Virginia Seitz Rejoins Sidley Austin

Washington, D.C. — Sidley Austin LLP announced that Virginia Seitz, former Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice, has returned to Sidley as a partner in the firm’s Supreme Court and Appellate practice in Washington, D.C. Ms. Seitz was a partner at Sidley from 1998 to 2011.

“We are delighted that Virginia’s accomplished career path has led her back to Sidley,” said Mark Hopson, managing partner of Sidley’s Washington, D.C. office. “She is an extraordinarily well-respected and thoughtful lawyer, and we will benefit from her recent experience advising on some of the most complex legal issues of our time.”

Following her nomination by President Obama and Senate confirmation, Ms. Seitz was sworn in as Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel in September 2011 and served through December 2013. As the leader of the Office of Legal Counsel, Virginia was responsible for providing legal advice to the President and Executive Branch departments and agencies on issues of particular difficulty and importance, including those issues on which there was a dispute between federal agencies. 

“Virginia has blazed trails throughout her legal career – from being a highly-respected litigation partner at Sidley while working part-time, to becoming the first woman to be named Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel – and we are delighted she will be resuming her practice at Sidley,” said Peter Keisler, co-chair of Sidley’s Appellate practice. “Her extensive experience in the Supreme Court and the federal courts of appeals complements our national Appellate practice’s broad focus, and we are excited to have her rejoin the firm as a leading member of the team.”

In the course of her distinguished career, Ms. Seitz has argued in the U.S. Supreme Court and in numerous courts of appeals on behalf of a wide range of clients. She has also handled an array of district court litigation involving important constitutional and other federal-law issues. Earlier in her career, she clerked for Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr., and Judge Harry T. Edwards of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She is considered a pioneer for individuals in the legal field who want both to pursue a top-tier career and to raise a family, as she worked part-time and raised her children while part of Sidley’s nationally prominent appellate practice.

“I am very happy to return to Sidley. I have deep respect for the firm’s professionalism, integrity and collegiality, and I look forward to practicing law with the terrific lawyers there.”

Sidley is deeply committed to diversity. The firm has been acknowledged repeatedly for its initiatives to advance women in the legal profession by notable organizations such as Working Mother Magazine, Flex-Time Lawyers and the Women in Law Empowerment Forum. Our mission is to continually attract, retain and promote, to partnership and leadership, outstanding lawyers who reflect the global marketplace and the communities that we serve.

With more than 1,800 lawyers in 18 offices worldwide, Sidley has built a reputation as a premier legal adviser for global businesses and financial institutions. For the fourth consecutive year, and every year since the survey’s inception, Sidley received the most first-tier national rankings of any U.S. law firm in the 2014 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” survey. On Law360’s list of Global 20 Firms, Sidley was ranked among the top law firms “with the greatest global reach and expertise.” To stay up-to-date with the latest Sidley news, please follow us on Twitter at @SidleyNewsroom or download the Sidley Mobile App.