Carolyn R. Raines is a partner in the complex litigation/dispute resolution group. Carolyn brings more than 29 years of legal experience representing clients in state and federal courts, arbitrations, regulatory actions, and class actions. She manages complex litigation and advises clients in sophisticated business matters.

She has represented clients in numerous significant matters, including representing officers and directors of public companies in state and federal court against claims for violations of federal and state securities laws, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and conspiracy; representing credit card processors against claims by issuers and merchants for violations of the Visa Rules; representing investment firms, hedge funds, and registered representatives in customer disputes and regulatory actions involving fraud, Ponzi schemes, forgery, misrepresentations, unsuitability, excessive markups, unauthorized trading, restitution, and violations of federal and state securities laws; representing major insurance companies in premium litigation and multi-state class actions challenging industry practices; and representing companies in disputes involving the PCS auctions conducted by the Federal Communications Commission.

She has represented clients in numerous significant matters, including representing officers and directors of public companies in state and federal court against claims for violations of federal and state securities laws, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and conspiracy; representing credit card processors against claims by issuers and merchants for violations of the Visa Rules; representing investment firms, hedge funds, and registered representatives in customer disputes and regulatory actions involving fraud, Ponzi schemes, forgery, misrepresentations, unsuitability, excessive markups, unauthorized trading, restitution, and violations of federal and state securities laws; representing major insurance companies in premium litigation and multi-state class actions challenging industry practices; and representing companies in disputes involving the PCS auctions conducted by the Federal Communications Commission.

Carolyn also represents clients in a wide assortment of contract claims and torts, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage buy-back and indemnity disputes, foreclosures, real estate investments, fraud, fidelity bond coverage claims, partnership agreements, employment and non-competition agreements, insurance policies, minority shareholder disputes, and defamation.

Carolyn is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Dallas Bar Association, and Executive Women of Dallas. She received her J.D., with honors from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law where she was an Order of the Coif Scholar and editor of the SMU Law Review. She holds a B.B.A. in finance from Texas Tech University.

  • Represented a very large provider of products and services to the energy industry in all civil litigation arising out of BP’s Macondo well blowout (Deepwater Horizon) in the Gulf of Mexico
  • Represented officers and directors of a large bankrupt food distribution company against claims by the company’s bankruptcy trustee alleging, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, negligence, fraudulent transfers. Plaintiff asserted 27 different causesof action against 26 defendants and sought over $300 million in alleged damages. The parties reached a confidential settlement
  • Represented former outside directors and the audit committee of publicly held energy company engaged in crude oil terminalling, storage, gathering and transportation services in a class action alleging violations of numerous federal securities laws. The case was settled within policy limits
  • Represented eight former outside directors and the former general counsel of a bankrupt corporation that was the country’s largest food wholesaler. Our clients were sued in several securities class actions and shareholder derivative suits brought in Texas and Oklahoma state and federal courts.  The case was settled within policy limits after a mediation and before discovery commenced
  • Took over the representation of a limited partner after entry of a summary judgment finding that the client had breached his fiduciary duty to the partnership by competing against the partnership in the PCS auctions conducted by the Federal Communications Commission.  During the trial on damages, the trial court reversed the summary judgment ruling and the jury verdict resulted in a take nothing judgment in favor of our client
  • Represented multimillion dollar company in dispute with minority partner. Negotiated buyout of minority partner before discovery commenced
  • Represented a large merchant acquirer and credit card payment processor in a lawsuit in federal court in Delaware. Plaintiff, an issuer of Visa and MasterCard credit cards, alleged that our client had improperly processed certain credit card transactions on behalf of a large merchant.  Plaintiff was seeking approximately $33.5 million in damages.  The parties reached a confidential settlement
  • Represented large “bankers bank” in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage buyback and indemnity suits. The cases all settled before trial
  • Represented client in claims for fraud and violations of state and federal securities laws in Texas federal court and criminal restitution proceedings in Connecticut federal court against a portfolio manager that was involved in an elaborate fraudulent scheme to artificially increase the rate of return earned on the investments owned by his hedge fund and dramatically increase the management and performance fees paid by the hedge fund to the portfolio manager. Obtained a very favorable settlement for our client
  • Represented the Audit Committee of what had formerly been one of the nation’s largest distributors of computer supplies against claims for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, negligence, fraudulent transfers, among other claims. The case was settled within policy limits after extensive discovery
  • Represented limited partner against claims for fraud, conversion, defamation, and negligence arising from the bankruptcy of a large real estate development. During trial, the parties reached a settlement very favorable to our client
  • Represented a large manufacturing company in lawsuit against a major customer that breached its exclusive requirements contract. The parties reached a settlement after conducting expert discovery on damages
  • Represented an investment firm in a disciplinary proceeding alleging violations of the FINRA rules and federal securities laws relating to the markups on millions of dollars of U.S. Treasury STRIPS
  • Represented the former independent directors of a Fortune 500 company in derivative litigation arising out of the stock option backdating controversy. The consolidated lawsuits were pending simultaneously in three separate forums in two states.  The parties reached a settlement
  • Represented the former CEO of a major global corporation that supplies pumps, valves, seals automation, and services to the power, oil, gas, and chemical industries in securities class action and related shareholder derivative litigation. After two years of discovery, the Court denied class certification and granted summary judgment on all claims.  The matter settled after an appeal
  • Represented a regional brokerage firm and have handled numerous matters (many in arbitration) regarding securities and other issues involved in broker-client relationships
  • Represented a brokerage firm against complaints and arbitration proceedings initiated by several clients relating to an option trading program that the broker represented would never result in losses to the clients
  • Represented a brokerage firm in lawsuit against insurer of fidelity bond for losses sustained by the firm because of an elaborate fraud and forgery scheme implemented by one of the firm’s brokers. The matter was settled prior to the depositions of insurer’s employees
  • Represented large insurance company in class actions in 13 different states challenging insurance industry practices relating to the premiums for complex business insurance

