Overview
Veteran trial attorney Linda L. Pence has joined the Indianapolis office of Amundsen Davis as a litigation partner and will lead the firm’s national white collar crime group.
With more than 40 years of experience, Pence has investigated, prosecuted and defended corporate and individual clients extensively in white collar criminal matters. This includes mortgage and consumer fraud, environmental offenses, Medicare/Medicaid and health care fraud, kickback schemes, bribery, bid-rigging, embezzlement, official misconduct, RICO, insurance fraud, bank fraud, customs and currency violations, securities fraud, and other financial and business improprieties.
“I am extremely excited and privileged to be joining a firm with SmithAmundsen’s pedigree and look forward to working alongside my new colleagues throughout the firm to support their clients’ needs,” said Pence, who recently amicably agreed with law partner David Hensel to close PenceHensel LLC. “I was seeking an environment that would allow me to continue to do what I love – serving companies and people who are facing life-changing circumstances.”
Amundsen Davis opened the firm’s Indianapolis office in 2013, and its attorneys are deeply involved in the Indianapolis community and connecting Indianapolis throughout the world. Pence’s addition complements the firm’s focus to build a full-service firm with key legal talent who have national reach.
“Linda’s addition is an once-in-a-lifetime affiliation for any firm, and we are glad she chose SmithAmundsen to continue her legal career,” said Steve Stitle, managing partner of SmithAmundsen’s Indianapolis office. “Linda brings to our firm a national prominence in the area of white collar crime.”
Pence began her legal career in 1974 as a trial attorney with the United States Department of Justice. For nine years, she handled complex civil and regulatory issues and white collar and criminal investigations and prosecutions. While at the Justice Department, Pence received the Attorney General’s Special Commendation Award and Attorney’s Award from the Association of Federal Investigators (resulting from her supervision over a task force on mortgage fraud).
In addition to criminal litigation, Pence has handled a variety of complex civil and regulatory matters, including cases involving civil RICO, civil fraud, environmental clean-ups, insurance, banking, discrimination, intellectual property, patents, SEC enforcement proceedings, franchises, and business disputes.
Pence has assisted clients obtain significant judgments, including a record federal civil enforcement action settlement, successful representation of several service station dealers against a large oil company and representation of several plaintiffs in one of the largest workers compensation insurance fraud schemes.
“I have been impressed over the years with Linda’s strong advocacy on behalf of clients who have faced bet-the-company cases, difficult odds and challenging circumstances,” said John Tanselle, a SmithAmundsen partner who helped spearhead Pence’s hiring. “This is a unique opportunity for us to attract someone with her talent and skillset to support our client needs throughout the firm.”
A former candidate for Indiana Attorney General, Pence was an instructor at the FBI Academy, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Offices of Inspector General and Legal Education Institute and Department of Justice. She is past president of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Merit Board and its predecessor Marion County Sheriff’s Merit Board, a founding member and past president of the board of the Indiana Federal Community Defenders Inc., and co-secretary and member of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Motorcycle Drill Team.
Pence is a member of several professional legal organizations, including the Indiana State Bar Association, Seventh Circuit Bar Association, Indianapolis chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Indianapolis Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar Association and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. She was formerly a co-chair of the America Bar Association Complex Crimes Committee, Litigation Section and a member of the Litigation and Criminal Justice Sections.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a law degree from the Indiana University School of Law, where she sits on the Board of Visitors and was named “Alumna of the Year” in 2013.
