Mr Zachary Terwilliger > Vinson & Elkins LLP > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile
Vinson & Elkins LLP Offices
2200 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW
SUITE 500 WEST
WASHINGTON, DC 20037-1701
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
United States
- Firm Profile
- Go to...
Mr Zachary Terwilliger
Work Department
Government Investigations & White Collar Criminal Defense
Position
Zachary (“Zach”) Terwilliger, the former Senate confirmed United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, has extensive experience in all manners of federal investigations and trials. Those frontline skills combine with his mastery of involved management roles overseeing operational programs, setting policy parameters, and managing teams to accomplish strategic objectives. He gained this experience over a decades-long career in public service where he advanced from an office intern to serve as the presidentially appointed and Senate confirmed United States Attorney. He rounds out his Washington experience by having served as Associate Deputy Attorney General and Chief of staff to the Deputy Attorney General, whose office manages the entire Department of Justice and its various agencies, and as counsel to the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
In a testament to his professionalism, he was the sole and unanimous recommendation of Virginia’s two Democratic Senators to serve as U.S. Attorney. Following this recommendation, the President’s nomination, and confirmation by the entire U.S. Senate, Zach was sworn in as the then-youngest U.S. Attorney in the country.
Zach’s knowledge of how the Justice Department and federal enforcement agencies function in both civil and criminal matters, particularly in regards to discretionary decision making, provides him with unique insights necessary to effectively assist companies and individuals facing federal enforcement matters, including allegations of domestic and international criminal and civil violations. Zach is skilled in navigating internal and government investigations, allegations of bribery under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, complex criminal grand jury investigations, criminal antitrust matters, and Congressional inquiries and select committee investigations, among other complex white collar issues. As a Chambers-ranked attorney, Zach is described by clients as “a go-to person for white-collar matters and complicated government investigations. He is very skilled and intelligent and will control the facts. He is talented, knowledgeable and efficient.” (Chambers USA 2023 – client quote).
As U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Zach supervised a team of over 300 lawyers and support staff. He also managed multiple key corporate resolutions, and significantly enhanced the District’s white-collar footprint through collaboration with DOJ’s Fraud Section, as well as with other enforcement entities like the newly created Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery and the Procurement Collusion Strike Force. He is also a veteran litigator with years of investigative and in-court experience in trials, pre-trial proceedings, and appeals.
Education
- William & Mary School of Law, J.D., 2007 (Order of the Coif)
- University of Virginia, B.A., 2003
Lawyer Rankings
United States > Antitrust > Merger control
Vinson & Elkins LLP offers a broad nationwide antitrust practice with a strong presence across Washington DC, Texas, and California, working with clients in highly scrutinized sectors such as energy, tech, chemicals, and pharma on merger clearances, combining prolific HSR filing work with a successful record in antitrust litigation relating to contested mergers. The team focuses on cross-border mergers, encompassing multijurisdictional filings and approval proceedings, alongside investigations by international regulators, best evidenced by co-head Darren Tucker’s representation of Google in its $2.1bn acquisition of Fitbit, which required European, Canadian, and Latin American merger approvals and was subject to international investigation. Co-head Hill Wellford is also noted for his specialism in antitrust investigations by the FTC and DOJ, including several high-profile merger cases. Vastly experienced antitrust litigator Alden Atkins has a strong focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors, while Zachary Terwilliger, formerly United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, is also a key team member, focusing on contentious merger cases and trials. All lawyers mentioned are in Washington DC.
United States > Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense
Counting a number of former DOJ officials and federal prosecutors among its ranks, Vinson & Elkins LLP combines its broad white-collar practice with deep knowledge of regulatory bodies and enforcement authorities. Washington DC-based Michael Dry heads the practice jointly with New York’s Palmina Fava, who is hailed as a ‘fearless, focused advocate’. Also in New York, Christopher Duffy‘s practice spans clients from a wide variety of sectors, including technology and professional sports. Former US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Zachary Terwilliger is active in the firm’s DC office and has in-depth experience assisting clients with federal investigations and trials.
Lawyer Rankings
- Merger control United States > Antitrust
- Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense United States > Dispute resolution
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Government > Government relations
- Energy > Energy regulation: oil and gas
- Energy > Energy transactions: oil and gas
- Energy > Renewable/alternative power
- M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism
Firm Rankings
- Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings
- Energy > Energy litigation: oil and gas
- Government > Government contracts
- Finance > Project finance
- Transport > Aviation and air travel: finance
- Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings
- Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings
- Antitrust > Cartel
- Real estate > Construction (including construction litigation)
- Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional
- Energy > Energy regulation: electric power
- Environment > Environment: litigation
- Environment > Environment: regulatory
- Environment > Environment: transactional
- Tax > International tax
- Antitrust > Merger control
- Real estate > Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
- Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
- Tax > US taxes: non-contentious
- Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
- Energy > Energy transactions: electric power
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense
- M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: large deals ($500m+)
- Real estate > Real estate
- Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate
- Industry focus > Sport
- Tax > US taxes: contentious
- Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes
- M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+)
- Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers
- Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)
- Finance > Commercial lending
- Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense
- Real estate > Land use/zoning