Tara J. Plochocki
Partner
Ms. Plochocki’s legal career is marked by a commitment to justice, international collaboration, and the strategic resolution of complex legal challenges. She litigates a wide range of transnational claims arising from breaches of contract, racketeering, fraud, defamation, and tortious business practices, both at the trial and appellate levels. Tara obtains recognition of foreign arbitral awards and judgments to facilitate asset recovery efforts. Her expertise extends to conducting post-judgment discovery and initiating discovery actions under 28 U.S.C. § 1782 to gather evidence for use in foreign proceedings. Tara also advises international clients on treaty application and interpretation, jurisdictional matters, and US litigation strategies.
Ms. Plochocki is the first Washington D.C.-based attorney for Sequor Law, establishing the firm’s presence in the nation’s capital. She is also the Washington, D.C. member of ICC Fraudnet, the world’s leading asset recovery network.
In addition to her international civil litigation practice, Ms. Plochocki represents individuals in connection with congressional and law enforcement investigations. She also advises on extradition law and regularly serves as an expert in proceedings in the UK and other Commonwealth countries.
Ms. Plochocki regularly speaks at global conferences on fraud and asset tracing, as well as the extraterritorial application of U.S. law.
Ms. Plochocki is dedicated to pro bono service and litigates matters at the intersection of constitutional rights, international law, and national security. She successfully represented detainees in Guantanamo Bay when she won the first habeas petition in over ten years, construing the laws of war to obtain the release of her client. She also challenged the United States’ designation of individuals for death by drone strike, including obtaining a ruling that U.S. citizens have a constitutional right to due process before they may be targeted by the United States. Ms. Plochocki also authors amicus briefs on behalf of individuals and organizations on issues of fairness in education, criminal justice and national security.
Favorite Quote
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead
Languages
- English
Tara J. Plochocki
Partner
As of 2019, Tara J. Plochocki is Board Certified in International Litigation and Arbitration by the Florida Bar.
Desde 2019, Tara J. Plochocki está certificado pela Ordem dos Advogados da Flórida como especialista em Litígio e Arbitragem Internacionais.
Tara J. Plochocki
Partner
Education
- University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, MI
- Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, May 2007
- Managing Editor, Michigan Journal of International Law 2006-2007
- Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY
- Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, Political Science & Philosophy, May 2002
Admissions
- California
- New York
- District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Tara J. Plochocki
Partner
Honors / Achievements
- Super Lawyers, Rising Star International Law 2017-2018
Tara J. Plochocki is an ICC FraudNet Member. ICC FraudNet is a worldwide network of leading lawyers who specialise in fraud, international asset tracing and recovery. Visit https://iccfraudnet.org/members to learn more about the network and our members.
Tara J. Plochocki
Partner
Presentations
- Speaker at Asset Recovery International, Dublin, Ireland, 2022
- Speaker at Thought Leaders for FIRE, Cayman Islands, 2023
- Speaker at American Conference Institute C5 Fraud, Asset Tracing & Recovery, Miami, 2024
- ICC Fraudnet Conference, British Virgin Islands, 2024
- University of Wisconsin Law School
- Washington University of St. Louis
Publications
- China’s Defiance Over South China Sea Shows Limits Of International Courts, Forbes, July 12, 2016, https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielfisher/2016/07/12/chinas-defiance-over-south-china-sea-shows-limits-of-international-courts/?sh=64fdb0f67841
- Spencer S. Hsu, Judge allows journalist to challenge claimed inclusion on U.S. drone ‘kill list’, Washington Post, June 13, 2018, https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/judge-allows-journalist-to-challenge-claimed-inclusion-on-us-drone-kill-list/2018/06/13/956fe70c-6f5d-11e8-afd5-778aca903bbe_story.html
- Matt Taibbi, How to Survive America’s Kill List, Rolling Stone, July 19, 2018, https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/how-to-survive-americas-kill-list-699334/
- Carol Rosenberg, Detention of an Afghan at Guantánamo Bay Is Ruled Unlawful, New York Times, Oct. 20, 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/20/us/politics/guantanamo-afghan-detainee.html
- Carol Rosenberg, U.S. Repatriates Afghan Whose Guantánamo Detention Was Unlawful, June 24, 2022, New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/24/us/politics/guantanamo-afghan-prisoner-released.html
Tara J. Plochocki
Partner
- Obtained recognition of $24.5 million arbitral award on behalf of Hong Kong corporation against Tajik state-owned enterprise
- Obtained dismissal of lawsuit against remittance company for allegations of terror financing
- Representation of Brazilian executive against fraud action by U.S. securities firm and obtained dismissal of suit
- Representation of Saudi Arabian corporation in seeking recovery for losses arising out of international bribery scheme
- Representation of investors, corporations, and individuals in 1782 applications to obtain evidence from banks and investment firms in the United States for use in legal proceedings abroad
- Representation of multiple investors in complex civil litigation arising out of securities fraud committed by Venezuelan financier
- Representation of Saudi Arabian conglomerate in civil litigation concerning complex financial service fraud totaling in excess of $10 billion
- Representation of numerous companies and individuals, both in the U.S. and abroad, in connection with various matters including investigations by U.S. law enforcement and regulatory agencies
- Representation of individual in connection with defamation claims against national publications concerning allegations of involvement in Russia scandal
- Represented U.S. citizen journalist in lawsuit against U.S. government challenging designation to the “Kill List”
- Obtained release of Afghan detainee in habeas proceedings seeking release from detention in Guantanamo Bay under law of armed conflict
- Authored amicus brief on behalf of national education organization in action by schoolchildren alleging that Detroit Public Schools violated their constitutional right to access to education
- Authored an amicus brief on behalf of medical ethics organization seeking disclosure of identities of doctors who botched the execution of inmate on death row
- Successfully appealed the removal of an SES federal employee before the Merit Systems Protection Board
