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Linda Chatman Thomsen

Linda Chatman Thomsen (born April 1, 1954) is an American attorney who was director of the Division of Enforcement for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 2005 until early 2009. Since arriving at the SEC in 1995, she worked under four SEC Chairmen: Arthur Levitt, Harvey Pitt, William H. Donaldson, and Christopher Cox. William Donaldson named her director of the Division of Enforcement on May 12, 2005.[1] She is the first woman to serve as director of the Division of Enforcement. Thomsen is known for her role in the suits by the SEC against Enron[2] and Martha Stewart[citation needed], and for not having investigated Bernard Madoff.[3] She succeeded Stephen M. Cutler. As of 2016, she has been a senior counsel at Davis Polk & Wardwell.[4]

Linda Chatman Thomsen
Born
Linda Chatman Thomsen

(1954-04-01) April 1, 1954 (age 70)
EducationSmith College (AB)
Harvard Law School
OccupationAttorney

Career edit

Thomsen received her A.B. from Smith College and her law degree from Harvard Law School.

Before joining the staff of the Commission, she was in private practice at the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell in Washington, D.C., and New York, and also served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Maryland. In November 2004, Thomsen was identified by writers and editors of the Wall Street Journal as one of fifty "Women to Watch".[5]

Pequot Capital Management insider trading and firing of SEC investigator edit

In 2008 H. David Kotz, SEC inspector general, recommended that a disciplinary action be commenced against Thomsen due to her role in an insider trading investigation of prominent hedge fund Pequot Capital Management.

Kotz said he found there were 'serious questions' about the impartiality and fairness of the SEC's investigation of Pequot. A former SEC attorney who worked on the probe and was fired by the agency has alleged there was political interference in the probe by agency officials.[6]

At the time, the SEC refused to take any enforcement action against Pequot, and it closed the case in 2006. It reopened the case after new information came to light. The hedge fund, which has now closed, denied any wrongdoing.[7]

Madoff fraud edit

Leaders of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) testified on February 4, 2009 before the United States House Committee on Financial Services subcommittee including Linda Thomsen SEC enforcement director, acting General Counsel Andy Vollmer, Andrew Donohue, Erik Sirri, and Lori Richards and Stephen Luparello of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The subject of the hearings was the question as to why the SEC had failed to act when Harry Markopolos, a private fraud investigator from Boston, alerted the SEC detailing his persistent and unsuccessful efforts to get the SEC to investigate Bernard L. Madoff, beginning in 1999.[3] Vollmer claimed executive privilege in declining to answer some questions.[8][9] Subcommittee chairman Paul Kanjorski asked Mr. Vollmer if he had obtained executive privilege from the U.S. attorney general.[8] "No ... this is the position of the agency," said Vollmer.[8] "Did the SEC instruct him not to respond to questions?" Mr. Kanjorski asked.[8] Vollmer replied that it was the position of the Commission and that "the answer is no."[8]

Thomsen and her colleagues testifying were accused by Representative Paul E. Kanjorski of "refusing to cooperate with a branch of government that could wipe their entire agency off the regulatory map, if necessary."[3] Representative Gary L. Ackerman, went further saying: "We thought the enemy was Mr. Madoff. I think it is you."[3]

Resignation from SEC edit

On February 9, 2009, five days after her appearance before the House subcommittee, and "after being blasted by critics for 'turning a blind eye' to tips that could have caught [Madoff] earlier,"[10] the SEC announced that Thomsen would resign from her position with no replacement identified[11] and return to the private sector.[12][13] The SEC announced Vollmer "plans to leave the Commission and return to the private sector," 9 days after Thomsen resigned.[14] On July 9 The Washington Post announced that Richards would resign to "take on new challenges."[15][16]

On April 13, 2009, the law firm, Davis Polk & Wardwell announced that Thomsen was returning to the firm as a partner in the Washington, D.C. office along with former Assistant to President Bush and White House Staff Secretary, Raul F. Yanes. The pair were recruited to work on white collar defense and government investigations and enforcement and increase the firm's financial regulatory practice.[17]

