Written by Amy Ralls | Nov 19, 2021 5:00:00 AM
DOWNS WILL CO-CHAIR STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL PRACTICE GROUP November 17, 2021 - Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is pleased to announce that Jason Downs will be joining the firm on Jan. 3, 2022, as a shareholder in the Litigation Department. He will also co-chair the firm’s State Attorneys General practice group with Jason Dunn, former United States attorney for Colorado and deputy attorney general for Colorado. Downs, a respected civil and criminal litigator in the D.C. and national legal community, serves as chief deputy attorney general for the D.C. Office of the Attorney General (OAG). “Jason’s experience managing one of the premier AG offices in the country over the last two years along with his reputation as a top-notch trial attorney make him a high-caliber addition to our firm as we continue to build out our State Attorneys General practice,” said Brownstein Managing Partner Rich Benenson. “During my over 30 years of practicing law, I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with a plethora of exceptionally talented lawyers and leaders,” said District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine. “Not yet 40 years old, Jason’s sharp legal mind, creativity, prodigious work ethic, and selfless leadership foreshadows that he will soon be recognized as one of our country’s most able lawyers. During Jason’s two years as Chief Deputy in our office—and throughout his career—he fought for the most vulnerable people in our justice system with empathy and compassion. His leadership, particularly during the pandemic, made the District a better place to live and our office a better place to work. My colleagues and I thank Jason for his exceptional service to the District of Columbia, and we look forward to watching him soar.” As chief deputy, Downs is the No. 2 official and reports directly to Attorney General Karl Racine. His duties include managing all legal matters brought on behalf of, or against, the District of Columbia. Previously, Downs served as general counsel at OAG, was a founding partner of Downs Collins, P.A., and prior to that spent nearly a decade at Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, serving as lead counsel on dozens of jury trials. “I look forward to working with Jason as co-chair of our State Attorneys General practice group and tapping into his insights as we continue to work with our clients on engagement with AGs across the country,” said Shareholder Jason Dunn. “Brownstein’s track record for excellent results on behalf of its clients is well known and the firm’s proactive approach to legal and policy work is a great fit for my practice,” said Downs. Downs also serves as trial advocacy workshop faculty at Harvard Law School and is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Law. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Baltimore and his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. Additionally, Downs has demonstrated his commitment to giving back to his community through serving on the board of directors for LearnServe International, volunteering as a youth mentor at Thurgood Marshall Public Charter High School and teaching basic legal concepts to Ballou High School students interested in pursuing a legal career.