Sally Yates

Former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates is a partner in the firm’s Special Matters & Government Investigations practice and leads the firm's Crisis Management practice. Sally’s deep experience, leadership and wide-ranging background provide clients with seasoned judgment in difficult times. Her practice focuses on counseling clients in complex and sensitive matters, including government enforcement and regulatory matters, congressional investigations, compliance, corporate governance and crisis management. Drawing upon her nearly three decades at the Department of Justice, she specializes in internal and independent investigations for public and private organizations and boards. An accomplished trial lawyer and Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, Sally has tried numerous high-profile cases.

A 27-year veteran of DOJ, Sally rose through the ranks of Assistant United States Attorneys to become U.S. Attorney in Atlanta, Deputy Attorney General and Acting Attorney General. As Deputy Attorney General from 2015 through 2017, Sally was responsible for crafting and implementing initiatives focused on many of DOJ’s priorities, including corporate fraud, cybercrime, gang violence, civil rights, and financial crime. She led DOJ’s criminal justice reform efforts and implemented substantial prison reform measures.

Ms. Yates has served as a Visiting Distinguished Lecturer at Georgetown University Law Center, currently co-chairs the Board of Trustees of the non-partisan Council on Criminal Justice, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Ethics Research Center. Sally is a frequent speaker on a variety of public policy issues.