Former U.S. Department of Justice

Carter Burwell is a litigation counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Debevoise & Plimpton and a member of the firm’s White Collar & Regulatory Defense practice. His practice focuses on white collar criminal defense, government investigations and internal investigations, and national security matters.  

​

Prior to Debevoise, Mr. Burwell spent more than 15 years of experience in senior roles across the federal government. Most recently, Mr. Burwell served as Counselor to the Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Finance Intelligence, where he advised on national security matters and represented the Treasury Department in the National Security Council.  Mr. Burwell previously served as one of the top lawyers on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, including as Chief Counsel to former Assistant Majority Leader and U.S. Senator John Cornyn and as Counsel to former Chairman and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley.  In the Senate, Mr. Burwell worked on policy matters related to surveillance, border security, and immigration reform. Mr. Burwell began his service in the Executive Branch as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Violent Crime and Terrorism Unit in the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) and in the National Security and International Crimes Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA). 

​

Mr. Burwell continues to be involved in national security matters. In February 2022, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appointed Mr. Burwell to serve a three-year term on the Public Interest Declassification Board.  Mr. Burwell also is an adjunct professor and teaches a national security law seminar at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University.