Debevoise & Plimpton LLP announced today that Carter Burwell has joined the firm’s Washington, D.C. office as counsel and a member of the firm’s White Collar & Regulatory Defense Practice, focusing on congressional investigations, anti-money laundering and illicit finance enforcement actions and national security reviews.
Mr. Burwell brings to the firm extensive government enforcement experience involving complex financial matters. Most recently, he served as Counselor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Treasury for Terrorism and Finance Intelligence. In this role, Mr. Burwell advised on matters involving financial sanctions and illicit finance, international corruption, human rights abuses and digital assets and worked directly with the National Security Council, domestic and foreign leaders and the private sector to protect against national security threats. He also participated in the CFIUS review process and advanced anti-money laundering reforms under the Bank Secrecy Act. Prior to his role at the Treasury Department, Mr. Burwell served as Chief Counsel to former Assistant Majority Leader and U.S. Senator John Cornyn and as Counsel to former Judiciary Committee Chairman and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley working on bipartisan efforts to modernize national security and technology laws as well as reform the criminal justice system.
Mr. Burwell is the latest senior government lawyer to join the firm’s White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group over the last several months, following the arrivals of Charu Chandrasekhar from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Douglas Zolkind from the Southern District of New York.
“With the anticipated surge in white collar enforcement activity under the new administration and the continued growth of cross-border transactions, we remain focused on adding top-tier talent to what is already a preeminent white collar practice,” said Bruce Yannett, Debevoise’s Deputy Presiding Partner and Chair of the White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group. “Carter’s extensive experience as a federal prosecutor, federal regulator and senior congressional aide bolsters our Washington D.C. office’s capabilities in areas including congressional investigations, anti-money laundering enforcement and national security reviews.”
Prior to his time in the Senate, Mr. Burwell also served as a federal prosecutor in both the Eastern District of Virginia and the Eastern District of New York where he led several award-winning prosecutions. He previously served as a law clerk to Judge John Gleeson before going on to clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit for Judge Karen Henderson. Earlier in his career, Mr. Burwell was an associate at another international law firm. He received his J.D. from the University Virginia School of Law in 2002, an M.Phil from the University of Cambridge in 1998, and his B.A. from Columbia College in 1996.
Mr. Burwell will join more than 20 former prosecutors and senior government officials in Debevoise’s award-winning White Collar & Regulatory Defense Practice, which is ranked as one of the world’s top practices by Global Investigations Review and as Band 1 by Chambers on both sides of the Atlantic for its complex representations of clients facing litigation and public policy crises. The Group has been involved in some of the most significant investigations and resolutions over the past few years, and offers international and domestic clients a depth of experience and global reach that allows for effective and strategic counsel, from defending against criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions, to conducting internal investigations, negotiating complex global settlements and facilitating cooperation with government regulators.
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a premier law firm with market-leading practices, a global perspective and strong New York roots. We deliver effective solutions to our clients’ most important legal challenges, applying clear commercial judgment and a distinctively collaborative approach.