Courtney A. Sullivan
Courtney has advised national companies in matters related to internal investigations, information security, federal regulatory compliance, and commercial disputes. She also represents one of the largest international virtual private network (VPN) service providers in matters related to privacy and commercial disputes. While at Venable, Courtney has also represented corporate officers in federal criminal and national security investigations.
Courtney gained wide-ranging experience working in the DOJ, where she served as the U.S. government's deputy chief prosecutor in trials related to the September 11 attacks, the U.S.S. Cole bombing, and other high-profile terrorism matters. She previously served as a trial attorney in the DOJ's Counterterrorism Section, National Security Division, where she participated in and supervised some of the most significant terrorism-related investigations in the United States. Courtney advised the assistant attorney general for national security on high-level classified intelligence operations, and managed investigations with members of the intelligence community. She teamed with multiple foreign governments in domestic and foreign terrorism prosecutions and investigations. Courtney has held the highest-level security clearance, handled some of the government's most sensitive national security information for nearly 12 years, and managed the government's use and protection of national security in federal trials.
Courtney held various other positions within the DOJ's National Security Division, including with the Office of Intelligence Policy and Review, where she appeared before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), and oversaw the use of information collected under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. During her time as a prosecutor, she negotiated plea bargains with High Value Detainees (HVDs). Courtney directed prosecutions in terrorism cases related to the October 2002 Bali nightclub and U.S. consulate terrorist attacks, and the August 2003 Jakarta J.W. Marriott hotel bombing. She played a crucial role in convincing a notable terrorist co-conspirator involved in the Richard Reid "shoe bomb" plot to cooperate as a key witness for numerous terrorism trials in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
Experience
Government Experience
- Deputy Chief Prosecutor for Litigation, Office of Military Commissions, Prosecution Task Force, Department of Defense, on detail from U.S. Department of Justice
- Prosecutor, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Military Commissions, Prosecution Task Force
- Senior Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Intelligence Policy and Review
- Trial Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Counterterrorism Section, National Security Division
Representative Matters
- Advising one of the nation’s largest health records retrieval and information management companies in matters related to internal investigations, information security, federal regulatory compliance, and commercial disputes
- Representing one of the largest international virtual private network (VPN) providers in matters related to privacy and commercial disputes
- Served as Office of Military Commissions deputy chief prosecutor for litigation, including United States v. Khalid Sheik Mohammed, et al. (9/11 attacks and related cases)
- Served as Office of Military Commissions deputy chief prosecutor for litigation. United States v. Al Al Darbi (related to U.S.S. Cole attacks)
- Served as lead trial attorney in obtaining a guilty plea and cooperation agreement. United States v. Majid Khan (U.S. Military Commissions)
- Prosecuted a defendant involved in the 2009 plot to bomb the New York City subway system. United States v. Zazi (EDNY)
- Obtained a guilty plea from a Moroccan national who attempted to bomb the United States Capitol. United States v. Khalifi (EDVA)
- Charged and negotiated a guilty plea for a defendant involved in a domestic plot to assassinate the president of the United States. United States v. Kodirov (NDAL)
- Charged and negotiated a guilty plea for a defendant who provided financial support to terrorists and attempted to travel from New York to Afghanistan to fight U.S. forces. United States v. Hasbajrami (EDNY)
Insights
Credentials
Education
- J.D. cum laude University of Minnesota Law School 1998
- B.A. cum laude University of Notre Dame 1993
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia 1999
- Virginia 1998
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Former instructor, Department of Justice National Advocacy Center, Columbia, South Carolina
- Former instructor, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Advanced Trial Advocacy, Washington, DC
- Former instructor, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Washington, DC
Recognition
- Recipient, Office of Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service, April 2012
- First Recipient, Office of Military Commissions, Recipient, Chief Prosecutor’s Award for Excellence, March 2012
- Recipient, United States Department of Justice, multiple Special Achievement and Outstanding Performance Awards from four successive attorneys general, 2003 - 2012
Community
Pro Bono
- Successfully represented a number of pro bono clients, including receiving asylum for a Sudanese female fleeing severe physical punishment in Sudan, and a teenager fleeing family abuse in El Salvador
Volunteerism
- Member, Coalition for Special Education
Personal Activities
- Travel, golf, hiking, triathlons, adventure races, horseback riding, sports fan