Derek Rocha
Partner
Derek is a seasoned litigator who has experience representing his clients’ interests at all stages of litigation.
Derek’s litigation practice focuses on complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts across multiple jurisdictions. He has experience representing businesses and individuals in a wide array of subject areas, including health care, financial services and banking, construction, commercial contracts, class actions, consumer protection, and business torts. Derek also assists clients in dispute avoidance by advising them on relevant legal and regulatory issues that impact their policies and procedures, and daily business operations. Regardless of the setting, Derek is a passionate advocate for his clients who analyzes complex legal issues and identifies effective strategies for their resolution.
Derek has significant experience representing health care providers before state and federal courts and administrative agencies on matters ranging from patient privacy and standard of care disputes to fraud and abuse laws and investigations. He also advises health care providers in matters relating to Medicare and Medicaid, professional liability, and state laws pertaining to the provision of telehealth services.
Derek’s banking and finance practice includes representing national banks and financial services companies in disputes arising out of the Dodd-Frank Act, the Uniform Commercial Code, and state and federal consumer protection laws and regulations. Derek has also advised banking clients on establishing the appropriate policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the National Bank Act, and various state laws pertaining to unclaimed property, garnishment of customer accounts, and trust management and conversions.
During law school, Derek served as a judicial extern to the Honorable William P. Robinson III of the Rhode Island Supreme Court and was a Notes Editor for the Boston College Journal of Law & Social Justice.
When he is not in the office, Derek can usually be found outside or in the kitchen. He enjoys hiking up and skiing down New England’s many mountains, as well as experimenting with new recipes, often with varying levels of success.
Services/Industries
Education
- Boston College Law School (J.D., cum laude)
- Boston College (B.A.)
Bar Admissions
- Rhode Island
- Massachusetts
Court and Other Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island
Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Boston Bar Association
- Rhode Island Bar Association
Honors
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch® under Commercial Litigation in Boston, Massachusetts (2021-2026)
- Selected by peers for inclusion in Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Stars under Employment and Labor
- Selected by peers for inclusion in Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Stars under Business Litigation
Learn more about the third-party ratings, rankings, and selection processes used for inclusion.
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