Courtney Dixon

Counsel

Courtney Dixon is a skilled appellate litigator who spent nearly a decade at the U.S. Department of Justice representing federal agencies in high-profile constitutional and administrative law matters. Courtney's practice focuses on defending complex regulatory actions and federal statutes in appellate courts across the country. She advises clients on legal risks related to rulemakings and emerging policy issues and brings significant insight from years of government service and academic engagement. Courtney partners with clients to develop litigation strategies that align with both legal precedent and policy priorities.

Courtney brings nearly a decade of experience in high-stakes appellate litigation, with a focus on administrative and constitutional law. She has represented federal agencies in more than 30 appeals across multiple U.S. Courts of Appeals, defending complex regulations and federal programs. She also has significant experience with federal statutory interpretation and agency rulemaking challenges. Her work spans a wide range of industries, including healthcare, labor, and government operations. Clients rely on Courtney for her ability to navigate complex legal frameworks while crafting persuasive and effective appellate strategies.

Courtney regularly advises clients on litigation risks related to agency actions and regulatory compliance and has extensive experience working with the U.S. Supreme Court, including drafting briefs and petitions in coordination with the Office of the Solicitor General. Her insights into federalism, preemption, and separation of powers also inform her academic work as an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law, where she co-teaches a seminar on constitutional structure and major questions in administrative law.

Experience

Government Experience

  • U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
    • Assistant director, Appellate Staff, Civil Division
    • Attorney, Appellate Staff, Civil Division
  • Associate counsel, Office of the White House Counsel (Detail)

Representative Matters

  • Defended multiple challenges in the federal courts of appeals to Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) policies under the Title X family-planning program
  • Argued in the D.C. Circuit in defense of a hospital price-transparency rule under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
  • Successfully briefed and argued an appeal in the Fifth Circuit upholding the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act against a constitutional quorum challenge
  • Defended a Department of Labor (DOL) rule on overtime pay exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act in the Fifth Circuit
  • Drafted U.S. Supreme Court briefs in coordination with the Office of the Solicitor General on administrative law and constitutional issues

Insights

Credentials
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Education

  • J.D. Yale Law School 2015
    • Potter Stewart Prize for Best Oral & Written Advocacy
    • Coker Fellow in Constitutional Law
    • Co-Chair, Moot Court Board
  • B.A. Philosophy and Political Science summa cum laude Clemson University 2012
    • Faculty Scholarship Award (highest GPA in graduating class)
    • Most Outstanding Student in Philosophy
    • Regional champion, Ethics Debate Team

Bar Admissions

  • Admitted in California only; practicing under the supervision of Venable partners admitted in the District of Columbia

Clerk Experience

  • The Honorable Lucy H. Koh Northern District of California
  • The Honorable Karen Nelson Moore U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Adjunct professor, Seminar on Federalism and Constitutional Law, Georgetown University Law Center

Recognition
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  • U.S. Department of Justice, Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service, 2024