Biography
Linda Imes has been a criminal and civil litigator for over three decades, with substantial trial and appellate experience. She focuses on white collar criminal defense, regulatory investigations and proceedings (including securities enforcement defense), and complex civil litigation.
In 2017, Linda received the Norman S. Ostrow Award from the New York Council of Defense Lawyers. The award, which is given annually, recognizes a lawyer for “outstanding contribution to the defense of liberty and the preservation of individual rights” and whose career has been “marked by numerous examples of a lawyer fighting for a client with vigor, dignity, and expertise.” In 2021, Chambers and Partners shortlisted Linda for its prestigious White-Collar Lawyer of the Year award.
Chambers and Partners recognizes Linda as a “Band 1” Leader in the Field of White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations. Sources quoted by Chambers praise Linda as “a trailblazer” and “one of the leaders of the Bar,” noting that she is “always outstanding in her representations” and “very focused and diligent,” with “excellent” judgment and “brain power and experience.”
Early in her career, Linda was a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. There, she served in the Major Crimes Unit and the Securities and Commodities Fraud Unit prosecuting a wide variety of complex business and commercial crimes including tax evasion, money laundering, transportation of stolen property, bank fraud, mail and wire fraud, and securities fraud.
Linda has tried cases in federal court, before regulators, and to mediators. Linda has represented individuals and corporations in investigations by, and matters involving, numerous U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the New York State Attorney General’s Office and numerous other state Attorneys General, the District Attorney’s Office, the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and other governmental and regulatory bodies. Linda has experience representing individuals in connection with Congressional investigations and inquiries, including before the U.S. Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. Linda’s work frequently involves defending clients faced with more than one investigation at a time, often combined with civil litigation.
Linda has been involved in appellate advocacy since the beginning of her legal career when she clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. While at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Linda served as Deputy Chief of Appeals. In private practice, Linda has briefed and argued numerous cases in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, New York’s Appellate Division, and the New York Court of Appeals.
Linda served as a law clerk for the Honorable John J. Gibbons, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Experience
Criminal Matters
- A senior executive of a European financial services group in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) investigation by the DOJ and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York involving Libya (with parallel civil lawsuit in England).
- The CEO of a pharmaceutical company in investigations involving the DOJ and certain U.S. Attorney’s Offices, lawsuits brought by Colorado and Massachusetts Attorneys General and related civil litigations, and in testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
- A financial services senior executive in money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act investigations by the DOJ, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the ICE Eldorado Task Force, and in testimony before the U.S. Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
- A senior banker of a major international bank in bribery and investment fraud investigation by the DOJ and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York involving certain Mozambique loans.
- An executive at a New York auction house in connection with criminal investigations related to 1MDB (1 Malaysian Development Berhad), a subsequent insider trading investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and for trial testimony in the 2022 criminal trial of Prakazrel Michel.
- A pension plan trustee in an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (and involving related investigations by Belgium and Denmark) of a dividend arbitrage trading strategy that netted foreign tax dividend reclaims.
- A banking officer in a high-profile money laundering investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, in testimony before the U.S. Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and in testimony before the Federal Reserve Bank.
- An automotive company executive in auto emissions investigations by the DOJ, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, various state Attorneys General, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- Current and former employees of a bank in money laundering investigations by the DOJ, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, and the New York District Attorney’s Office.
- A senior trader at a major broker-dealer in investigations by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut and the SEC of certain trading by Jefferies trader Jesse Litvak.
- Two former employees and a current employee at a financial institution in criminal investigation by New York District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, and the DOJ in connection with alleged money laundering activity by check cashers.
- A former loan servicing executive at a warehouse lender in criminal investigation by U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma into certain loan servicing and accounting practices.
- An employee of an information infrastructure solutions company in insider trading investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
- Corporate executives in federal task force investigation of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico led by the DOJ Criminal Division and including the SEC.
- Corporate officers of a multinational energy industry corporation in FCPA investigation by the DOJ.
- Bank employees and former employees in investigations of certain foreign currency exchange trading practices by the DOJ and the New York Department of Financial Services (with parallel investigations by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Serious Fraud Office).
- A corporate client in internal investigation concerning its compliance with Trading with the Enemy Act and Office of Foreign Assets Control regulations.
- Representation of a New York art dealer in criminal trial concerning receipt of Egyptian antiquities.
