Media Mentions
2011
“Prosecutors Say Health Clinic Broke Law”
Washington Business Journal, August 12, 2011
Paul Thompson, commenting on federal government litigation against a health clinic for continuing to receive Medicare/Medicaid payments after its corporate charter expired, said, “As [the] budget tightens, the government uses its enforcement power as a means to extract revenue from other sources, and that’s what we’re seeing in the health care space.” He added that he “wouldn’t be surprised if you start to see it [in] other spaces as well.”
Paul M. Thompson, White-Collar & Securities Defense
“McDermott Will & Emery Promotes Paul Thompson to Co-Lead DC Office: Power Circuit”
Washingtonian, July 22, 2011
Paul Thompson said he will continue his white-collar defense practice as new co-partner-in-charge (with Bobby Burchfield) of the Firm’s Washington office. “Lesson one of McDermott is you’re required to maintain an active practice, even as a managing partner,” he stated. The article also noted that Jeffrey Brennan has joined the office as a partner in the antitrust and competition practice.
Jeffrey W. Brennan, Bobby R. Burchfield, Paul M. Thompson, Antitrust & Competition, Trial, White-Collar & Securities Defense
“Lobbying World”
The Hill, July 19, 2011
Jeffrey Brennan’s addition to McDermott as an antitrust partner in Washington, DC and Paul Thompson’s promotion to co-partner-in-charge of the office, were both highlighted. Mr. Brennan is a former associate director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, while Mr. Thompson previously served as counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Jeffrey W. Brennan, Paul M. Thompson, Antitrust & Competition, White-Collar & Securities Defense
“People on the Move”
Congressional Quarterly Today, July 17, 2011
Paul Thompson’s appointment as co-partner-in-charge of McDermott’s Washington, DC office was noted.
Paul M. Thompson, White-Collar & Securities Defense
“The Churn: Lateral Moves and Promotions in the AmLaw 200”
AmLaw Daily, July 15, 2011
Steven Spears and Paul Thompson were both noted for their new McDermott leadership positions. Mr. Spears (intellectual property practice) is partner-in-charge of the Houston office, while Mr. Thompson (white-collar practice) is co-partner-in-charge for Washington, DC.
Steven G. Spears, Paul M. Thompson, Intellectual Property, White-Collar & Securities Defense
“McDermott Will Elevates Paul Thompson”
Washington Business Journal, July 14, 2011
Paul Thompson was appointed co-partner-in-charge of the Firm’s Washington office, where he will work with Bobby Burchfield to expand the Firm’s already robust legal service offerings in this key market. As co-partner-in-charge, Mr. Burchfield cited Mr. Thompson’s “broad experience as a federal prosecutor, on Capitol Hill, and in private practice, coupled with his energy and engaging manner,” as key qualifications for the position.
Bobby R. Burchfield, Paul M. Thompson, Trial, White-Collar & Securities Defense
“New Leadership in McDermott’s DC Office”
Blog of Legal Times, July 14, 2011
Paul Thompson, named co-partner-in-charge (with Bobby Birchfield) of McDermott’s Washington, DC office, was called a “natural leader” by the Firm’s co-chairman Peter Sacripanti. Mr. Thompson had served as counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee before joining McDermott.
Bobby R. Burchfield, Peter John Sacripanti, Paul M. Thompson, Trial, White-Collar & Securities Defense
“When a Bribe is Not Always a Bribe”
National Law Journal, April 18, 2011
Paul Thompson wrote that the traditional hallmark of a bribe, “an illicit quid pro quo,” has increasingly been subject to conflicting interpretation in enforcement of federal-program bribery, honest services fraud, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or the U.K. Bribery Act. The result is “confusion and uncertainty about what precisely constitutes bribery and what does not,” for which Mr. Thompson blames “legislators seeking to expand the law to criminalize that which was once not a crime, … aggressive prosecutors pursuing creative theories to water down the law and make it easier to win cases or … even … willing judges.”
Paul M. Thompson, White-Collar & Securities Defense
2008
Paul Thompson was quoted October 23 by Am Law Daily regarding a New Jersey school district's decision to ban Marcus Borden, a football coach, from leading pre-game prayers with his team due to a possible First Amendment violation. The district also banned Borden from kneeling and bowing silently during his players' prayers although he was no longer leading them. Borden subsequently sued the school district and won at the federal district level. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit overturned the decision, citing the Establishment Clause, but lawyers are working pro bono to bring the case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Thompson noted that Borden's case is tricky because kneeling and bowing would likely have been constitutional had his older approach of leading the prayers not been a clear violation. "It's like a Scarlet E. Once you violate the Establishment Clause, you always do it," he said.
Paul M. Thompson, Pro Bono & Community Service, Trial
2007
Paul M. Thompson was quoted in an October 17 article published by Roll Call regarding attorney general nominee Michael Mukasey's confirmation hearings over whether he would enforce contempt of Congress citations that could still be issued in the U.S. attorneys investigation. As a former Republican Judiciary Committee counsel, Mr. Thompson commented on the hearing regarding the extent to which Congress will assert itself over the executive branch. "The question will be for certain members of the Judiciary Committee whether they won their political victory when Attorney General Gonzales resigned and whether they feel pursuing this has some political value to them," Mr. Thompson said.
Paul M. Thompson, Government Strategies, Trial, White-Collar & Securities Defense
