Sarah L.Levine

Partner

Washington + 1.202.879.3883

Sarah Levine has broad experience in securities enforcement, investigation, complex litigation, and regulatory issues. She served as senior advisor and counsel to three consecutive chairmen of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), providing guidance on enforcement matters including actions relating to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), financial fraud, corporate governance, and corporate compliance and disclosure.

Sarah also served as assistant chief litigation counsel in the trial unit within SEC's Division of Enforcement. She prosecuted a wide range of financial fraud matters including cases involving insider trading rings, misleading public disclosures, and market manipulation. While serving with the SEC, Sarah was twice awarded the Director's Award for outstanding contribution to the enforcement of the federal securities laws.

After the SEC, Sarah was special assistant to the president and associate White House counsel. In this role, she advised senior White House staff, including heads of the National Economic Council and Council of Economic Advisers, on financial and economic legal policy.

Prior to joining Jones Day, Sarah served in a leadership role at the Department of Justice (DOJ) as deputy assistant attorney general for the Federal Programs Branch, Civil Division. While at DOJ, she led more than 100 trial attorneys representing the United States in national priority litigation, directed litigation defending challenges to the constitutionality of federal statutes and regulation, and reviewed and recommended multimillion dollar settlements with federal agencies. She provided direct counsel on litigation, settlement, and policy to cabinet secretaries, White House counsel, the attorney general, and senior DOJ leadership.

Experience

  • SIFMA requests review of SEC's order granting temporary conditional exemption from broker registration requirements of Section 15(a) of Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for certain activities of registered municipal advisorsJones Day is representing the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) in its petition for review of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Order Granting Temporary Conditional Exemption from the Broker Registration Requirements of Section 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for Certain Activities of Registered Municipal Advisors (TCE).
  • Pro bono client obtains writ of habeas corpus in Seventh Circuit appealJones Day obtained a writ of habeas corpus for pro bono client, Terez Cook, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
  • Qualcomm obtains affirmance of dismissal in putative securities class actionJones Day successfully represented Qualcomm Incorporated in an appeal to the Ninth Circuit brought by an institutional shareholder and others following the dismissal of their putative securities fraud class action.
  • Global financial institution defends claims in VRDO mattersJones Day is defending a global financial institution in several matters related to its activities as remarketing agent for variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”) issued by agencies or units of state and local government.
  • Former CEO defends Australian corporate regulator claimJones Day is acting for the former CEO of a metals and mining company in defending proceedings brought by the corporate regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission ("ASIC"), in the Federal Court of Australia.