Damian Williams, Former US Attorney for SDNY, Joins Jenner & Block as Co-Chair of Litigation Department and Investigations, Compliance, and Defense Practice

Former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Damian Williams, is joining Jenner & Block as partner in its New York office. Damian will Co-Chair Jenner’s Litigation Department and Investigations, Compliance, and Defense (ICD) Practice, bringing unparalleled experience from the front lines of public service in high-stakes government cases, regulatory enforcement, sensitive investigations, and white-collar matters.

“Damian led the Southern District with excellence and integrity, and we are excited to welcome him to Jenner as part of our firm’s long tradition of hiring former public servants who are zealous and effective advocates,” said Firm Chair Tom Perrelli, former Associate Attorney General of the United States. “Damian is an outstanding lawyer with a depth of experience that will help our clients navigate their most pressing and complex challenges.”

From 2021 to 2024, Damian served as the US Attorney for SDNY, where he supervised major prosecutions involving financial crime, crypto enforcement, public corruption, civil rights, and national security. Among the many high-profile matters and investigations Damian oversaw, his office brought landmark cases against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, US Senator Bob Menendez, and Archegos Capital founder Bill Hwang. He was the first Black US Attorney in SDNY history and led initiatives that redefined enforcement priorities and prosecutorial effectiveness. He also chaired the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, shaping national Department of Justice policy.

“Damian’s arrival builds on Jenner & Block’s history of attracting the best and brightest lawyers who embody wisdom, judgment, and integrity,” said Co-Managing Partners Randy Mehrberg and Ishan Bhabha. “Damian’s addition to our partnership is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to our clients, and to making strategic investments in the firm’s future. Jenner continues to lead the legal community in the work we do, the trust our clients place in us, and in a partnership that is committed to our values and communities.”

Prior to his confirmation as US Attorney, Damian served as an Assistant United States Attorney in SDNY from 2012 to 2021 and led numerous high-profile white collar prosecutions involving corruption in financial markets and public institutions. From 2018 to 2021, Damian served as Chief of the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force, where he oversaw complex cases involving insider trading, market manipulation, and corporate misconduct. His notable prosecutions included Republican Congressman Chris Collins and Democratic New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

“Jenner & Block fearlessly advocates for its clients and provides outstanding strategic counsel through their most difficult challenges,” said Damian. “I’ve seen firsthand how this firm expertly tackles the toughest cases and lives its values. I’m excited to join a team with an extraordinary depth of legal talent that doesn’t shy away from hard fights—and delivers results that matter.”
Damian will be a driving force in the firm’s high-stakes litigation and white-collar work, particularly in New York, reinforcing Jenner’s position as a destination for major investigations, crisis management, and enforcement matters.

“Damian has taken on some of the biggest and toughest fights in New York, including political corruption, Wall Street fraud, and violent crime,” said New York partners and Co-Chairs of Jenner’s Investigations, Compliance, and Defense Practice Katya Jestin, former Assistant US Attorney and supervisor in the Criminal Division of the Eastern District of New York, and Tony Barkow, former Assistant US Attorney in the US Attorney’s Offices for SDNY and for the District of Columbia. “He brings impeccable judgment, strategic insight, and credibility to every matter. We’ve admired his work for years and are thrilled to be working alongside him.”

Damian holds a JD from Yale Law School, a MA from the University of Cambridge, and a AB from Harvard University. He served as a law clerk to Judge Merrick B. Garland of the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit and then to Justice John Paul Stevens of the United States Supreme Court.