The global law firm Jones Day announces that Brian C. Rabbitt, who previously served in senior roles at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), has joined the Firm’s Government Regulation; Investigations & White Collar Defense; and State Attorney General Enforcement, Investigations & Litigation practices as a partner. Mr. Rabbitt will be based in the Firm’s Washington Office.
“Brian is a battle-tested lawyer, knows the inner workings of government, and has a well-rounded set of skills in the white collar and financial services arenas,” said Don McGahn, former White House Counsel and leader of Jones Day’s Government Regulation Practice. “This, combined with his maturity of judgment, will serve our clients well in their most sensitive matters, and I am pleased to welcome him to Jones Day.”
Mr. Rabbitt is an experienced litigator and counselor who will focus his practice on high-profile, high-stakes criminal and civil investigations and litigation involving federal enforcement authorities, Congress, and state attorneys general. He most recently served as Acting Assistant Attorney General and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ’s Criminal Division. As head of one of the DOJ’s largest criminal enforcement components, Mr. Rabbitt supervised hundreds of prosecutors responsible for investigating and prosecuting a broad array of federal crimes. Under his leadership, the Criminal Division resolved several of the largest and most-significant white-collar criminal prosecutions in DOJ history, including landmark market manipulation and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) cases; prosecuted billions of dollars in healthcare fraud; and led the DOJ’s response to COVID-19-related stimulus fraud.
“Brian has substantial experience working in Washington, including time spent in both private practice and in government service, and we look forward to his contributions to our clients,” said Noel Francisco, former Solicitor General and Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day’s Washington Office.
Before heading the Criminal Division, Mr. Rabbitt served as Chief of Staff and Senior Counselor to the Attorney General at DOJ. In that role, he had broad responsibility for all aspects of the Department’s operations. Mr. Rabbitt took a leading role in handling congressional oversight and closely supervised many of the DOJ’s most-significant criminal and civil matters. He also served in senior positions at the SEC, including Senior Policy Advisor to the Chairman, advising the Chairman and other senior officials on enforcement matters, litigation, regulatory policy, international affairs, and congressional oversight.
Mr. Rabbitt previously served as Associate Counsel and Special Assistant to the President in the Office of the White House Counsel. While at the White House, he counseled senior administration officials on legal issues relating to financial and economic regulatory policies and other investigatory matters.
“Brian’s breadth of experience with investigations and enforcement matters will further strengthen our ability to serve clients facing concurrent federal and state attorney general investigations, including the business, legal, and reputational risks that arise from them,” said Antonio (Tony) Dias, who leads Jones Day’s State Attorney General Enforcement, Investigations & Litigation Practice.
Prior to entering government, Mr. Rabbitt was in private practice at a Washington law firm, where his work focused on representing corporate and individual clients in complex litigation and investigations involving federal enforcement authorities and state attorneys general.
