Ex-general counsel and business executive served as co-chair of Virginia Senator Mark Warner’s re-election campaign; arrival follows Venable’s recent launch of State Attorney General Group
As an AUSA, Mr. Fairfax prosecuted in the Major Crimes and Narcotics Unit of the Alexandria Division. He also was appointed as the Deputy Coordinator of the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force and a member of the AUSA hiring committee. His trial work as a federal prosecutor included high-profile felony cases and arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
A rising star in Virginia politics, Mr. Fairfax was a Democratic candidate for state attorney general in 2013, earning the endorsement of The Washington Post and more than 48% of the statewide primary vote. In 2014, he co-chaired the successful re-election campaign of U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-Virginia).
Mr. Fairfax comes to Venable after serving as General Counsel and Vice President of Business Development for Reston, VA-based Thompson Hospitality Corporation, one of the nation’s largest food service and facilities management companies.
“Justin is one of the top young enforcement lawyers in the country. He has built a formidable skill set, merging the experiences of a top-flight federal prosecutor, tremendously talented candidate for high office and business savvy corporate manager,” said Geoffrey Garinther, who chairs Venable’s national litigation practice. “Justin makes an outstanding addition to our litigation group and enhances the impact of our practice in Northern Virginia and Washington, DC. His immense talents and vast network will be a big benefit to our clients, including those working with our new State AG group.”
Venable’s litigation group has an extensive roster of former government prosecutors and has consistently been recognized by Chambers, U.S. News-Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” and Benchmark Litigation. Overall, the group includes nearly 200 trial attorneys and 11 members of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers.
Earlier this month, Venable launched a State Attorney General practice, headed by former U.S. Senator and Arkansas Attorney General Mark Pryor. This group is composed of former government enforcement attorneys experienced in matters that come before state AGs. Among the State AG group are Kevin Turner, former Alabama Deputy Attorney General; Michael Bresnick, former executive director of the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force; and Leonard Gordon, former Northeast Regional Director for the Federal Trade Commission.
“Venable is one of the country’s pre-eminent trial and litigation law firms, and it continues to stay on the leading edge of enforcement and public policy issues, as evidenced by the formation of its new State AG group,” Mr. Fairfax said. “The firm has been at the forefront of helping businesses navigate regulation and enforcement in the post Dodd-Frank landscape. Venable has a significant presence in my own Northern Virginia market – I am confident my experience and knowledge here will be a significant benefit to the firm’s clients.”
Prior to his tenure at the U.S. Attorney’s office, Mr. Fairfax worked in private practice for an international law firm handling major white-collar criminal and complex commercial litigation.
Mr. Fairfax began his career as a federal law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Gerald B. Lee in the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria.
Mr. Fairfax earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School (2005), where he was selected to be a member of the prestigious Columbia Law Review. He received his B.A. in Public Policy Studies from Duke University (2000). Mr. Fairfax is a former member of the Duke University Board of Trustees and the Duke Sanford School Board of Visitors.
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