Thomas J. Hennessey has an extensive jury and bench trial background in state and federal court; administrative enforcement proceedings before the SEC, FINRA, and state securities regulators; and arbitration experience before FINRA, the ICC, and other arbitral bodies. Thom regularly manages the integrated defense of leading financial institutions facing parallel regulatory and civil claims arising from the sale of financial products. Thom has represented public companies, national banks, international broker-dealers, investment banks, investment advisors, distributors, transfer agents and individuals in high-stakes litigation and enforcement matters for over 20 years.
Thom recently defended a leading global financial institution in connection with a five-year SEC Enforcement investigation concerning the collapse of a $35 billion institutional cash management fund during the financial crisis, which was successfully closed without action, along with defense of all associated civil claims. Thom defended a leading Wall Street broker-dealer in federal and state enforcement investigations of auction rate securities transactions, including the pursuit of injunctive proceedings against state regulators that culminated in a global resolution. Most recently, Thom has been defending multiple financial institutions in SEC Enforcement investigations arising from Dodd-Frank whistleblower allegations, a number of which have been successfully closed without substantive enforcement action.
Before joining Morgan Lewis, Thom was a partner in the financial institutions regulatory, enforcement, and litigation practice at another international law firm.
Member, Law Firm of the Year, Securities Regulation, US News/Best Lawyers – Best Law Firms (2019)
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
Member, Boston Bar Association
Recognized, Irish Legal 100