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 > Industry focus > Sport
Leveraging its expertise in patent litigation, data privacy compliance, and commercial disputes, the Vinson & Elkins LLP practice regularly acts on behalf of major sports leagues, franchises, and media corporations. Operating out of Austin, Hilary Preston has in-depth experience in complex IP claims and is also capable of handling ecommerce matters, whilst Washington DC-based Zachary Terwilliger regularly represents clients in federal investigations and trials. In New York, Michael Kurzer specializes in technology-focused transactions and investments.
United States > Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense
Vinson & Elkins LLP houses a team with a broad range of expertise in white-collar matters; their combined experience spans false claims, public corruption, and FCPA violations, among other forms of misconduct. Further to this, the team is especially skilled at navigating cross-border asset forfeiture matters. Practicing in Washington DC, Michael Dry assists both domestic and international clients facing various allegations, including insider trading, bribery, and securities fraud. Standing out as ‘a first-rate advocate with outstanding judgment and capabilities’, Zachary Terwilliger is also located in Washington DC. Palmina Fava practices in New York; she routinely advises clients being investigated for money laundering, cybersecurity matters, and misappropriation of trade secrets. Ephraim Wernick is another notable member of the team who is located in Washington DC. Wernick has a wealth of experience representing clients before the DOJ, OFAC, and SEC, among other regulatory authorities.
Lawyer Rankings
- Sport United States > Industry focus
- 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
Firm Rankings
- Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings
- Energy > Energy litigation: oil and gas
- 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
- Government > Government contracts
- Tax > International tax
- Antitrust > Merger control
- Real estate > Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
- Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
- Tax > US taxes: contentious
- Tax > US taxes: non-contentious
- Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
- 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
- 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
- M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism