LAWYER PROFILE
Seth Waxman

Seth Waxman

USA 2026

Chambers ranking badge
Chambers ranking badge

Ranked in 2 practice areas

About

Provided by WilmerHale

Practice Areas

Universally considered to be among the country's premier Supreme Court and appellate advocates, Seth Waxman served as Solicitor General of the United States from 1997 through January 2001. In addition to leading WilmerHale's appellate practice, Mr. Waxman engages in a broad litigation and counseling practice, with particular emphasis on complex challenges involving governments or public policy, intellectual property, regulatory, criminal and commercial issues.

Mr. Waxman's practice spans both federal and state trial and appellate courts. He has delivered over 80 oral arguments in the United States Supreme Court and many more in the lower federal and state courts. Mr. Waxman's clients range from financial institutions to technology, consumer, industrial and media companies, universities and Indian tribes, and he leads the firm's efforts to counsel tribal governments. He also represents a number of local, state and national governments and prominent business and government executives and professionals. The recipient of numerous professional awards and honors, Mr. Waxman is among a small handful of practicing attorneys elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He holds several honorary degrees, as well as the Jefferson Medal in Law, an honor awarded once a year and only rarely to an attorney in private practice. In recognition of exceptional service to law enforcement, Mr. Waxman holds the extraordinary status of permanent honorary Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

To learn more about Mr. Waxman, visit: https://www.wilmerhale.com/en/people/seth-waxman

Professional Memberships

Mr. Waxman served as president of Harvard's Board of Overseers from 2010-2011. He was elected to the board in 2005, and has served on its executive committee since 2008. Mr. Waxman also serves on the faculty of the Georgetown University Law Center. He is a director and fellow of several professional, educational and cultural institutions, including the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation, the American Law Institute, the Supreme Court Institute and the Supreme Court Historical Society.

Personal

JD, Yale Law School, 1977; Rockefeller Fellow, 1974; AB, summa cum laude, Harvard University, 1973.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the USA

Appellate Law - USA - Nationwide

Star Individual
Star Individuals

Individual Editorial
Seth Waxman has a highly respected appellate practice spanning the technology, media and financial sectors, in addition to particular expertise in appeals involving Native American law. He has appeared in a broad array of high-profile disputes and has handled over 80 oral arguments in the US Supreme Court.

Native American Law: Appellate - USA - Nationwide

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial

Seth Waxman leads the firm's appellate practice and is renowned across the country as one of the finest Supreme Court advocates of his generation. He has an outstanding track record for successfully representing tribal governments in a wide range of high stakes disputes.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Seth has a distinct ability to comprehend complex topics and drill to the heart of the pertinent question matters. He understood our business incredibly well and was curious and persistent enough to ask the difficult questions which get to the crux of the legal matter.

    Appellate LawChambers Guide to the USA
  • Seth is a very well-known and nationally regarded litigator, yet has zero ego. If anything, he is too humble for how good he is.

    Appellate LawChambers Guide to the USA
  • He is a superstar.

    Appellate LawChambers Guide to the USA
  • Seth is brilliant. He is knowledgeable and highly personable.

    Native American Law: AppellateChambers Guide to the USA

Ranked Individuals at WilmerHale (136)

California

California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrou

Colorado

District of Columbia

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership