Jason Lewis is a partner in the Dallas office of Locke Lord LLP. Mr. Lewis is a litigator who represents investment advisors, hedge funds, professionals, public companies and their officers and directors in investigations and litigation brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as in investigations by numerous other federal and state regulatory agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), FINRA, Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), state securities agencies and state attorney general offices.
Mr. Lewis returned to Locke Lord in 2007 after serving nearly four years with the SEC as an Enforcement Attorney, where he conducted numerous securities-related investigations, including financial fraud, market manipulation, offering fraud, auditor misconduct, reporting and disclosure violations and insider trading. Since returning to the Firm, Mr. Lewis routinely represents corporate entities from various sectors and their officers and directors in securities class actions, derivative actions, and securities-related regulatory investigations and litigation. Mr. Lewis also represents clients in complex business litigation in state and federal courts.
Mr. Lewis represents corporations and special committees in internal corporate investigations. Prior investigations include issues related to accounting irregularities, FCPA, export controls and sanctions, insider trading, and bank fraud. In addition, Mr. Lewis advises clients on corporate governance and compliance matters.
Education
- J.D., Cornell Law School, 1998
Concentration in Business Law and Regulation - B.A., with distinction, University of Oklahoma, 1995
Bar Admissions
Admitted To Practice
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
Representative Experience
- Regularly represent hedge funds, investment advisors, professionals, corporate entities and their officers, directors and employees in SEC enforcement investigations and litigation.
- Regularly represent individuals and broker-dealers in FINRA investigations, enforcement actions, and arbitrations.
- Regularly represent individuals and entities in state regulatory investigations and litigation. Prior and current representations include investigations, inquires and litigation by the Texas State Securities Board, Texas Attorney General’s Office, Oklahoma Department of Securities, Florida Office of Financial Regulation, Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance, Alabama Securities Commission, Ohio Department of Commerce, Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Indiana Office of the Attorney General, Utah Department of Commerce, and Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.
- Obtained summary judgment against the SEC in an insider trading case brought against the Chairman of the Board of First Cash Financial Services. SEC v. Powell, Civil Action No. 6:11-CV-161-WSS (W.D. Tx. Opinion dated Oct. 11, 2012)
- Obtained SEC “Termination Letter” closing its investigation against publicly-traded software technology company and its CEO after eighteen-month investigation, where SEC brought enforcement action against several other individuals as a result of its investigation.
- Obtained SEC “Termination Letter” closing its investigation against international fund and its principals after a lengthy investigation into registration and additional issues.
- Obtained dismissal for individual named in multi-million dollar offering fraud action brought by numerous investors.
- Obtained creative settlement for former director of oil field services company in SEC insider trading lawsuit after three year investigation and litigation. SEC v. Robert L. Hollier and Wayne A. Dupuis, Civil Action No. 6:09-cv-00928 (W.D. La. 2011)
- Obtained OFAC Cautionary Letter for Hollywood actor arising from travel to Cuba.
- Defended individual from criminal violations in alleged structuring case investigated by US Attorney's Office and IRS and obtained civil settlement with no criminal action.
- Obtained Summary Judgment for financial services company with regard to multi-million dollar breach of contract claim.
- Representation of Former ArthroCare Corporation CFO in executive clawback action brought by SEC under Sarbanes-Oxley Section 304 alleging no wrongful conduct by CFO. SEC v. Michael A. Baker and Michael T. Gluk, Civil Action No. 1:12-CV-00285, In the Western District of Texas, Austin Division.
- Representation of International Bank in class action related to issues concerning Stanford International Bank, Ltd.
- Representation of former CEO and Chairman of publicly-traded energy company in SEC, DOJ, and state securities board investigations, as well as in shareholder class actions and derivative actions.
- Representation of financial services company in class action and corresponding opt out litigation.
- Representation of individual relating to DOJ investigation into alleged billion dollar gambling operation.
- In re ArthroCare Securities Litigation, In the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division. Representation of the former CFO of ArthroCare in a securities class action amid accusations that material misrepresentations led to a restatement of financial results, as well as several federal and state derivative suits alleging a breach of fiduciary duty.
- Friedman v. Quest Energy Partners LP, and Jents v. Quest Resource Corporation, In the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Division. Representation of the former CEO and Chairman in suits by two independent classes alleging violations of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act based on an alleged off-the-books loan and check-kiting scheme, as well as in several federal and state derivative suits alleging a breach of fiduciary duty.
- Conducted internal investigations and represented publicly-traded companies and individuals in parallel SEC and DOJ investigations involving FCPA, export control, financial reporting, and corporate governance issues.
- Conducted special committee investigation for regional bank regarding potential bank fraud and securities violations.
- Conducted internal investigation for market intelligence and analysis firm regarding potential insider trading.
- Conducted internal investigation for financial services company relating to potential kickbacks and misconduct between financial advisor and county official.
Publications & Presentations
-
Co-Author,
"
Locke Lord QuickStudy: Recent Opinion Tightens SEC’s FCPA Grip Over Foreign Nationals
,"
Locke Lord
(February 18, 2013)
-
Quoted,
"SEC Can Use SOX to Claw Back Exec Bonuses, Judge Rules,"
Law360
(November 13, 2012)
-
Co-Author,
"
Locke Lord QuickStudy: Proposed Stronger Enforcement of Civil Penalties Act Seeks to Bolster SEC’s Enforcement Power
,"
Locke Lord
(July 27, 2012)
-
Quoted,
"Lawyers Call SEC's Executive Clawback Suits Unconstitutional,"
Texas Lawyer
(April 16, 2012)
-
Quoted,
"SEC sues former ArthroCare execs,"
Austin Business Journal
(April 6, 2012)
-
"Avoiding U.S. Securities Litigation Liability for Directors & Officers of Chinese Companies,"
Locke Lord
(March 2012)
-
Quoted,
"SEC alleges fraud in company's bet on life expectancies,"
Washington Post
(January 4, 2012)
-
Speaker,
"Investors' Assignment of Claims to Bankruptcy Trustees,"
DFW Financial Services Roundtable
(December 14, 2011)
-
Co-Author,
"Locke Lord QuickStudy: Fifth Circuit Requirement that Securities Plaintiffs Prove Loss Causation at Class Certification Stage Overruled,"
Locke Lord
(June 7, 2011)
-
Co-Author,
"Client Alert: SEC Executes First Non-Prosecution Agreement,"
Locke Lord
(December 21, 2010)
-
Speaker,
"Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (Managing FCPA Investigations),"
North Texas District Export Council
(October 13, 2010)
-
Co-Author,
"Client Alert: SEC Announces New Cooperation Initiative,"
Locke Lord
(January 22, 2010)
Professional History
- Partner, Locke Lord LLP
- Enforcement Attorney, U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, Fort Worth, Texas (2004 - 2007)
- Associate, Locke Liddell & Sapp (1998 - 2004)
Professional Affiliations & Achievements
- Member, State Bar of Texas
- Member, American Bar Association - Criminal Justice Section
- Member, Dallas Bar Association - Securities Section
- Member, Association of Securities and Exchange Commission Alumni (ASECA)
Community Leadership
- Tribal Member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
- Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation, Member of National Board of Trustees
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