- Numerous employees of a public company in the grocery wholesale business in U.S. Attorney’s Office and SEC investigations concerning the company’s accounting practices.
- New York City officials in joint investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and New York City’s Department of Investigations concerning certain budget practices.
Securities Matters
- A biotechnology company and its majority shareholder in an enforcement action brought by the SEC in the Southern District of New York alleging an unlawful stock promotion and “pump and dump.”
- The former Chief Financial Officer of a franchising business in SEC investigation and class action litigation related to financial reporting.
- A residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) trader at a major financial institution in SEC investigation of alleged excessive mark-ups in non-investment grade and investment-grade RMBS securities.
- A former global head of Collateralized Debt Obligations (“CDOs”) for a bank in an investigation by, and testimony before, the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, as well as in trial testimony, and in related civil litigation.
- A former investment bank managing director in SEC investigation concerning CDO transaction and in testimony at trial of Fabrice Tourre.
- A defendant in trial of federal securities fraud suit brought by SEC.
- Senior tax counsel at a large insurance company in SEC investigation of practice of recalling securities on loan prior to the dividend record date to enhance certain tax benefits to various insurance entities.
- A former investment bank executive in subprime securitization investigations by the United States Attorney’s Office, FINRA, the New York Attorney General’s Office, and the SEC, as well as in related civil litigation.
- An executive director of an international bank in U.S. Attorney’s Office investigation of a derivatives trading strategy executed by the so-called “London Whale.”
- A former officer of a global institutional trading (or “dark pool”) network in SEC investigation of certain practices by the firm.
- An employee of a large money market fund in investigations by the SEC and state securities regulator, as well as in related civil litigation.
- Three former investment bank employees in SEC investigation concerning pension consulting industry and in related FINRA investigation.
- A broker-dealer’s former compliance employee in FINRA investigation, hearing before FINRA’s Office of Hearing Officers, and appeal to FINRA’s National Adjudicatory Council.
Civil Matters
- A global management consulting firm partner in connection with litigation in bankruptcy court in the Southern District of Texas and a federal RICO case filed in the Southern District of New York challenging the propriety of certain filings in bankruptcy court.
- A group of hedge funds as plaintiffs in civil litigation alleging a fraudulent scheme in violation of federal securities laws and state law and seeking to recover proceeds of that fraudulent scheme.
- Multiple real estate developers in an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (Civil Division) of alleged Fair Housing Act violations and in ensuing civil litigation.
- Institutional plaintiffs in federal securities fraud suit seeking recovery for fraud in connection with sale of bonds in which clients ultimately recovered nearly 100 percent of their losses.
- A Fortune 50 corporation in mediation of claim arising from derivatives transactions with Bankers Trust.
- A university in a qui tam proceeding based on allegations of improper Medicaid billing for obstetrical services at a university hospital.
- A corporate plaintiff in complex arbitration alleging fraud and breach of environmental representations and warranties in merger agreement.
News & Views
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Ranking
Chambers USA 2024 Recognizes Blank Rome Attorneys and Practices
Kevin J. Baum, Anthony R. Callobre, Lawrence F. Flick II, Michael C. Graziano, Bruce R. Lesser, Cassandra G. Mott
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Speaking Engagement
Noteworthy Speaking Engagements
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Press Release
Blank Rome Welcomes Prominent White Collar and Complex Litigation Team in New York
David Spears, Linda Imes, Christopher W. Dysard, Michael E. Donohue, Rebecca L. Orel
Recognitions
- 2009–2024, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, listed in Chambers USA
- 2023, Business Crime Defence – Individuals and Business Crime Defence – Corporates, listed in Who’s Who Legal
- 2023, USA and GIR Thought Leader Business Crime Defence – Individuals and Thought Leader Business Crime Defence – Corporates, listed in Who’s Who Legal
- 2021, White-Collar Lawyer of the Year Award Shortlist, by Chambers and Partners
Affiliations
Memberships
- Federal Bar Council
- New York Council of Defense Lawyers
- Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Linda is a member of the Federal Bar Council, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and the New York Council of Defense Lawyers. She was a member of the Board of the New York Council of Defense Lawyers from 1997 through 1999 and from 2012 through 2014.
Credentials
Admissions
- New York
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Education
- Northwestern University School of Law, JD, cum laude
- Northwestern University, BS, with honors
- Northwestern University, MA, with honors