John is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office and a member of the firm’s Litigation Department and focuses his work in the Government & Regulatory Affairs and Immigration Practice Groups. He represents companies, institutions, foreign sovereigns and individuals in connection with federal investigations, global immigration, cross-border compliance, related litigation and congressional inquiries. John leverages his significant and varied experiences at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the United States Senate and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to effectively guide clients in legal risk to resolution and compliance, often at the intersection of politics and the law.

Immigration and Foreign Policy

John served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the Obama Administration. He managed a broad domestic and international portfolio and was responsible for policy oversight and execution. John was instrumental in creating operational guidance for worksite immigration enforcement. In partnership with DOJ, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the State Department, John worked directly with foreign diplomats to investigate and dismantle cross-border trade violations, money laundering, foreign corruption and export control violations.

John also served as Counselor to the Director at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. There, he played a pivotal role in developing policies for, and the administration of, visas for highly skilled workers, people with extraordinary abilities, and foreign investors. John also worked on many complex global immigration matters including the response to national security risks associated with the EB-5 immigrant investor program and helping administer the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. He also worked to ensure unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the U.S. received due process.

Prior to joining the Obama Administration, John served as senior counsel to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), then-Chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. John conducted oversight investigations and advised the committee on civil and criminal justice, immigration and homeland security, foreign corruption, sovereign immunity and judicial nominations. Additionally, John counseled corporate executives in preparation for their Congressional testimony ranging in matters from immigration to the FCPA.

John began his legal career as a trial attorney at the Department of Justice following a judicial clerkship in Billings, Montana. At DOJ, he represented the United States in federal district and appellate courts across the country on civil and criminal matters related to immigration.