From cyber-attacks and the theft of trade secrets to the risks of foreign influence and corruption, Shoba Pillay helps businesses understand, prepare for, investigate, and litigate a range of internal and external threats. Shoba is a former federal prosecutor and dynamic trial lawyer who leads complex and high-stakes internal and government-facing investigations, advises clients on mitigating and responding to cybersecurity risks, and provides advice and guidance on developing robust regulatory compliance programs.
Increasingly, all businesses are data businesses, and Shoba works with companies and individuals of all sizes and in all industries. Shoba leverages her technical acumen, national security experience, and understanding of the threat landscape to provide clients with advice on preparing for a cybersecurity incident, managing and navigating the aftermath, and handling regulatory compliance and litigation.
As a federal prosecutor, Shoba gained substantial experience with complex investigations and prosecutions involving cybercrime, complex fraud, human trafficking, theft of trade secrets, terrorism, espionage, and export control and international sanctions violations. Among her significant trials during her eleven years in the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Illinois, Shoba prosecuted a theft of trade secrets case involving a Chinese competitor, the computer intrusion of a Fortune 500 company, and the illegal export of technical data to China. She was honored with the Department of Justice John Marshall Award from the Attorney General in 2022. Shoba serves as a Co-Chair of the firm’s National Security and Crisis Practice, Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice, and Reproductive Health Task Force.
Companies face a huge breadth of risks. They need legal practitioners who stay on top of the changing environment to provide them with steady support as they navigate these threats.
Representative Matters
- Served as the court-appointed Examiner in the chapter 11 cases of Celsius Network LLC and its affiliated debtors. Celsius was a global cryptocurrency lending platform that accepted cryptocurrency deposits from public customers and had more than $25 billion in assets pre-bankruptcy. In June 2022, the company paused all customer transfers and withdrawals and filed bankruptcy the following month. As Examiner, Shoba was appointed in September 2022 to investigate and report on: Celsius’s cryptocurrency assets, including how and where those cryptocurrency assets were held and whether different types of accounts were commingled; Celsius’s “CEL” token, including why and how other digital assets were converted into CEL tokens and how those tokens were marketed, stored, and traded; representations made by Celsius in public representations to customers to attract them to the company’s platform and about the company’s cryptocurrency holdings and account offerings; allegations that Celsius may have been a Ponzi scheme; and allegations involving the company’s systems for paying taxes and utility obligations for its crypto mining operations. Following the investigation, which included reviewing over 500 GB of data and conducting over 50 interviews, including the former CEO, Shoba published her final Examiner’s Report in January 2023. The report is available here.
- Conducted an internal review and produced a major public report for the Chicago Blackhawks, investigating allegations that a player was sexually assaulted by an assistant coach.
- Led internal review of employment discrimination allegations involving human resources executive for large company in energy industry.
- Led internal review of sexual assault allegations involving C-suite executive for technology company.
- Led multiple cybersecurity incident response in a range of industries.
Credentials
Service / Recognition
Overview
From cyber-attacks and the theft of trade secrets to the risks of foreign influence and corruption, Shoba Pillay helps businesses understand, prepare for, investigate, and litigate a range of internal and external threats. Shoba is a former federal prosecutor and dynamic trial lawyer who leads complex and high-stakes internal and government-facing investigations, advises clients on mitigating and responding to cybersecurity risks, and provides advice and guidance on developing robust regulatory compliance programs.
Increasingly, all businesses are data businesses, and Shoba works with companies and individuals of all sizes and in all industries. Shoba leverages her technical acumen, national security experience, and understanding of the threat landscape to provide clients with advice on preparing for a cybersecurity incident, managing and navigating the aftermath, and handling regulatory compliance and litigation.
As a federal prosecutor, Shoba gained substantial experience with complex investigations and prosecutions involving cybercrime, complex fraud, human trafficking, theft of trade secrets, terrorism, espionage, and export control and international sanctions violations. Among her significant trials during her eleven years in the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Illinois, Shoba prosecuted a theft of trade secrets case involving a Chinese competitor, the computer intrusion of a Fortune 500 company, and the illegal export of technical data to China. She was honored with the Department of Justice John Marshall Award from the Attorney General in 2022. Shoba serves as a Co-Chair of the firm’s National Security and Crisis Practice, Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice, and Reproductive Health Task Force.
Companies face a huge breadth of risks. They need legal practitioners who stay on top of the changing environment to provide them with steady support as they navigate these threats.
Areas of Focus
Representative Matters
- Served as the court-appointed Examiner in the chapter 11 cases of Celsius Network LLC and its affiliated debtors. Celsius was a global cryptocurrency lending platform that accepted cryptocurrency deposits from public customers and had more than $25 billion in assets pre-bankruptcy. In June 2022, the company paused all customer transfers and withdrawals and filed bankruptcy the following month. As Examiner, Shoba was appointed in September 2022 to investigate and report on: Celsius’s cryptocurrency assets, including how and where those cryptocurrency assets were held and whether different types of accounts were commingled; Celsius’s “CEL” token, including why and how other digital assets were converted into CEL tokens and how those tokens were marketed, stored, and traded; representations made by Celsius in public representations to customers to attract them to the company’s platform and about the company’s cryptocurrency holdings and account offerings; allegations that Celsius may have been a Ponzi scheme; and allegations involving the company’s systems for paying taxes and utility obligations for its crypto mining operations. Following the investigation, which included reviewing over 500 GB of data and conducting over 50 interviews, including the former CEO, Shoba published her final Examiner’s Report in January 2023. The report is available here.
- Conducted an internal review and produced a major public report for the Chicago Blackhawks, investigating allegations that a player was sexually assaulted by an assistant coach.
- Led internal review of employment discrimination allegations involving human resources executive for large company in energy industry.
- Led internal review of sexual assault allegations involving C-suite executive for technology company.
- Led multiple cybersecurity incident response in a range of industries.
Credentials
Admissions
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
Education
- Boston College Law School, JD, 2003
- Washington University in St. Louis, BA, Political Science, 1998
Court Admissions
- US Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court, District of Massachusetts
Service / Recognition
Awards
- Crains Chicago Business, Notable Women in Law, 2026
- The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Emerging Leader Award, 2024
- Law Bulletin Media, Top Women in Law, 2024
- Attorney General's Award, 2022
- Crain’s Chicago Business, Notable Gen X Leaders in Accounting, Consulting, and Law, 2022
- Chambers USA, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, 2023-2026
- Global Data Review, Women in Data 2022
- FBI Certificate of Recognition: Christopher A. Wray, Director, FBI, August 2017; FBI Certificate of Recognition, James B. Comey, Director, FBI, January 2017
- Cook County Crime Stoppers Excellence in Law Enforcement, November 2016
- DEA Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Contributions in Drug Law Enforcement, January 2015
Community
- Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Member, Board of Directors
- Beat the Streets Chicago, Member and Audit Committee Chair, Board of Directors
- Girl Security, Member, Board of Directors