Tommy Hoyt

TOMMY HOYT focuses his practice on accountants’ liability, securities litigation, ERISA, and white collar defense. Tommy also maintains a robust pro bono practice, advocating on behalf of immigrants, incarcerated individuals, and veterans. In 2024, the National Immigrant Justice Center recognized Tommy as a “Rising Star” for his pro bono service.

Tommy graduated cum laude from the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. While in law school, Tommy served as an articles editor for the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology and worked with professors as both a teaching assistant (tax law) and a research assistant (criminal law). Prior to law school, Tommy worked for two years as a management consultant with the Cambridge Group in Chicago. He earned a B.A. in public policy with highest distinction from the University of Michigan, where he minored in Spanish and business.

Accountants’ Liability

• Successfully defended public accounting firms and individual accountants in confidential SEC and PCAOB investigations.
• Counsel to audit firm in multidistrict class action and regulatory enforcement proceedings arising from collapse of FTX cryptocurrency exchange.
• Represented accounting firm accused of facilitating fraudulent transfer of business interests between heirs to multinational family business.
  

Class Action Defense - ERISA / Securities Litigation

• Stegemann v. Gannett Co., Inc.: ERISA trial counsel to defendant media company facing class action suit from over 10,000 401(k) plan participants who sought upwards of US$58 million in damages relating to a frozen legacy stock fund on the plan’s investment menu. Trial resulted in a complete defense victory.
• Arbitration trial counsel to retirement plan investment advisor accused by former client of breaching fiduciary duties under ERISA.
• Defended former telecommunications executive against securities class action litigation concerning alleged misstatements in revenue projections.
  

White Collar Investigations

• Performed internal investigation to identify, quantify, and recoup losses from employee embezzlement at nonprofit performing arts institution.
• Counsel for major hedge fund in FCPA, anti-money laundering, and forfeiture investigation.
• Performed internal investigation into lobbying practices of a major tech company, advising on compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.

• National Immigrant Justice Center, Associate Leadership Board, February 2023–Present
• Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Young Professional Member, 2016–Present

• Secured compassionate medical release for client sentenced to life without parole under Illinois’ Three Strikes Law.
• Successfully sued U.S. Air Force in U.S. Court of Federal Claims on behalf of veteran seeking combat-related special compensation.
• Successfully petitioned Board for the Correction of Naval Records to strike reference to drug abuse from veteran’s discharge records.
• Ange Samma et al. v. DOD et al.: Submitted amicus brief on behalf of veterans’ groups opposed to the Pentagon’s imposition of time-in-service requirements on the naturalization of noncitizen servicemembers.
• Represents Venezuelan migrant seeking asylum from political persecution.
• Provided Spanish-language legal orientations to migrants bussed from Texas-Mexico border to Chicago.