Siddartha Rao - Romano Law

Siddartha Rao

Litigation Partner

SRao Inside Profile Pic

Admitted

New York (2009)

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (2009)

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York (2011)

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (2011)

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York (2015)

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (2012)

Law School

University of Texas School of Law, J.D. (2008)

Texas Law Review, Associate Editor

Order of the Barristers

University

Middlebury College B.A., (2004)

Areas of Practice

Business Disputes

Employment Law

Business Law

Siddartha ("Sid") Rao is a commercial litigation and technology attorney with over a decade of experience handling complex commercial matters for clients ranging from small businesses and individuals to large corporations.  He has litigated in federal and state trial and appeal courts in many jurisdictions, including New York, Washington D.C., Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and others, as well in arbitral forums.  Sid also advises clients on issues involving intellectual property protection and licensing and data privacy.

Sid's practice is broad and includes matters relating to debt structuring and recovery, bankruptcy and insolvency, insurance litigation, commercial fraud, breach of contract, intellectual property (copyright, trademark, trade secrets and unfair competition), non-disclosure and non-competition, business defamation and libel, fiduciary duty claims and civil fraud (including state law claims and federal claims such as under the civil RICO statute).

Sid also provides legal advice and counsel to clients in the software, mobile applications and entertainment industries.

Prior to joining Romano Law, Sid worked as a litigation and compliance associate at a banking law firm and as an in-house counsel at a publicly-traded software company before founding and managing a boutique practice for six years.  He has been selected to Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” in 2012, 2014-2019 and 2022.  Only 2.5% of attorneys in the New York metropolitan area receive this distinction. 

Sid is currently a member of the New York City Bar Association and serves as a board member of the New York Asian Film Foundation.  He was a member and secretary of the City’s Bar’s Information Technology & Cyber Law Committee and the Sedona Conference Working Group 1.

Outside of the law, Sid enjoys music and singing.  He has performed with the Ad Hoc Early Music Choir and is an active member of theSoundshop, a New York City organization promoting music and arts education. 

Blog Entries

  • How the New SEC Expansion of “Accredited Investors” and “Qualified Institutional Buyers” Affects You

    On August 26, 2020, The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) revised Rule 501(a), Rule 215, and Rule 144A of the Securities Act to broaden the definition of “accredited investor” and “qualified institutional buyer.”  These amendments come into effect October 27, 2020. Historically, the SEC has heavily regulated the sale or offering of unregistered securities.  It

  • Understanding Hostile Work Environment Claims

    Updated: January 25, 2021 Employers and employees need to be aware of laws regulating workplace conduct, including hostile work environment and hostile workplace laws.  Hostile work environments can arise from overt actions, but also from statements or behavior.  Understanding workplace environment claims and risks requires considering both the law and the facts in a given

  • Are Verbal Agreements Binding in New York? Understanding New York’s Statute of Frauds

    Verbal agreements can be binding under New York law, but it is always best to have a written contract to ensure enforceability and help prevent misunderstandings.  Verbal agreements can become binding contracts if they otherwise meet legal requirements for contract formation. However, there are some types of agreements that must be in writing under New

  • Are You Protected from Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Lawsuits?

    Interest in cryptocurrency and the blockchain technology behind it has soared since the 2009 launch of bitcoin. However, as with any new and evolving area of law and regulation, cryptocurrency litigation risk is high. If you are interested in investing in cryptocurrency, offering your own currency, or developing technology using blockchain, it is crucial to

  • Title VII and Flores v. The National Football League, et al.

    Listen to the podcast: Siddartha Rao, Litigation Partner, discusses the matter on Bloomberg Radio (begins at 30:18) I. Flores Lawsuit Overview  On February 1, 2022, former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores brought a race discrimination class action suit against the NFL and several of its teams.  His complaint alleges that the New York Giants

  • What Is the Metaverse and What Legal Issues Does It Raise?

    The metaverse may seem like a new techie game, but it is a real and growing digital world that raises a host of financial, business and legal issues.  For those who want to take advantage of the opportunities it may offer, consulting knowledgeable professionals will be essential to help make well-informed decisions and minimize risks.

  • Unboxing the Nike v. StockX NFT Lawsuit

    On February 3, 2022, Nike, Inc. started a federal lawsuit against online marketplace StockX LLC over StockX’s use of NFTs.  The lawsuit marks another chapter in the emerging area of NFT litigation that includes Miramax, LLC’s suit against Quentin Tarantino (over “Pulp Fiction” NFTs) and Hermès International, S.A.’s suit against artist Mason Rothschild (concerning “MetaBirkin”

  • What is a Hostile Takeover?

    A hostile takeover is a type of corporate merger transaction.  When a business is bought or sold, it is usually by mutual agreement of the buyer and seller and both parties’ boards of directors and management teams agree to the terms.  The boards then recommend the transaction for a shareholder vote to approve the board’s

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