We have some tragic news to report out of the Washington, D.C., legal community, where celebrated litigator Dane Butswinkas, a partner and longtime member of Williams & Connolly, suddenly passed away. According to his family, he died of a pulmonary embolism while preparing for trial in Arizona.
Butswinkas, 65, spent 37 years at Williams & Connolly, including a stint as the firm’s chair. He built a career taking on high-profile civil and criminal cases, but one of his most consequential came last year, when he was hired to lead Perkins Coie’s fight against President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting the firm. Perkins Coie, now known as Ashurst Perkins Coie, chose to challenge the order in court while other firms capitulated to similar pressure. A federal judge struck it down as unconstitutional, and the government has appealed.
The Washington Post has more on how Butswinkas approached the case:
“Dane viewed this case as something he had an obligation to do without fear, without hesitation,” [Williams & Connolly senior counsel Steve] Raber said.
“Some people, when the chips are down, start looking for excuses or start looking for the exit,” he added. “That was not Dane.”
In an in memoriam announcement, Joe Petrosinelli, the firm’s chairman, remembered Butswinkas as an “extraordinary trial lawyer” who “worked tirelessly” for his clients and was a “devoted mentor and friend” to his colleagues. “He was a world class lawyer, partner and friend,” Petrosinelli said, “and left a legacy that will endure.”
We here at Above the Law extend our deepest condolences to Dane Butswinkas’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.
Prominent D.C. litigator dies at 65 while preparing for trial in Arizona [Washington Post]
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
The post Legendary Litigator Who Took On Trump Passes Away While Prepping For Trial appeared first on Above the Law.
We have some tragic news to report out of the Washington, D.C., legal community, where celebrated litigator Dane Butswinkas, a partner and longtime member of Williams & Connolly, suddenly passed away. According to his family, he died of a pulmonary embolism while preparing for trial in Arizona.
Butswinkas, 65, spent 37 years at Williams & Connolly, including a stint as the firm’s chair. He built a career taking on high-profile civil and criminal cases, but one of his most consequential came last year, when he was hired to lead Perkins Coie’s fight against President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting the firm. Perkins Coie, now known as Ashurst Perkins Coie, chose to challenge the order in court while other firms capitulated to similar pressure. A federal judge struck it down as unconstitutional, and the government has appealed.
The Washington Post has more on how Butswinkas approached the case:
“Dane viewed this case as something he had an obligation to do without fear, without hesitation,” [Williams & Connolly senior counsel Steve] Raber said.
“Some people, when the chips are down, start looking for excuses or start looking for the exit,” he added. “That was not Dane.”
In an in memoriam announcement, Joe Petrosinelli, the firm’s chairman, remembered Butswinkas as an “extraordinary trial lawyer” who “worked tirelessly” for his clients and was a “devoted mentor and friend” to his colleagues. “He was a world class lawyer, partner and friend,” Petrosinelli said, “and left a legacy that will endure.”
We here at Above the Law extend our deepest condolences to Dane Butswinkas’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.
Prominent D.C. litigator dies at 65 while preparing for trial in Arizona [Washington Post]
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
