Carter Burwell is partner in the White Collar & Regulatory Defense practice of Debevoise & Plimpton.  His practice focuses on white collar criminal defense, government investigations, and national security, and he has represented large corporations and individuals in various high-stakes matters. His work tends to involve high-profile controversies tied to current events, ongoing political disputes, and underlying and competing policy interests.

Mr. Burwell joined Debevoise in 2021 after more than a decade in senior roles across the federal government. Mr. Burwell served as Counselor to the Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Finance Intelligence, where he advised on national security matters. Mr. Burwell served as one of the top lawyers on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, including as Chief Counsel to former Assistant Majority Leader John Cornyn and as Counsel to Chairman Chuck Grassley.  Mr. Burwell also served 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.  He teaches a national security seminar at the University of Texas School of Law and was appointed to the Public Interest Declassification Board. Mr. Burwell earned his J.D. from the University Virginia School of Law, received an M. Phil. from the University of Cambridge and a B.A. from Columbia College. After graduation, he clerked for former U.S. District Judge John Gleeson, and U.S. Circuit Judge Karen Henderson on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.