Gordon Todd

Practice Areas

Gordon Todd is an accomplished trial lawyer who has extensive experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in bench, jury, administrative, and arbitral trials. As founder and co-leader of Sidley’s Regulatory Litigation practice, Gordon focuses on government-facing civil litigation and disputes in highly regulated industries. He also established Sidley’s First Amendment practice area of focus, which handles free speech and free exercise cases. Gordon’s diverse client base includes leading corporations and trade associations across a broad range of sectors, such as advertising, energy, food and agribusiness, life sciences, manufacturing and distribution, technology, and transportation. He also represents individuals and religious organizations.

In recognition of his work and accomplishments, Gordon is highly regarded in the market and is frequently lauded in industry publications. In statements made to Chambers USA, clients have described Gordon as “a master litigator,” “an excellent lawyer,” and “a first class attorney and individual” with “impeccable ethics” who serves as their “go-to counsel for high-value or high-stakes litigation.” He has also appeared multiple times in the American Lawyer’s “Litigator of the Week” column.

Prior to joining Sidley, Gordon served as a Deputy Associate Attorney General at the United States Department of Justice. In that capacity, Gordon’s portfolio included civil, civil rights, and tax litigation, as well as the Office of Justice Programs, and the Office on Violence Against Women. While at the Department of Justice, he also served as Special Counsel for Supreme Court Nominations and as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. In addition to these roles, Gordon clerked for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and Eighth Circuit Judge C. Arlen Beam.