Margaret Tough is a litigation partner in the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice who represents both individuals and companies.
Ms. Tough has tried important cases, including second-chairing three major trials in the last five years:
- US v. Stein (criminal tax shelter case)
- SEC v. Jasper (stock options backdating)
- Jasmine v. Marvell (the “Silicon Valley Voicemail” case)
She is a skilled defense lawyer, tactician and writer. In addition to her trial work, she has conducted numerous internal investigations in the United States and around the world.
Ms. Tough’s recent experience includes representing:
- Marvell Semiconductor, Inc., as trial counsel, in a trade secrets misappropriation trial to a complete defense verdict (Jasmine v. Marvell)
- A former CFO, as trial counsel, in a stock options backdating case brought by the SEC (SEC v. Jasper)
- An individual charged with tax evasion and conspiracy, as trial counsel, in federal court in New York (US v. Stein)
- PG&E in the government investigation and civil litigation stemming from the San Bruno natural gas pipeline explosion
- A biotech company in a major FCPA investigation
- The CEO of a failed California bank in government investigations and related civil proceedings
- An international energy company in a multi-agency investigation regarding potential violations of US sanctions laws
- An investment advisory firm in various tax shelter lawsuits and DOJ-IRS investigations, including coordinating the defense of several dozen major civil cases throughout the country
- A foreign attorney facing extradition on federal criminal charges
- An individual investigated for tax offenses relating to breeding thoroughbred racehorses
- A pro bono client in obtaining a confidential settlement related to a pedestrian fatality
- National Semiconductor at a major trade secrets trial