Democracy Forward

General Counsel

• Litigate Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in federal and state court and to a limited extent, other transparency-focused litigation, on behalf of Democracy Forward and other clients, with the highest standards of legal skills, and independently manage a caseload. This includes:
• Serve as lead counsel across an active, diverse caseload of federal open records litigation in courtrooms across the country, helping to propose cases, setting litigation strategy, and handling day-to-day case management.
• Research, draft, and edit court filings, including complaints, motions, and briefs at the trial and appellate levels, including, as needed, amicus briefs.
• Conduct discovery where appropriate, including written discovery and depositions, as well as participate in evidentiary hearings.
• Conduct oral arguments in federal and state courts at the trial or appellate level.
• Draft, as needed, other advocacy materials, e.g., demand letters, administrative complaints, and other tools for demanding accountability.
• Proactively, creatively, and independently propose and develop ideas or candidates for future public records cases, including novel or creative litigation and non-litigation strategies for accountability and transparency.
• Develop and draft (or consult on) FOIA requests designed to advance DF’s litigation strategy (independent of its FOIA litigation). Work closely with litigation case teams to accomplish this.
• Work with DF’s Oversight team to research and develop investigation strategies and opportunities consistent with relevant federal and state open records laws. Review investigative plans and public records request drafts and advise on FOIA and state open records laws as well as best practices for evidentiary development and reasonable request drafting.
• Negotiate with the federal executive branch and state or local open records officials in connection with a high volume of pending open records requests. Maintain active communication and follow up with FOIA or open records officers in government agencies as DF’s point of contact for assigned active open records requests, or manage such correspondence handled by other team members.
• Partner with DF’s communications and research teams to develop messaging materials, blog posts, or other non-legal advocacy materials, as needed.
• Represent Democracy Forward in meetings with partners, coalitions, presentations, training, and meetings with congressional staff, consistent with Democracy Forward’s 501(c)(3) status.

Oversight Counsel