Second instance of insider information edit

On November 30, 2009, Kotz released a semiannual report to Congress which discussed an investigation into a Senior Officer of the SEC who provided inside information to a former official, but did not name the officer.[18][19] The New York Times identified the Senior Officer as Thomsen in an article on December 1, 2009, and that the former official was her former boss, Stephen Cutler of JPMorgan Chase, amid the bank's negotiations to buy Bear Stearns in March 2008.[19] The inspector general said that while "Ms. Thomsen's communication with Mr. Cutler did not violate the SEC's policy on external communications, she should have taken other steps 'to avoid an appearance of impropriety stemming from the relationship.'"[19]

Davis Polk edit

As of 2016, Chatman has been a senior counsel at law firm Davis Polk and represents defendants in SEC enforcement investigations and inquiries as well as other federal enforcement matters.[4]

Private life edit

Thomsen is married to Steuart Hill Thomsen, a partner in the law firm Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP.[20]

References edit

  1. ^ "Linda Chatman Thomsen Named Director of the Division of Enforcement". Securities and Exchange Commission. May 12, 2005. Retrieved December 18, 2007.
  2. ^ "Spotlight on: Enron". www.sec.gov. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Henriques, Diana (February 4, 2009). "Anger and Drama at a House Hearing on Madoff". New York Times.
  4. ^ a b "Linda Chatman Thomsen". Davis Polk. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  5. ^ "Ladies Who Launch". Nichelle Stevens. October 31, 2005. Retrieved March 19, 2008.
  6. ^ Gordon, Marcy (November 8, 2008). "Judge Will Not Discipline SEC Officials". Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  7. ^ Gordon, Marcy (February 9, 2009). "SEC enforcement chief Linda Thomsen resigns, replacement not named". Associated Press.
  8. ^ a b c d e Jamieson, Dan (February 4, 2009). "SEC officials dodge questions; one claims privilege". InvestmentNews.
  9. ^ Ahrens, Frank (February 5, 2009). "Lawmakers Sink Teeth Into the SEC: Agency Mocked for Not Catching Madoff". Washington Post. pp. D01.
  10. ^ Jerry Oppenheimer (August 6, 2009). Madoff with the Money. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 3–. ISBN 978-0-470-57281-8.
  11. ^ Petruno, Tom (February 9, 2009). "Under Madoff cloud, SEC enforcement chief will leave". Los Angeles Times.
  12. ^ http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/09022009/323/sec-enforcement-chief-steps-under-madoff-cloud.html [dead link]
  13. ^ Morgenson, Gretchen (February 9, 2009). "Top Enforcer at the S.E.C. Steps Down". New York Times.
  14. ^ "Acting General Counsel Andrew Vollmer to Leave SEC". Washington, D.C.: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. February 18, 2009. Retrieved March 6, 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  15. ^ Goldfarb, Zachary A. (July 9, 2009). "Director of SEC Inspections Office Resigns". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  16. ^ Goldfarb, Zachary (July 9, 2009). "Director of SEC Inspections Office Resigns". The Washington Post.
  17. ^ Scannell, Kara (April 13, 2009). "Davis Polk Recruits Ex-SEC Aide". Wall Street Journal.
  18. ^ Kotz, H. David (2009). S.E.C. Inspector General's Semi-Annual Report to Congress: April 1, 2009 – September 30, 2009. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Inspector General. pp. 78–79. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  19. ^ a b c Kouwe, Zachery (December 1, 2009). "S.E.C. Watchdog Outlines Internal Investigations". New York Times. pp. DealBook. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  20. ^ "S.H. Thomsen, Linda Chatman To Marry in Fall". New York Times. August 8, 1982. Retrieved February 4, 2009.

External links edit

  • Thomsen bio from USCC.gov
  • Appearances on C-SPAN

linda, chatman, thomsen, born, april, 1954, american, attorney, director, division, enforcement, securities, exchange, commission, from, 2005, until, early, 2009, since, arriving, 1995, worked, under, four, chairmen, arthur, levitt, harvey, pitt, william, dona. Linda Chatman Thomsen born April 1 1954 is an American attorney who was director of the Division of Enforcement for the U S Securities and Exchange Commission from 2005 until early 2009 Since arriving at the SEC in 1995 she worked under four SEC Chairmen Arthur Levitt Harvey Pitt William H Donaldson and Christopher Cox William Donaldson named her director of the Division of Enforcement on May 12 2005 1 She is the first woman to serve as director of the Division of Enforcement Thomsen is known for her role in the suits by the SEC against Enron 2 and Martha Stewart citation needed and for not having investigated Bernard Madoff 3 She succeeded Stephen M Cutler As of 2016 she has been a senior counsel at Davis Polk amp Wardwell 4 Linda Chatman ThomsenBornLinda Chatman Thomsen 1954 04 01 April 1 1954 age 70 Long Valley New Jersey U S EducationSmith College AB Harvard Law SchoolOccupationAttorney Contents 1 Career 1 1 Pequot Capital Management insider trading and firing of SEC investigator 1 2 Madoff fraud 1 3 Resignation from SEC 1 4 Second instance of insider information 1 5 Davis Polk 2 Private life 3 References 4 External linksCareer editThomsen received her A B from Smith College and her law degree from Harvard Law School Before joining the staff of the Commission she was in private practice at the law firm of Davis Polk amp Wardwell in Washington D C and New York and also served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Maryland In November 2004 Thomsen was identified by writers and editors of the Wall Street Journal as one of fifty Women to Watch 5 Pequot Capital Management insider trading and firing of SEC investigator edit In 2008 H David Kotz SEC inspector general recommended that a disciplinary action be commenced against Thomsen due to her role in an insider trading investigation of prominent hedge fund Pequot Capital Management Kotz said he found there were serious questions about the impartiality and fairness of the SEC s investigation of Pequot A former SEC attorney who worked on the probe and was fired by the agency has alleged there was political interference in the probe by agency officials 6 At the time the SEC refused to take any enforcement action against Pequot and it closed the case in 2006 It reopened the case after new information came to light The hedge fund which has now closed denied any wrongdoing 7 Madoff fraud edit Leaders of the U S Securities and Exchange Commission SEC testified on February 4 2009 before the United States House Committee on Financial Services subcommittee including Linda Thomsen SEC enforcement director acting General Counsel Andy Vollmer Andrew Donohue Erik Sirri and Lori Richards and Stephen Luparello of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority FINRA The subject of the hearings was the question as to why the SEC had failed to act when Harry Markopolos a private fraud investigator from Boston alerted the SEC detailing his persistent and unsuccessful efforts to get the SEC to investigate Bernard L Madoff beginning in 1999 3 Vollmer claimed executive privilege in declining to answer some questions 8 9 Subcommittee chairman Paul Kanjorski asked Mr Vollmer if he had obtained executive privilege from the U S attorney general 8 No this is the position of the agency said Vollmer 8 Did the SEC instruct him not to respond to questions Mr Kanjorski asked 8 Vollmer replied that it was the position of the Commission and that the answer is no 8 Thomsen and her colleagues testifying were accused by Representative Paul E Kanjorski of refusing to cooperate with a branch of government that could wipe their entire agency off the regulatory map if necessary 3 Representative Gary L Ackerman went further saying We thought the enemy was Mr Madoff I think it is you 3 Resignation from SEC edit On February 9 2009 five days after her appearance before the House subcommittee and after being blasted by critics for turning a blind eye to tips that could have caught Madoff earlier 