Former Acting General Counsel of Department of Homeland Security Rejoins Goodwin Procter

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Goodwin Procter LLP, a national Am Law 50 law firm, today announced that Gus P. Coldebella has rejoined the firm as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office.

Coldebella will practice in the firm's Litigation Department, and will specialize in complex litigation; securities litigation; congressional oversight; governmental and internal investigations; and advice regarding the national security laws of the United States.  He is a member of various firm practice groups including Securities Litigation & SEC Enforcement; White Collar Crime & Government Investigations; Business Litigation; Privacy & Data Security; and National Security & Foreign Trade Relations.

In October 2005, Coldebella, a partner in Goodwin's Boston office, was appointed deputy general counsel of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  He was nominated to be the general counsel of DHS by President George W. Bush in July 2008, and served as its acting general counsel from February 2007 to January 2009.  

As the department's top lawyer, Coldebella helped DHS navigate complex issues ranging from cyber security and privacy to private-sector liability protection and international trade and investment.  He advised the Secretary on significant legal, policy, intelligence, law enforcement, and operational issues.  Coldebella oversaw DHS' responses to major congressional investigations, including representing the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, and other senior officials in their appearances before Congress.  He also spearheaded the development of DHS regulations, and managed the department's varied litigation portfolio.

Coldebella managed the more than 1,700 lawyers in the department and its components, including the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  

Prior to joining DHS, Coldebella represented major public companies, private equity funds, Internet and other tech startups, and boards of directors in a variety of adversarial matters.  These included securities class actions alleging violations of Rule 10b-5 and breaches of fiduciary duty; SEC, stock market, and state agency investigations; arbitrations; partnership and post-closing disputes; executive terminations; and other complex litigation.  He also conducted internal investigations of alleged wrongdoing on behalf of a variety of clients, and counseled boards of directors on managing risk.

"We're excited to welcome Gus back to Goodwin.  His service and leadership in the federal government have increased his already formidable experience as a litigator," said Regina M. Pisa, chairman and managing partner of Goodwin Procter.  "Gus's skills will be a tremendous asset for our clients, and will allow us to further enhance and diversify our litigation and counseling capabilities."

Since his time at DHS, Coldebella has spoken, written and consulted on homeland security issues.  He is a senior fellow at George Washington University's Homeland Security Policy Institute, where he serves on its Counterterrorism Intelligence Task Force, and has served on the faculty of the ABA's Homeland Security Law Institute Conference, speaking on cyber security and other issues.

Coldebella graduated from Cornell Law School magna cum laude in 1994 and received his undergraduate degree from Colgate University in 1991.  He serves as the president of Colgate's 30,000-member Alumni Corporation and an ex officio member of its Board of Trustees.

He can be reached at 202.346.4034 or [email protected].

About Goodwin Procter

Goodwin Procter LLP is one of the nation's leading law firms with offices in Boston, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Washington, D.C.  The firm's core areas of practice are corporate, litigation and real estate, with specialized areas of focus that include financial services, private equity, technology, REITs and real estate capital markets, intellectual property, products liability and mass torts.  Information may be found at www.goodwinprocter.com.

SOURCE Goodwin Procter LLP