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Thomas Watson

Thomas C. Watson Associate

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Richmond T +1 804 775 4333 F fax +1 804 698 2260
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Tom is a powerful advocate and comprehensive litigator. He has experience in federal courts, state courts, and arbitration through the entire dispute life cycle: from negotiating pre-litigation resolutions, to dispositive motions and discovery, through to trials and appeals.

As a member of the firm’s nationally recognized Government Investigations and White Collar Litigation Department, Tom focuses his practice on representing individuals and companies in criminal investigations and civil enforcement matters, including those by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and state regulators. Tom handles a broad range of investigations and enforcement actions, and he has shepherded his clients through allegations of antitrust violations, unlawful kickbacks, Foreign Corrupt Practice Act violations, anti-money laundering noncompliance, sanctions violations, and sexual assault. He also represents clients in connection with commercial litigation, advises on compliance matters, and conducts internal investigations.

Prior to joining McGuireWoods, Tom practiced law at a Manhattan-based boutique litigation firm that focuses on defending against high-stakes criminal investigations and enforcement actions. Tom also served as judicial law clerk for federal courts at both the trial and appellate level, for the Honorable Carol Bagley Amon of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and for the Honorable José A. Cabranes of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (also the then-presiding judge of the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review).

Tom graduated Order of the Coif from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was also a member of the Virginia Law Review, captain of his softball team, and winner of the Intramural Mock Trial Tournament.

As an undergraduate, Tom enjoyed hiking and intramural sports at Middlebury College, where he studied international political science and classics, spent a semester abroad in Brazil, and graduated with honors.

Experience

  • Drafted successful briefs on dispositive motions and appeals, e.g., successfully moved to compel arbitration; defeated opposing party’s motion to dismiss in a civil antitrust matter; successfully dismissed claims on a motion to dismiss in a civil fraud matter, and drafted appellate briefs in both federal and state courts.
  • Successfully persuaded the DOJ not to charge a client under criminal investigation for violations of anti-money laundering and anti-kickback statutes.
  • Prepared a senior executive at a multinational company for an interview with the DOJ in connection with the company’s successful leniency application to the Antitrust Division.
  • Negotiated against the DOJ on behalf of corporate clients regarding the terms of corporate compliance monitors and other critical plea terms.
  • Conducted an internal investigation into improper “off channel communications” at a multinational financial institution as part of the SEC-mandated Independent Compliance monitor and drafted a report to the company and the SEC identifying root causes and providing remediation recommendations.
  • Represented financial institution clients in response to congressional inquiries. 
  • Advised high-profile clients on the disposition of their assets following previously entered international sanctions orders and monetary judgments.
  • Represented pro bono clients seeking to reduce their sentences following prior convictions.
  • Filed pro bono appeals in both the Second and Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals involving clients’ constitutional rights under the First and Second Amendments.