10 the SEC announced that Thomsen would resign from her position with no replacement identified 11 and return to the private sector 12 13 The SEC announced Vollmer plans to leave the Commission and return to the private sector 9 days after Thomsen resigned 14 On July 9 The Washington Post announced that Richards would resign to take on new challenges 15 16 On April 13 2009 the law firm Davis Polk amp Wardwell announced that Thomsen was returning to the firm as a partner in the Washington D C office along with former Assistant to President Bush and White House Staff Secretary Raul F Yanes The pair were recruited to work on white collar defense and government investigations and enforcement and increase the firm s financial regulatory practice 17 Second instance of insider information edit On November 30 2009 Kotz released a semiannual report to Congress which discussed an investigation into a Senior Officer of the SEC who provided inside information to a former official but did not name the officer 18 19 The New York Times identified the Senior Officer as Thomsen in an article on December 1 2009 and that the former official was her former boss Stephen Cutler of JPMorgan Chase amid the bank s negotiations to buy Bear Stearns in March 2008 19 The inspector general said that while Ms Thomsen s communication with Mr Cutler did not violate the SEC s policy on external communications she should have taken other steps to avoid an appearance of impropriety stemming from the relationship 19 Davis Polk edit As of 2016 Chatman has been a senior counsel at law firm Davis Polk and represents defendants in SEC enforcement investigations and inquiries as well as other federal enforcement matters 4 Private life editThomsen is married to Steuart Hill Thomsen a partner in the law firm Sutherland Asbill amp Brennan LLP 20 References edit Linda Chatman Thomsen Named Director of the Division of Enforcement Securities and Exchange Commission May 12 2005 Retrieved December 18 2007 Spotlight on Enron www sec gov Retrieved October 15 2021 a b c d Henriques Diana February 4 2009 Anger and Drama at a House Hearing on Madoff New York Times a b Linda Chatman Thomsen Davis Polk Retrieved December 21 2016 Ladies Who Launch Nichelle Stevens October 31 2005 Retrieved March 19 2008 Gordon Marcy November 8 2008 Judge Will Not Discipline SEC Officials Washington Post Associated Press Retrieved April 5 2016 Gordon Marcy February 9 2009 SEC enforcement chief Linda Thomsen resigns replacement not named Associated Press a b c d e Jamieson Dan February 4 2009 SEC officials dodge questions one claims privilege InvestmentNews Ahrens Frank February 5 2009 Lawmakers Sink Teeth Into the SEC Agency Mocked for Not Catching Madoff Washington Post pp D01 Jerry Oppenheimer August 6 2009 Madoff with the Money John Wiley amp Sons pp 3 ISBN 978 0 470 57281 8 Petruno Tom February 9 2009 Under Madoff cloud SEC enforcement chief will leave Los Angeles Times http uk biz yahoo com 09022009 323 sec enforcement chief steps under madoff cloud html dead link Morgenson Gretchen February 9 2009 Top Enforcer at the S E C Steps Down New York Times Acting General Counsel Andrew Vollmer to Leave SEC Washington D C U S Securities and Exchange Commission February 18 2009 Retrieved March 6 2009 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Goldfarb Zachary A July 9 2009 Director of SEC Inspections Office Resigns The Washington Post Retrieved May 7 2010 Goldfarb Zachary July 9 2009 Director of SEC Inspections Office Resigns The Washington Post Scannell Kara April 13 2009 Davis Polk Recruits Ex SEC Aide Wall Street Journal Kotz H David 2009 S E C Inspector General s Semi Annual Report to Congress April 1 2009 September 30 2009 U S Securities and Exchange Commission Office of Inspector General pp 78 79 Retrieved December 2 2009 a b c Kouwe Zachery December 1 2009 S E C Watchdog Outlines Internal Investigations New York Times pp DealBook Retrieved December 2 2009 S H Thomsen Linda Chatman To Marry in Fall New York Times August 8 1982 Retrieved February 4 2009 External links editThomsen bio from USCC gov Appearances on C SPAN Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Linda Chatman Thomsen amp oldid 1180964479, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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