DOREEN RACHAL focuses her practice on white collar criminal defense, internal investigations, and criminal and civil government investigations. She represents companies and individuals in matters involving civil and criminal investigations, including grand jury matters, and enforcement actions conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and state government agencies. She has extensive experience conducting complex global internal investigations and advising boards on internal compliance programs. Her clients span a variety of industries, including financial services, life sciences, technology, and maritime. Doreen is a member of Sidley’s White Collar Defense and Investigations, Healthcare, and Securities Enforcement and Regulatory groups.
Prior to joining Sidley, Doreen served as an Assistant United States Attorney at the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts in the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit, where she handled qui tam actions and prosecuted healthcare fraud matters involving potential violations of the False Claims Act. Prior to joining the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit, Doreen served in a supervisory capacity as the Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Unit. In that role, Doreen prosecuted civil and criminal asset forfeiture cases involving money laundering, drug trafficking, healthcare fraud, and securities violations. During her tenure at the United States Attorney’s Office, Doreen successfully handled several trials as lead counsel.
Prior to joining the United States Attorney’s Office, Doreen was an associate at a global law firm, as well as a law clerk for the Honorable Chief Justice (Ret.) Roderick L. Ireland of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
In 2024, Doreen was honored by the Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys with the “Ida B. Wells Award,” which recognizes Black women attorneys who have made significant contributions to the legal profession. Doreen’s experience and commitment to public service earned her the Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services’ 2023 “Adams Pro Bono Publico Award” and the National Bar Association’s 2019 “Outstanding Women Lawyer Hidden Figure/Impact Award.” Doreen is frequently recognized by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and was named to their 2023 “Pro Bono Spotlight.” She received Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s 2022 Excellence in the Law Award for “Excellence in Pro Bono” for her outstanding leadership, vision, advocacy, and contributions in the community, as well as the 2018 “Top Women of Law” Award, which celebrates outstanding achievements made by exceptional women lawyers. Doreen was recognized by Massachusetts Super Lawyers for Criminal Defense: White Collar (2022–2023), and she has been recognized as “Up and Coming” for Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations by Chambers USA (2024).