Linton Mann III is a Partner in the Firm’s Litigation Department. Linton brings extensive, nationwide experience in defending and advising financial institutions, boards, and companies in complex, high-stakes litigation across a diverse spectrum of disputes, including securities litigation, class actions, breach of fiduciary duty, Ponzi schemes and other fraud-related matters, business torts, federal and state RICO matters, deceptive acts and practices, and financial products liability. Linton is also a leader in the Firm’s Anti-Discrimination Litigation and Advisory Practice, and a member of its Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice, including the Artificial Intelligence Working Group. Beyond litigation, Linton provides proactive counsel to help clients anticipate potential areas of exposure, mitigate risks, and manage complex regulatory challenges. Linton is Co-Chair of the Firm’s Recruiting and United for Justice Committees.
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. In 2023, Linton 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:
- The Toronto-Dominion Bank in resolving historic litigation related to Robert Allen Stanford, orchestrator of one of the largest-ever Ponzi schemes, on the eve of trial
- Issuers and underwriters in several residential mortgage-backed securities actions, including obtaining summary judgment for RBS
- Audit Committee of social media company’s Board of Directors in connection with discrimination and harassment internal investigation
- Paramount Global in derivative and stockholder class actions arising out of merger between CBS and Viacom
- CBS in Section 220 demand in Delaware Court of Chancery related to CBS and Viacom merger
- JPMorgan in dismissal and affirmance of a putative RICO class action
- State Street Board of Directors in connection with stockholder derivative investigations and litigation
- Multiple clients in performing legal assessments of their policies and programs from the perspective of compliance with applicable anti-discrimination laws and legal principles and, where appropriate, suggesting strategies to mitigate potential risks
- Multiple clients in responding to data breaches
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.