejecting the Department of Justice's legal theory and holding that the instructions given to the jury were erroneously overbroad.
  • Saudi corporations and individuals prevail in Second Circuit in multi-district tort litigation relating to September 11, 2001 attacksJones Day successfully represented eight Saudi corporations and individuals in multi-district litigation relating to the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.
  • IBM resolves claims related to alleged exposure to toxic emissionsJones Day client International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) resolved numerous claims brought by hundreds of current and former residents of Endicott, NY alleging personal injuries, diminution in property values, and other damages related to alleged vapor intrusion and historic air emissions in the area from IBM's former manufacturing facility.
  • Banco Delta Asia secures withdrawal of Section 311 designationJones Day represented Banco Delta Asia, a small family-owned Macau bank, and its owner in a lawsuit challenging the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network's (FinCEN) 2007 designation of the bank as an institution "of primary money laundering concern" under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act.
  • Mattel settles voluntary toy recall litigationJones Day represented Mattel, Inc. ("Mattel") in connection with a number of U.S. federal and state and foreign lawsuits and regulatory actions arising out of voluntary recalls of certain Mattel and Fisher-Price toys.
  • Alfa Capital Markets successfully defends against RICO claim related to plaintiff's failed investment in Russian telecommunications companyJones Day succeeded in obtaining the voluntary dismissal of RICO claims brought against Alfa Capital Markets (U.S.A.), Inc. in connection with the plaintiff's failed effort to acquire a stake in a Russian telecommunications company.
  • Semiconductor company defends against litigation alleging hazardous chemical exposure at its facilitiesJones Day represented a semiconductor company in cases in which the plaintiffs alleged that they were exposed to hazardous chemicals at their workplace, which caused adverse effects in their children.
  • Additional Speaking Engagements

    • March 12, 2014
      Rainbow Lecture, Introductory Remarks, House of Commons
    • June 26, 2007
      Implications of US Criminal and Civil Enforcement Laws on the Conduct of non-US Headquartered Companies
    • May 21, 2007
      Developments in the Law on Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Protection
    • May 11, 2006
      Regulation and Litigation: Considerations in Doing Business in the US