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2/4/2009
Jenner & Block Partner Donald B. Verrilli, Jr., recognized as one of the nation’s preeminent litigators and Co-Chair of the Firm’s Appellate & Supreme Court practice, will be joining the Department of Justice as Associate Deputy Attorney General.
“Jenner & Block has always been a place where the best ideals of our profession are put into action,” Mr. Verrilli said. “I am very excited to have the opportunity for public service at this important moment in our history, but I will deeply miss my extraordinary colleagues at Jenner & Block and my wonderful clients.”
“Jenner & Block has a long tradition of public service by our attorneys and we’re thrilled that Don is joining the DOJ at this important time in our country’s history,” said Managing Partner Susan C. Levy. “We wish him the very best in his new position.”
In addition to Mr. Verrilli, Jenner & Block Partner Thomas J. Perrelli, Managing Partner of the DC office, has been selected by President Obama as his choice to be Associate Attorney General, the third-ranking official in the U.S. Department of Justice. In this role, Mr. Perrelli will oversee all civil litigation at the Department. Brian Hauck, a recently elevated Litigation partner, will also be Counsel to the Associate Attorney General. Ginger Anders, an associate, will be joining the DOJ as an Assistant to the Solicitor General.
Mr. Verrilli, who is also a longtime member of Jenner & Block’s governing Policy Committee and is Chair of the Firm’s Diversity Committee, has argued numerous cases before the United States Supreme Court, including Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. v. Grokster, Ltd., where he successfully argued that companies that build businesses on the illegal distribution of copyrighted material are liable for copyright infringement. He also successfully argued General Dynamics Land Systems v. Cline, a case in which the Court ruled that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act does not authorize “reverse discrimination” suits, FCC v. Next Wave Personal Communications, a case in which the Court returned to NextWave billions of dollars worth of wireless phone spectrum licenses that the FCC had sought to repossess from NextWave while it was in bankruptcy, and Verizon Communications v. FCC, the most important case arising out of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Mr. Verrilli has argued numerous cases before state and federal appellate courts throughout the country. In 2008, Mr. Verrilli successfully represented L-3 Communications before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit which unanimously reversed a $126 million verdict against L-3 Communications Corp.
Mr. Verrilli has also led the Jenner & Block team that is pursuing a $1 billion copyright case on behalf of Viacom Inc. against Google and YouTube, alleging massive violations of Viacom's copyrighted motion pictures and television shows.
Mr. Verrilli has also maintained an active pro bono practice throughout his career, and has been a longtime leader in Jenner & Block’s well-regarded pro bono program. He successfully defended the right to effective counsel in Wiggins v. Smith before the U.S. Supreme Court, and he has argued numerous times before the Court in pro bono matters.
Mr. Verrilli has been repeatedly recognized by Chambers, Best Lawyers, and Super Lawyers as among the top attorneys in the country. He was honored for his contributions to the equal justice community in 2006 with The Equal Justice Award from the Southern Center for Human Rights. In 2004, Mr. Verrilli received The Arthur von Briesen Award from the National Legal Aid and Defender Association for his volunteer contributions to the equal justice community.
Mr. Verrilli received his J.D. with honors from Columbia University in 1983, where he was a James Kent Scholar and served as editor-in-chief of the Columbia Law Review. He received his B.A. cum laude with a Distinction in History from Yale University in 1979. He clerked for Associate Justice William J. Brennan, Jr., of the United States Supreme Court, and Judge J. Skelly Wright of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Practice Groups:
Appellate and Supreme Court Practice
Litigation Department
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