Rory K. Schneider

Rory has particularly deep knowledge and experience regarding disputes arising out of corporate transactions, regularly consulting with transactional counsel in connection with the negotiation and execution of agreements and representing clients in post-transaction disputes. Rory’s experience extends to other complex products and transactions as well. On behalf of securities issuers, underwriters and trustees, Rory has litigated a host of legal and factual issues surrounding the treatment of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS). Among other things, Rory served as the principal draftsperson for several successful motions for summary judgments on behalf of an RMBS trustee facing actions arising from the financial crisis and appellate briefs sustaining those victories and setting precedent on cross-cutting issues in dozens of related cases. Rory also recently briefed and argued an appeal on behalf of a syndicate of lenders facing a series of claims concerning construction of a billion-dollar power plant, achieving dismissal of certain claims and sustaining dismissal of others.

Rory devotes substantial time to pro bono matters as well. He has drafted amicus briefs in cases addressing the rights of same-sex couples and immigrants, successfully challenged the removal of a Sudanese refugee seeking asylum in the United States, and overturned on appeal a criminal defendant’s sentence as unconstitutional and secured a materially lower one on remand.

Prior to joining Mayer Brown, Rory served as a law clerk to Judge Marjorie O. Rendell of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Rory also spent a year as a litigation associate at another international law firm.

• Successfully defended a multinational trading company in a confidential AAA arbitration arising out of a failed acquisition;
• Represented a global chemical company in a series of confidential ICC arbitration arising out of the sale of a foreign subsidiary;
• Represented a multinational research-and-development firm in multi-year effort to recover funds following its discovery of a fraud at an acquisition target, as a result of which the client recovered close to $100 million from various sources;
• Represented BNY Mellon in an appeal to the New York Court of Appeals, in which the Court reversed the decision below and found that BNY Mellon and other RMBS trustee co-defendants did not have contractual and common law duties to enforce repurchase obligations on mortgage loan originators. (IKB Int’l, S.A. v. Well Fargo Bank, N.A., N.Y. Court of Appeals)
• Represented BNY Mellon in an appeal from a complete defense verdict following a three-week trial in Ohio state court, resulting in the complete affirmance of the verdict on appeal and early adoption of key arguments impacting similar future claims. (Western & Southern Life Ins. Co. v. Bank of New York Mellon, Ohio Court of Appeals)
• Currently representing BNY Mellon in a multi-year action by an RMBS investor in the District Court for the Southern District of New York, in which summary judgment was granted in BNY Mellon’s favor on all claims. (Pacific Life Ins. Co. v. Bank of New York Mellon, S.D.N.Y.)