Sunny J. Thompson, Partner at our Washington, D.C., and Dallas law offices
Sunny J. Thompson vcard
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Sunny J. Thompson

Partner
Biography

Sunny Thompson is a skilled litigator who helps businesses solve problems. She routinely advises clients on strategic business transactions, risk management, internal investigations, and resolving disputes through litigation or alternative dispute resolution.  Sunny also has extensive labor and employment experience advising companies on policies, best practices, wage and hour compliance, OSHA matters, and defending against claims. Prior to joining Snell & Wilmer, Sunny was the vice president and associate general counsel for a multinational senior living company, where she provided legal and strategic business advice. She managed a large docket of litigation matters, including civil actions, regulatory investigations, EEOC proceedings, and class actions. Sunny also worked extensively with REITs on operating agreements for senior housing properties, real estate development, and helping assisted living operators with regulatory compliance.

Sunny has defended class action matters involving consumer claims for fraud and misrepresentation and wage and hour claims.  She regularly advises clients on high stakes corporate contract negotiations as well as with commercial disputes, including for breach of contract claims, insurance and indemnity demands, and enforcement of trademark and intellectual property rights.

Sunny previously worked for a large international law firm, where her practice focused on commercial, banking, securities, and structured finance litigation. She was particularly involved in cases involving complex financial transactions, trusts and derivatives, as well as bankruptcy- and insolvency-related matters including adversary proceedings, plan confirmation and other contested matters. Sunny also counseled companies on compliance and internal investigations, including for matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and similar anti-corruption laws in foreign countries.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Texas


Court Admissions

  • All State Courts in Texas
  • District of Columbia Court of Appeals
  • District of Coumbia
  • Federal Court of Claims
  • Supreme Court of Texas
  • United States District Court, District of Columbia
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Texas


Education

  • Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude,)
    • Order of the Coif
    • SMU Law Review Association, Associate Managing Editor
  • Vanderbilt University (B.A., Political Science and Spanish, magna cum laude)
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll (2023)
  • DC Super Lawyers®, Rising Stars Edition, Business Litigation (2013-2015)
  • Outstanding Young Associate, Human Rights Initiative (2010)

Previous Professional Experience

  • Multinational senior housing developer and operator, Vice President and Associate General Counsel (2015-2020)
  • Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, Litigation Associate (2008-2015)

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, Volunteer Attorney
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
  • Commercial Real Estate Women Network, DC Chapter (CREW DC)

Representative Presentations and Publications

  • ‘Deaf Tester’ Lawsuits Target Senior Living Providers,” Co-Author, Seniors Housing Business (November 10, 2022)
  • “Battling Hydra, The 9-Headed Monster: Understanding Today’s Class Action and Multi-Facility Litigation Trends,” Presenter,  DRI’s Senior Housing and Long Term Care Litigation Seminar (September 8, 2022)
  • Lawsuits Likely If CMS Mandates Provider COVID-19 Vaccines,” Quoted, Inside Health Policy (August 12, 2021)
  • Labor Challenges Persist for Providers in 2021,” Author, McKnight’s Senior Living (February 1, 2021)
  • “The Dodd-Frank Act: Two Years Later,” Co-Author, The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel (October 10, 2012)
  • “CDOs: Bankruptcy Remote, Not Bankruptcy Proof,” Co-Author, ABA Corporate Counsel Committee, Vol. 26, No. 2 (June 20, 2012)
  • “Dodd-Frank, One Year Later: A Primer on the Federal Rulemaking Process,” Co-Author, The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel (August 2011)