Respected Prosecutor to Join Gentry Locke

The Roanoke Times today reported that Tom Bondurant, Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, will join the Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore's White Collar Criminal Defense team of attorneys.

The September 16, 2009 article states, "On Oct. 1, the region's longest-serving federal prosecutor is moving to the other side of the courtroom, leaving the U.S. attorney's office and on the same day taking a criminal defense position with Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore."

According to Guy Harbert, Chair of Gentry Locke's White Collar Criminal Defense Group, "Tom brings unique and valuable experience to our Firm, and will be instrumental in expanding our ability to provide representation to corporate clients, to businesses, and to executives in the region who are facing an ever-increasing level of government regulation and potential criminal exposure." 

The need for companies to be vigilant and proactive in their financial affairs and to investigate and self-repair improprieties to avoid or minimize legal exposure is a corporate strategy of defense that is becoming more prevalent.

The Roanoke Times article quotes Bondurant as saying, "It's a process that shields shareholders and streamlines the court process, Bondurant said. Increased government intervention in the economy and the U.S. Department of Justice's designation of financial crimes as the No. 2 priority behind terrorism should bring an "explosion" of such cases, Bondurant said."
 
To read the full article, click on the "Associated File" link below.