Dixie L. Johnson is co-head of the Firm's Securities Enforcement and Regulation practice. She also co-heads the Firm's White Collar Criminal Defense and Securities Enforcement practice group, representing businesses and individuals in government securities investigations from her office in Washington, DC. Since 1986, Dixie and her practice group have represented clients in many of the most significant securities enforcement investigations in the SEC's history. She also counsels clients regarding their regulatory and disclosure obligations, assists clients in developing policies and procedures to deter violations, and conducts internal investigations. Few of her representations ever become known to the public.
In addition to representing the businesses and business leaders who are her clients, Dixie also serves as Chair-Elect of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association, representing business lawyers from throughout the ABA in the leading issues of the day. As Business Law Secretary and Vice-Chair, Dixie served as co-editor in chief of the Section's online monthly magazine, Business Law Today, in 2010-2011 and as editor-in-chief of the Section's renowned journal, The Business Lawyer, in 2010-2012. Selected in 2006 as the recipient of that Section's "Jean Allard Glass Cutter Award," given annually to a woman who has cut through barriers to attain high accomplishments in Business Law, she had previously served as Chair of the Committee on Federal Regulation of Securities and as co-chair of that committee's Subcommittee on Civil Litigation and SEC Enforcement Matters.
Dixie joined the Firm in 1986 and became a partner in 1993. Prior to becoming a lawyer, she taught in the Albuquerque, New Mexico public school system for six years.
Honors & Awards
In addition to the Glass Cutter Award in 2006, Dixie has been recognized consistently by others as a leading lawyer in her field. Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2012 and 2011 ranked her as a leading individual in Securities Regulation: Enforcement (National), noting in 2011 that she is praised by clients for "her ability to craft workable solutions to problems."The Chambers USA 2010 guide commended "her strong judgment, creative approach and excellent rapport with clients, peers and regulators." Ms. Johnson is additionally recognized by Legal 500 in Financial Services: Litigation. She has also been recognized by Legal 500 in Litigation: White-Collar Criminal Defense, selected as one of "Washington's Top Lawyers" by Washingtonian magazine in 2011, and selected as one of the top ten "Leading Lawyers" in Securities and Corporate Governance by the Legal Times of Washington in 2003.
Professional Associations
In addition to her extensive work with the ABA's Section of Business Law, Dixie is a member of the Executive Council of the Federal Bar Association, Securities Law Committee and a member of the Board of Advisors, Securities and Exchange Commission Historical Society. She is a former member of the Securities Board of Editors of the Lexis Nexis Publishing Company (2008-2010). Dixie speaks and writes frequently on securities enforcement and related topics.
Education
Ms. Johnson received her JD from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1986, her MBA from New Mexico Highlands University in 1983, and her BA from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1977. She is admitted to the bar in the District of Columbia.