Associate

Richard S. Cleary, Jr.

rcleary@wc.com
D202-434-5240
Richard Cleary Photo

Richard Cleary’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, government investigations, and criminal defense.  Rich represents clients at both the trial and appellate levels.

Rich rejoined Williams & Connolly in 2020 after serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Samuel A. Alito, Jr. of the United States Supreme Court.  He previously 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.  Rich graduated from Columbia Law School, where he served as Symposium Editor for the Columbia Law Review and received academic honors each year.  In 2018 and 2019, Rich served in the White House as Deputy Assistant Special Counsel to the President.  He is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. 

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Education

  • Columbia Law School, J.D., 2015; Symposium Editor, Columbia Law Review
  • University of Cambridge, M. Phil., 2011
  • Washington & Lee University, B.A., summa cum laude, 2009; Phi Beta Kappa

Clerkships

  • Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Supreme Court of the United States, 2019 - 2020
  • Judge Richard J. Leon, United States District Court for the District of Columbia, 2017 - 2018
  • Judge Debra Ann Livingston, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 2015 - 2016

Admissions

  • District of Columbia and New York
  • United States District Courts for the District of Columbia and for the Southern District of New York
  • United States Courts of Appeals for the District of Columbia, Second, Fifth, and Seventh Circuits

Other Government Service

Deputy Assistant Special Counsel to the President, The White House, 2018-2019

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