Government Experience

  • Chief, Environmental Crimes Section, United States Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division
  • Counsel, United States Senate, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
  • Chief Counsel and Executive Director, United States Senate, Subcommittee on the Constitution

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • California
  • Pennsylvania

Education

  • J.D., Harvard Law School, 1972
  • B.A., with high distinction and high honors, University of Michigan, 1969

Memberships

  • American Bar Association

    Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee
T 202.344.4878
F 202.344.8300
 
Joseph G. Block
Partner

Jerry Block's practice concentrates on environmental criminal defense, environmental compliance programs, and internal investigations.

Mr. Block is one of two former chiefs of the Department of Justice's Environmental Crimes Section who is now at Venable. He is part of the only law firm in the nation to have a practice group focus exclusively on representing clients facing environmental crimes issues. An experienced criminal litigator, who both defended and prosecuted white collar criminal cases, Mr. Block has served the U.S. Senate as counsel in congressional investigations.

Significant Matters

Recent examples of Mr. Block’s cases include representing one of the world's largest cruise lines, a multinational steel company, a major pharmaceutical company, a senior environmental manager, and the president of a chemical company.

Activities

Mr. Block is active in the American Bar Association where he co-chairs committees on environmental crimes. With partner, Jud Starr, he co-chairs the annual ALI-ABA Conference on Environmental Crimes. Mr. Block received a presidential appointment to the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee to provide policy advice to the U. S. Trade Representative and the Administrator of the EPA on issues involving trade and the environment.