Clients turn to Hilary Ledwell when facing their most complex and consequential challenges — whether that is navigating a high-profile congressional investigation, strategizing to prevail in cutting-edge litigation, or resolving high-stakes disputes outside of court. She brings a combination of legal and political expertise to every matter, drawing on experience that spans positions at the White House and a major federal agency, and clerkships at every level of the federal judiciary.
Her litigation experience encompasses mass tort and large-scale settlement proceedings, commercial arbitration, and major public-policy disputes in federal courts. She recently helped secure a series of victories challenging federal agencies’ policies seeking to slash grant funding for institutions of higher education. She brings the same level of rigor to her congressional and regulatory work, guiding clients through investigations, document productions, and the communications challenges that accompany them.
Before joining Jenner & Block, Hilary served as Oversight Counsel at the Department of Homeland Security, where she managed the Department’s strategy in its most sensitive congressional investigations. Prior to that, she served in the White House in the Office of the Staff Secretary. She previously held roles on the Biden-Harris Transition and the Biden Presidential Campaign, advising on policy and legal strategy.
Earlier in her career, Hilary was a litigator at the ACLU's Center for Liberty, where she focused on strategic advocacy to advance civil rights. She clerked for Justice Elena Kagan on the United States Supreme Court; for Judge Judith Rogers on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit; and for Judge James Boasberg on the US District Court for the District of Columbia. During law school, she served as editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Journal.
Credentials
Service / Recognition
Overview
Clients turn to Hilary Ledwell when facing their most complex and consequential challenges — whether that is navigating a high-profile congressional investigation, strategizing to prevail in cutting-edge litigation, or resolving high-stakes disputes outside of court. She brings a combination of legal and political expertise to every matter, drawing on experience that spans positions at the White House and a major federal agency, and clerkships at every level of the federal judiciary.
Her litigation experience encompasses mass tort and large-scale settlement proceedings, commercial arbitration, and major public-policy disputes in federal courts. She recently helped secure a series of victories challenging federal agencies’ policies seeking to slash grant funding for institutions of higher education. She brings the same level of rigor to her congressional and regulatory work, guiding clients through investigations, document productions, and the communications challenges that accompany them.
Before joining Jenner & Block, Hilary served as Oversight Counsel at the Department of Homeland Security, where she managed the Department’s strategy in its most sensitive congressional investigations. Prior to that, she served in the White House in the Office of the Staff Secretary. She previously held roles on the Biden-Harris Transition and the Biden Presidential Campaign, advising on policy and legal strategy.
Earlier in her career, Hilary was a litigator at the ACLU's Center for Liberty, where she focused on strategic advocacy to advance civil rights. She clerked for Justice Elena Kagan on the United States Supreme Court; for Judge Judith Rogers on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit; and for Judge James Boasberg on the US District Court for the District of Columbia. During law school, she served as editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Journal.
Areas of Focus
Credentials
Admissions
- District of Columbia, 2019
Education
- Yale Law School, JD, 2017
- University of Cambridge's Emmanuel College, MPhil, 2014
- Williams College, BA, summa cum laude, 2012
Court Admissions
- US Supreme Court, 2023
- US Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, 2018
- US District Court, District of Columbia, 2019
Clerkships
- Hon. Elena Kagan, US Supreme Court, 2022-2023
- Hon. James E. Boasberg, US District Court, District of Columbia, 2018-2019
- Hon. Judith W. Rogers, US Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, 2017-2018
Service / Recognition
Awards
- Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll: High Honor Roll, 2024-2025