Linton Mann III

Linton Mann III is a Partner in the Firm’s Litigation Department. Linton brings extensive, nationwide experience in defending and advising clients concerning the full spectrum of commercial disputes, including trial and appellate work in federal and state courts. Linton is Co-Chair of the Firm’s Recruiting and United for Justice Committees.

Core Areas of Practice:

• Complex Commercial Litigation – securities litigation, class actions, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and Ponzi scheme matters, and business torts
• Privacy, Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence – leader in the Firm’s Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice and cross-disciplinary Artificial Intelligence Working Group helping clients to anticipate exposure, mitigate risks, and navigate complex litigation and regulatory challenges
• Anti-Discrimination Litigation and Advisory – advising clients on compliance with anti-discrimination laws, conducting internal investigations, and mitigating litigation and regulatory exposure

Linton is consistently named a “Next Generation Partner” by The Legal 500, where sources say he “stands out from his peers for his securities work.” Recognized among Crain’s “40 Under 40,” 2024 “Notable Black Leaders” and 2023 “Notable LGBTQIA+ Leaders,” Linton was also recognized among the “Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40” for 2022 by the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, and has been named a “Rising Star” by the New York Law Journal, Law360 and Euromoney. Linton is also recognized by Euromoney’s Benchmark Litigation as a “Future Star” and was a repeat honoree on Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under List.” 

Linton is the Chair of the Board of Trustees for Uncommon Charter Schools New York City, which oversees twenty-four public charter schools in Brooklyn, New York. He is also Chair of the Board of Directors of Manhattan Legal Services, a program of Legal Services NYC, the largest provider of pro bono civil legal services in the country. Linton currently serves as Vice Chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Judiciary Committee. In 2023, he was one of four recipients of the Pro Bono Service Award from the Legal Services Corporation, and the Chief Judge of New York’s Court of Appeals appointed Linton to the Permanent Commission on Access to Justice, which has a mission to expand access to civil legal services and improve access to justice generally.

Linton’s representative experience includes:

• Toronto-Dominion Bank – defended client in muti-billion-dollar litigation arising from the Robert Allen Stanford Ponzi scheme, one of the largest in history; resolved on the eve of trial 
• Issuers and Underwriters – defended multiple residential mortgage-backed securities actions; obtained summary judgment for RBS and Deutsche Bank
• Audit Committee of a major social media company – advised in connection with a discrimination and harassment internal investigation
• Paramount Global - defended derivative and stockholder class actions arising from the CBS-Viacom merger 
• CBS – represented client in Section 220 demand trial in the Delaware Court of Chancery related to the CBS and Viacom merger
• JPMorgan – secured dismissal and appellate affirmance in a putative RICO class action
• State Street Board of Directors – advised in connection with stockholder derivative investigations and litigation
• Multiple clients – response, investigation and counsel in connection with data breach incidents
• Multiple financial institutions, corporations and non-profits – legal assessments of policies and programs for compliance with anti-discrimination laws and risk-mitigation strategies

Linton also has significant pro bono experience including representing low-income tenants in New York City’s Housing Court and New York’s trial and appellate courts. He also helps coordinate the Firm’s Legal Outreach Internship and matters relating to racial and social justice. Legal Outreach is an organization that prepares urban youth from underserved communities to compete at high levels by using intensive legal and educational programs as tools for fostering vision, developing skills, enhancing confidence, and facilitating the pursuit of higher education.

Linton joined the Firm following his graduation in 2007 from Duke University School of Law, where he served as the Co-Chair of the Moot Court Board. He was selected as the recipient of Duke Law’s 2017 Young Alumni Award, honoring an individual who has graduated within the past 15 years and has made significant leadership and service contributions to Duke Law School and the legal profession. He received B.A. degrees in political science and speech communications from the University of Georgia in 2004. He is admitted to practice in New York.