Practice Areas
Related News
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- Abbie Peluso Selected to the Leadership of Greater Chicago (LGC)
- Abigail Peluso Moderating ABA Continuing Legal Education Online on Infrastructure and Pandemic Relief Funds
- Former Federal Prosecutor Abigail Peluso Joins RSHC
Bio
Abbie Peluso is a trial lawyer who focuses on complex
commercial litigation, government enforcement actions, internal and external
investigations, and white collar criminal matters.
Abbie has a keen ability to distill complicated facts and
evidence into understandable, simple concepts.
Abbie is also adept at preparing witnesses to testify under challenging
circumstances and conducting investigations involving potentially high-profile
and sensitive allegations.
Prior to returning to private practice, Abbie served for over
11 years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office
for the Northern District of Illinois, in both the Civil and Criminal
Divisions. Abbie led civil investigations involving False Claims Act
violations, government contracting fraud, research grant fraud, and allegations
of employment discrimination. Abbie also prosecuted complex criminal cases,
including matters involving public corruption, financial fraud, and health care
fraud. As a Deputy Chief in the General Crimes Section, she trained and
supervised new federal prosecutors, oversaw hundreds of grand jury
investigations, and led the Office’s Human Trafficking Program, supervising all
sex trafficking and labor trafficking matters in the district. Abbie led
teams in complex jury and bench trials, and she briefed and argued appeals
before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Abbie is the Deputy Chair of both the General Litigation Team and the White Collar, Investigations & Compliance Team.
Experience
Representative Engagements
- Obtained a defense verdict for an international insurance company, in a federal jury trial alleging bad faith refusal to settle and seeking damages in excess of $1 billion.
- Obtained over $14 million in settlement proceeds for a plaintiff in a federal wrongful conviction lawsuit.
- Led prosecution team in a complex case involving a 15-count indictment, three defendants, and allegations regarding a decade-long conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
- Conducted a joint investigation with the DOJ’s Civil Fraud Section of a corporation and six individuals related to fraudulent billing practices at a major hospice company. Served as a trial attorney for the criminal trial, including handling all expert testimony.
- Conducted a civil investigation of a medical practitioner accused of fraudulent billing practices and served as a trial attorney in the criminal trial, including handling the direct examination of all experts and cross-examination of the defense expert.
Credentials
Education
Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D., 2007
Regional Champion, National Moot Court Team
Best Oralist Award, Intraschool Moot Court
University of Wisconsin, B.A., Legal Studies, 2004
Bar Admissions
Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
Professional Memberships
Leadership of Greater Chicago (LGC), Fellow (2024)
Legal Aid Chicago, Ambassador’s Board
Women's White Collar Defense Association
Chicago Chapter, Member
Teaching Appointments
Adjunct Professor of Law, Loyola University School of Law (2015-2017)
Honors & Awards
HSI Executive Associate Director Award for Outstanding Investigative Accomplishments – Child Exploitation (2022)
Illinois Leading Lawyer in Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense Law: White Collar, Law Bulletin Media Leading Lawyers (2022-2025)
FBI Director’s Award for Superior Performance (2013)
Publications & Presentations
“Corporate Guardians: Trends and Considerations Affecting Gatekeeper Liability,” (co-panelist) Securities Docket Webcast (December 9, 2024)
“Protecting the Privilege During an Internal Investigation,” (co-panelist) Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter CLE Webinar (April 17, 2024)
“Conducting Successful Internal Investigations,” (co-panelist) Perrin Conferences Webinar Sponsored by RSHC (October 10, 2023)
“Hot Topics 2022: Focus on Infrastructure and Pandemic Relief Funds,” (co-moderator) American Bar Association (ABA) Civil False Claims 2022 Virtual Conference (September 14, 2022)
“An Allied Front Against Ransomware,” (co-author) Best Lawyers Legal Insights (November 4, 2021)