Jamie S. Gorelick is a litigator who joined the firm in 2003.
Ms. Gorelick's career has spanned the legal, policy and corporate landscape. Over the course of her career, she has represented diverse interests in complex civil and criminal litigation, internal corporate investigations and counseling on issues at the intersection of law, policy and governance. As one of Washington's best-known litigators, Ms. Gorelick has represented corporations and individuals in a wide array of problems, particularly in the regulatory and enforcement arenas. A leader in the bar, she was President of the District of Columbia Bar from 1992 to 1993. She is currently Co-Chair of the American Bar Association's Commission on Legal Ethics 20/20.
Ms. Gorelick was one of the longest serving Deputy Attorneys General of the United States, the second highest position in the Department of Justice. In that role, she supervised the litigation and law enforcement divisions of the Department, including the United States Attorneys Offices. Ms. Gorelick arrived at Justice from the Department of Defense, where she was General Counsel. There, she helped structure the Department's involvement in the consolidation of the defense industry in the 1990s and was awarded the Secretary of Defense Distinguished Service Medal for her service. Earlier in her career, Ms. Gorelick was Vice Chair of the Task Force on the Audit, Inspection and Investigation Components of the Department of Defense. She was also Assistant to the Secretary and Counselor to the Deputy Secretary of Energy, and was presented with the Secretary's Outstanding Service Medal.
Ms. Gorelick has served on numerous government boards and commissions. She was a member of the bipartisan National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (the "9/11 Commission"). She also was a member of the CIA's National Security Advisory Panel, President Bush's Review of Intelligence Committee and President Clinton's Advisory Committee to the Presidential Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection (which she co-chaired), among others. She was a member of the Commission on Science and Security at the Department of Energy and is currently serving on the Continuity of Government Commission.
Corporate and Non-profit Experience
Ms. Gorelick serves on the boards of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Urban Institute, and the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Ms. Gorelick advises boards on governance issues and currently serves on the board of United Technologies Corp. She was Vice Chair of Fannie Mae from 1997 to 2003.
Professional Activities
Ms. Gorelick has written numerous scholarly articles and is the co-author of a leading treatise on the maintenance of corporate documents, Destruction of Evidence (Wiley 1983). She taught trial advocacy at Harvard Law School and has been a guest lecturer at universities across the country. She was a member of Harvard's Board of Overseers and its Overseers' Visiting Committee to Harvard Law School. She is a frequent lecturer on corporate governance and business ethics and was the 2004 Raytheon Lecturer on Business Ethics at Bentley College. Ms. Gorelick is a member of the Best Lawyers Board of Advisors.
A Broad and Deep Background
Ms. Gorelick's diverse experience in both the public and private sectors—combined with her experience in the corporate boardroom and in the international arena—enables her to assist organizations operating in competitive and complex markets.
Honors and Awards
- Good Scout Award, National Capital Area Boy Scouts (2008)
- Bar Association of the District of Columbia Lawyer of the Year (2004)
- DC Chamber of Commerce's Corporate Leadership Award (2003)
- Women's Bar Association Star of the Bar Award (2003)
- NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund Aiming High Award (2002)
- ADL Leon and Marilyn Klinghoffer Memorial Foundation Award (received on behalf of Clinton Administration)
- American Jewish Committee Judge Learned Hand Award (1999)
- Wickersham Award for Exceptional Public Service and Dedication to the Legal Profession (1998)
- Director of Central Intelligence Award (1997)
- Department of Justice Edmund J. Randolph Award (1997)
- Equal Justice Works Outstanding Advocate of the Year (1997)
- American Bar Association Margaret Brent Award (1997)
- Radcliffe College Alumnae Recognition Award (1997)
- Secretary of Defense Distinguished Service Award (1994)
- Prominent Woman in International Law (1994)
- Women's Bar Association Women Lawyer of the Year (1993)
- Secretary of Energy Outstanding Service Award (1980)
Listed in:
- Lawdragon Magazine's "500 Leading Lawyers in America", 2010
- Recognized as a Nationwide leader in the Government field in the 2007-2010 editions of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business
- "Legend of the Bar," D.C. Bar (2010)
- Fortune's "50 Most Powerful Women in Business"
- Best Lawyers in America ("Bet the Company" Litigation, White Collar Defense and Commercial Litigation)
- National Law Journal's "50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America"
- Washingtonian's "Power 150" (2007), "100 Most Powerful Women," "Top 30 Lawyers in Washington" and one of the top 30 "Stars of the Bar" (2009)
- forbes.com's "America's Top Businesswomen"
- Money Magazine's "50 Smartest Women in the Money Business"
- Who's Who in America
- Who's Who in American Law