Former federal prosecutor Roscoe C. Howard, Jr. has been named the new managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg’s Washington, D.C., office where he has practiced since 2015, effective July 1. Howard, who will oversee the office’s strategic growth and management, succeeds Karen McGee, who will retire on July 31. He is the firm’s first African-American office managing partner.
“Roscoe is an exceptional leader who will continue the momentum in Washington, D.C., and support the overall success of the firm,” said Bob Grand, firm managing partner. “This move is also further evidence of our deliberate focus on developing diverse leadership and elevating accomplished, dynamic attorneys such as Roscoe who are at the top of their game.”
Widely known and respected inside the Beltway, Howard served as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia from 2001-2004, by appointment of President George W. Bush. As Washington, D.C.’s chief federal prosecutor, he was responsible for the handling of all serious local crimes, as well as all federal offenses in the nation’s capital. Howard previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in that office, and he also had subsequent stints as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, as well as twice serving in the former Office of Independent Counsel.
Howard joined Barnes & Thornburg in 2015 and focuses his practice on white collar criminal matters, complex litigation, and corporate compliance and ethics issues. Last year, Howard was appointed by the U.S. Department of Commerce to serve as the Special Compliance Coordinator for Zhongxing Telecommunications Equipment Corporation, of Shenzhen, China, and ZTE Kangxun Telecommunications Ltd. of Hi-New Shenzhen, China (collectively, ZTE).
“Karen created a successful blueprint to cultivate what is considered a premier law office in the ever-competitive D.C. legal market,” said Howard. “I am very excited about the future and potential for our smart, savvy and hardworking practitioners. My focus will be on attracting the best talent to grow the office and continuing to provide clients with excellent legal service.”
Barnes & Thornburg’s full-service office in Washington, D.C., has 40 legal and policy professionals, including 22 partners, who practice in a wide range of areas, including intellectual property; campaign finance laws and regulations; international trade and import/export regulatory matters; environmental regulations and related litigation; labor and employment; compliance; nonprofit; energy and utilities; transportation and logistics; food and drug regulations; medical device and biotech; and white collar criminal defense and investigations.