Brendan Sullivan (lawyer)

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Brendan V. Sullivan Jr. (born March 11, 1942) is an American lawyer and senior partner at the Washington, D.C. firm Williams & Connolly. He is a famous white-collar defense attorney known for his combative style and strong loyalty to his clients.

Sullivan rose to national prominence defending U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North during the Iran-Contra hearings in 1987. His aggressive courtroom approach and remarks during the hearings made him a well-known figure in American legal circles.

Over the years, he has represented many high-profile clients, including former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros, business executive Walter Forbes, Duke lacrosse players, and NYSE chairman Dick Grasso. He also led efforts against Microsoft on behalf of several state attorneys general after the federal antitrust case was dropped, and he represented FBI agents involved in the Ruby Ridge incident. He defended Senator Ted Stevens after Stevens was indicted, a case that later collapsed due to prosecutorial issues. Sullivan also represented billionaire Henry Nicholas of Broadcom.

Early life and career: Sullivan was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He earned a B.A. in 1964 and a J.D. in 1967 from Georgetown University. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps from 1968 to 1969. He first drew national attention defending soldiers in the Presidio mutiny case. A Georgetown law professor later introduced him to Edward Bennett Williams, a prominent defense attorney; Sullivan joined Williams & Connolly, and the firm is known for his mentor-mentee relationship with Williams.

Sullivan is known for saying that the “heat of battle” can push prosecutors to bend ethics, and he has spoken publicly about prosecutorial ethics. He has received several honors, including the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement in 2000, recognition as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and an honorary Doctor of Law from Georgetown University Law Center in 2011.