Press Releases

19 Munck Wilson Mandala Attorneys Named Texas Super Lawyers

The 2021 list of Texas Super Lawyers will be published in the October issue of Texas Monthly. The annual Texas Super Lawyers list honors Texas’ top lawyers based on surveys of more than 57,000 active attorneys across the state. The final list is estimated to be only five percent of Texas’ licensed attorneys. Several MWM partners

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Press Releases

Munck Wilson Mandala Welcomes Litigation Partner Carolyn Raines

“Adding Carolyn to our litigation team was a big win for us and we owe this success to the recruiting skills of our co-chair of litigation Jenny Martinez.  She was integral in our efforts to bring Carolyn over to our team,” said managing partner William A. Munck. “Carolyn and I have worked together for many

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Press Releases

23 Munck Wilson Mandala Lawyers Named to 2024 Best Lawyers List

Munck Wilson Mandala is pleased to announce that 23 lawyers have been included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic

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Press Releases

18 Munck Wilson Mandala Attorneys Named Texas Super Lawyers 2023

Munck Wilson Mandala congratulates 18 attorneys who have been recognized as Texas Super Lawyers for 2023. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Produced and managed by Thomson Reuters, the selection process involves independent research,

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Press Releases

Munck Wilson Mandala Ranked Among 2024 Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”

In Dallas, MWM ranked as a Best Law Firm® in commercial litigation, copyright law, corporate law, employment law/management, insurance law, labor law/management, litigation/construction, litigation/intellectual property, litigation/labor and employment, litigation/patent, mergers and acquisitions law, patent law, sports law, technology law, trademark law, and venture capital law. In Austin, MWM ranked as a Best Law Firm® in

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Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, JD, 1993

Order of the Coif

Editor, SMU Law Review

Texas Tech University, BBA, 1986

Finance

  • State Bar of Texas
  • Executive Women of Dallas
  • Dallas Bar Association

  • Best Lawyers in America
    2014 – 2024
  • Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters
    2016 -2023
  • AV-rated “Preeminent”, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Editor, SMU Law Review
  • Member: Order of the Coif

Texas, 1993

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit