Lois Thompson

Lois D. Thompson has been representing clients in complex litigation of all types since joining the Litigation Department some 30 years ago. Initially based in New York, Lois moved to Los Angeles in 1987 so that firm clients in California could more easily avail themselves of her wide litigation experience.

That experience includes securities, antitrust, complex real estate and construction, and intellectual property matters, as well as employment law litigation. Lois also has defended and prosecuted claims of unfair competition for businesses in a wide range of areas, including the automotive industry, direct marketing, and video distribution.

In the real estate area, Lois’ experience has been extremely varied. She has represented clients in the federal and state courts, before the American Arbitration Association, and in alternative dispute resolution processes crafted by the parties.

For five years, she represented Silverstein Properties in proceedings to determine the property and rental income losses sustained as a consequence of the destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. That matter was settled in May 2007 with an agreement by the insurers to pay an additional $2 billion to resolve all claims.

Lois has handled many trademark and copyright matters, as well as cases alleging infringement of design patents and theft of trade secret and other confidential and proprietary information.

In the securities law area, Lois’ experience encompasses the defense of ‘33 and ‘34 Act class actions and derivative suits in which she has had occasion variously to represent the issuer, directors (or general partners) and professional advisors.

She also has had extensive experience representing targets and witnesses in SEC investigations and, as independent counsel, has conducted internal investigations for boards of directors whose companies were the subject of shareholder derivative actions and regulatory investigations.

Before joining Proskauer, she served as Deputy General Counsel of Suburban Action Institute, where she litigated federal and state lawsuits regarding access to affordable housing.

Education :

• Columbia Law School, J.D., 1969
• Smith College, B.A., 1966

Admissions & Qualifications : New York, California.

Clerkships :

• U.S. District Court, New York, Southern District – Hon. Milton Pollock
• U.S. District Court, New York, Southern District – Hon. Edward J. Dimock

Court Admissions :

• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, California, Central District
• U.S. District Court, California, Northern District
• U.S. District Court, California, Southern District

Memberships :

• California Women’s Law Center (President)
• Western Center on Law and Poverty (Board Member)
• Western Justice Center (Board Member)
• Smith College, Northampton, MA (Board Member)