Biography
Molly Rao is an associate in the Litigation & Investigations Group.
Molly represents investment advisers, hedge funds, and multinational companies in complex commercial litigation, fund governance disputes, securities matters and regulatory investigations.
Her practice includes disputes involving private fund structures, fund governing documents, fiduciary duties, investor rights, valuation disputes, and books-and-records demands. She has experience advising and litigating matters arising from limited partnership agreements, operating agreements, general partner and manager conduct, and fund-related disclosure issues.
Molly has handled all aspects of litigation at the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts and in arbitration proceedings. She has managed complex discovery matters, taken and defended depositions, conducted direct examinations of expert witnesses, worked extensively with financial and industry experts, and developed litigation strategy in high-stakes business disputes. She also has significant experience drafting dispositive motions, trial briefs, and appellate briefs.
In addition to her litigation practice, Molly regularly counsels clients on sensitive regulatory and enforcement matters involving allegations of financial fraud, securities fraud, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations, and False Claims Act issues.
Prior to joining Seward & Kissel, Molly served as a law clerk to the Honorable Susan Richard Nelson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.
She received her J.D. from Cornell Law School and her B.S., magna cum laude, in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona.
Capabilities
Areas of Focus
Credentials
Education
Cornell Law School
- J.D., 2014
University of Arizona
- B.S., 2011
- magna cum laude
Bar Admissions
- New York
Publications
- “When a Complaint is Actually Frivolous: Threatening to Seek Rule 11 Sanctions as an Appropriate and Effective Strategy,” New York Law Journal (2025)
Areas of Focus
Credentials
Education
Cornell Law School
- J.D., 2014
University of Arizona
- B.S., 2011
- magna cum laude
Bar Admissions
- New York
Publications
- “When a Complaint is Actually Frivolous: Threatening to Seek Rule 11 Sanctions as an Appropriate and Effective Strategy,” New York Law Journal (2025)