Jesi J. Carlson

Jesi J. Carlson is a seasoned federal litigator with more than two decades of experience in the Federal Government, including almost twenty years handling high-stakes civil litigation during her tenure at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and in private practice. As Senior Counsel in the firm’s Litigation Practice, Jesi advises clients on complex litigation, with a focus on federal administrative and homeland security law, constitutional law, white-collar criminal defense, government investigations, Supreme Court and federal appellate litigation, the False Claims Act (FCA), and the Federal Torts Claims Act (FTCA).

Before joining the firm, Jesi served as a Senior Litigation Counsel for DOJ’s Civil Division, where she litigated significant cases on behalf of the United States in federal courts nationwide, including cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Courts of Appeals, and countless matters before federal district courts. While at DOJ, she worked with numerous U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the Office of the Solicitor General, the White House, and federal law enforcement agencies to shape litigation strategies on a variety of legal issues. Jesi also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, where she prosecuted federal crimes.

Jesi held a leadership role at DHS, serving as the Acting Chief of the District Court Litigation Division in the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), where she oversaw a nationwide litigation portfolio and team of agency attorneys.

Jesi’s litigation experience includes federal trial and appellate practice, including extensive oral advocacy in state, federal district, and appellate courts, having argued over 15 cases before U.S. Courts of Appeals, including an en banc argument before the Ninth Circuit.

Earlier in her career, Jesi was a litigator at a national law firm. She clerked for the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. While earning her law degree at Georgetown University, Jesi obtained experience in legislative affairs and border security as a Congressional Liaison for DHS agencies (ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (originally U.S. Customs)) including work on the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the creation of DHS in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

An accomplished speaker, author, and instructor, Jesi has trained DOJ attorneys, agency counsel, and law students on immigration detention law, national security and immigration law, judicial deference, and constitutional issues, both within the government and at law schools. Her writing includes published work on federal jurisdiction and cybersecurity law.

Jesi has been active in civic leadership and community engagement, spending several years in civic association leadership positions and mentoring youth through a girls’ golf program.