Damian Williams (lawyer)

Damian Williams is a United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Nominated by President Joe Biden, he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 5, 2021, and sworn in on October 12, 2021. He is the first African-American to hold the position.

Prior to his appointment, Williams was a partner at the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, where his practice focused on white-collar criminal defense and complex commercial litigation. Before joining Paul, Weiss, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York from 2012 to 2018. During his tenure as an AUSA, he prosecuted a wide range of federal crimes, including fraud, corruption, and terrorism-related offenses. He also served as a law clerk to Justice John Paul Stevens of the U.S. Supreme Court and Judge Merrick Garland of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Williams is a graduate of Harvard University and Yale Law School. His significant cases as U.S. Attorney have included prosecutions of individuals and entities involved in financial crimes, cybercrime, and public corruption. He has publicly emphasized his commitment to upholding the rule of law, protecting the Southern District of New York from all forms of crime, and ensuring equal justice under the law.