Linda Chatman Thomsen

Partner

linda.thomsen@davispolk.com

Ms. Thomsen, who was the first woman to serve as the Director of the Division of Enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission, is a partner in Davis Polk’s Litigation Department and practices in the Washington DC office. Her practice concentrates in matters related to the enforcement of the federal securities laws.

She has represented clients in SEC enforcement investigations and inquiries, in enforcement matters before other agencies, including the Department of Justice (various U.S. Attorneys Offices) and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, in investigations and inquiries from self-regulatory agencies, including FINRA, and in internal investigations.

These matters, which are typically nonpublic, have covered a broad range of securities-related subject matters, including insider trading, foreign corrupt practices, financial reporting, manipulation and regulatory compliance. Her clients have included major financial institutions, regulated entities, public companies and senior executives.

Ms. Thomsen returned to Davis Polk in 2009 after 14 years of public service at the SEC. While there she held a variety of positions and ultimately served as the Director of Enforcement from 2005 through February 2009. During her tenure as the Director of Enforcement, she led the Enron investigation, the auction rate securities settlements, the stock options backdating cases and the expansion of the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Contact

Washington DC
901 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
P: 202-962-7125
F: 202-962-7098

New York
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
P: 212-450-4403
F: 212-701-5403

Related Practices

Bar Admissions

District of Columbia
State of New York
U.S. District Court, District of Columbia

Education

A.B., Smith College, 1976
- with high honors
J.D., Harvard Law School, 1979

Recognition

Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
Legal Media Group’s Benchmark Litigation
The Legal 500 United States
Recipient of a “2012 Distinguished Legal Writing Award” from The Burton Awards for Legal Achievement
Named to Washington Business Journal’s “Women Who Mean Business” in 2010
Named to Ethisphere’s “100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics” in 2009
Named to the Wall Street Journal’s “The 50 Women to Watch” in 2005 and 2006

Of Note

Ms. Thomsen is a senior member of Davis Polk’s White Collar Criminal Defense Group, which was named a “White Collar Group of the Year” by Law360 for 2012.
She is listed as a leading lawyer in several legal industry publications, including:
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
- Legal Media Group’s Benchmark Litigation
- The Legal 500 United States
She was the recipient of a “2012 Distinguished Legal Writing Award” from The Burton Awards for Legal Achievement.
In 2010, she was named to Washington Business Journal’s “Women Who Mean Business.”
In 2009, she was named to Ethisphere’s “100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics.”
She was named to the Wall Street Journal’s “The 50 Women to Watch” in 2005 and 2006.

Professional History

Partner, Davis Polk, 2009-present
Securities and Exchange Commission: served for 14 years in the Enforcement Division as Director (2005-2009), Deputy Director (2002-2005), Associate Director (2000-2002), Assistant Director (1997-2000), Assistant Chief Litigation Counsel (1995-1997)
Counsel, Davis Polk, 1989-1995
Associate, Davis Polk, 1979-1983; 1985-1989

News

Davis Polk Secures Victories in Two Separate Rape Convictions

Davis Polk Named “Practice Group of the Year” in Securities Litigation and White Collar

Linda Thomsen Receives Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing

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Publications

Enron: 10 Years Later
Law360

The Expanding Role of Judges in Settlement and Beyond | 1918 PLI/Corp 487 (2011)

Enforcement
Practitioner's Guide for Broker-Dealers | Complinet

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Client Publications

SEC Explains How to Use Social Media for Regulation FD Compliance
Client Memorandum

U.S. Supreme Court Confirms that Limitations Period for Certain Federal Enforcement Actions Begins When Fraud Occurs; Application In FCPA Matters Remains Unclear
Client Memorandum

Rule 10b5-1 Plans: What You Need to Know

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Events

Linda Thomsen to Speak at PLI’s Institute on Current Developments in Latin American Cross-Border Securities Transactions

Susan Ervin and Linda Thomsen to Speak at PLI’s “Global Capital Markets & the U.S. Securities Laws” Program

Linda Thomsen to Speak at Structured Products Americas 2013

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