Richard Cleary has broad experience representing clients in civil litigation, criminal litigation, and government investigations.  He has litigated at the trial and appellate levels.  Rich’s clients have included the Office of the President of the United States, Fortune 20 companies, and prominent religious organizations.

Rich began his career at Williams & Connolly in 2016.  From 2018 to 2019, Rich served in the White House as second-chair to the Special Counsel to the President. He rejoined Williams & Connolly in 2020 after serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Samuel A. Alito, Jr. of the United States Supreme Court.

Rich has guided clients through sensitive, high-stakes proceedings in both state and federal courts, as well as investigations conducted by grand juries and government agencies.  His civil practice has spanned a range of issues, including mass torts, commercial disputes, antitrust, and freedom of religion.  His criminal-defense work has involved an array of substantive allegations, including wire fraud, retention of classified information, and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).  Rich has argued dispositive motions in several trial courts, and has argued appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Supreme Court of Maryland.   

Rich also clerked for the Honorable Debra Ann Livingston, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the Honorable Richard J. Leon, United States District Court for the District of Columbia.  He graduated from Columbia Law School, where he served as Symposium Editor for the Columbia Law Review.  Rich is a native of Louisville, Kentucky.