James Burnham returns to Jones Day as partner in Firm's Issues & Appeals Practice in Washington
09/23/2021
James Burnham returns to Jones Day as partner in Firm's Issues & Appeals Practice in Washington
The global law firm Jones Day announced that James Burnham has rejoined the Firm's Issues & Appeals Practice, as a partner in its Washington Office.
Mr. Burnham served in a variety of roles within the U.S. Department of Justice and the White House from 2017-2020, completing his service as a Counselor to the Attorney General. Prior to that, he served for two years as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in DOJ's Civil Division, overseeing the Federal Programs and Consumer Protection Branches.
In that capacity, Mr. Burnham led litigation teams in cases of national importance, delivered more than 30 oral arguments on behalf of the United States, and worked closely with in-house counsel at virtually every federal agency. In the White House, he assisted with the selection and confirmation of judicial nominees in addition to providing legal and strategic advice to senior White House officials on wide-ranging matters. Most recently, Mr. Burnham served as a Law Clerk to Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch in the U.S. Supreme Court.
"James is highly regarded in Washington for the legal and strategic advice he provided to the former Attorney General and for his skilled leadership of large teams of Justice Department lawyers in difficult and high-profile matters, qualities that we had an opportunity to see develop during his previous time working at Jones Day," said Noel J. Francisco, Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day's Washington Office and the Former Solicitor General of the United States from 2017-2020. "I am pleased to have him rejoin our office here in Washington and look forward to the contributions he will make serving Jones Day clients with a wide range of commercial and regulatory challenges."
Mr. Burnham returns to Jones Day, where he was an associate in the Issues & Appeals Practice from 2010-2017. He will primarily represent companies and individuals in commercial litigation, litigation involving the federal government and other governmental entities, and criminal matters. Mr. Burnham has experience as both a trial lawyer and an appellate lawyer, and has litigated complex and high-profile cases at every step from trial court to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"James has accumulated extraordinary experience over the past four-plus years as a litigator and strategic advisor at the highest levels of the federal government," said Traci L. Lovitt, who leads Jones Day's Issues & Appeals Practice. "That experience will be a tremendous asset to Jones Day clients facing complex legal challenges worldwide. We are pleased that he has rejoined our practice and welcome him back to the Firm."
During his previous tenure at Jones Day, Mr. Burnham successfully represented Former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell in McDonnell v. United States, a major challenge to the scope and validity of the federal corruption laws. He also successfully represented the Noel Canning Corp. in NLRB v. Noel Canning, a separation of powers challenge to President Obama's "recess appointments" to the NLRB.
Mr. Burnham graduated with high honors from The University of Chicago Law School and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He has been named a Washington, D.C. "Rising Star" by the National Law Journal and is a member of the Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court.
James Burnham returns to Jones Day as partner in Firm's Issues & Appeals Practice in Washington
Mr. Burnham served in a variety of roles within the U.S. Department of Justice and the White House from 2017-2020, completing his service as a Counselor to the Attorney General. Prior to that, he served for two years as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in DOJ's Civil Division, overseeing the Federal Programs and Consumer Protection Branches.
In that capacity, Mr. Burnham led litigation teams in cases of national importance, delivered more than 30 oral arguments on behalf of the United States, and worked closely with in-house counsel at virtually every federal agency. In the White House, he assisted with the selection and confirmation of judicial nominees in addition to providing legal and strategic advice to senior White House officials on wide-ranging matters. Most recently, Mr. Burnham served as a Law Clerk to Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch in the U.S. Supreme Court.
"James is highly regarded in Washington for the legal and strategic advice he provided to the former Attorney General and for his skilled leadership of large teams of Justice Department lawyers in difficult and high-profile matters, qualities that we had an opportunity to see develop during his previous time working at Jones Day," said Noel J. Francisco, Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day's Washington Office and the Former Solicitor General of the United States from 2017-2020. "I am pleased to have him rejoin our office here in Washington and look forward to the contributions he will make serving Jones Day clients with a wide range of commercial and regulatory challenges."
Mr. Burnham returns to Jones Day, where he was an associate in the Issues & Appeals Practice from 2010-2017. He will primarily represent companies and individuals in commercial litigation, litigation involving the federal government and other governmental entities, and criminal matters. Mr. Burnham has experience as both a trial lawyer and an appellate lawyer, and has litigated complex and high-profile cases at every step from trial court to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"James has accumulated extraordinary experience over the past four-plus years as a litigator and strategic advisor at the highest levels of the federal government," said Traci L. Lovitt, who leads Jones Day's Issues & Appeals Practice. "That experience will be a tremendous asset to Jones Day clients facing complex legal challenges worldwide. We are pleased that he has rejoined our practice and welcome him back to the Firm."
During his previous tenure at Jones Day, Mr. Burnham successfully represented Former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell in McDonnell v. United States, a major challenge to the scope and validity of the federal corruption laws. He also successfully represented the Noel Canning Corp. in NLRB v. Noel Canning, a separation of powers challenge to President Obama's "recess appointments" to the NLRB.
Mr. Burnham graduated with high honors from The University of Chicago Law School and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He has been named a Washington, D.C. "Rising Star" by the National Law Journal and is a member of the Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court.
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