Jennifer L. Swize
Partner

Contact

(T) +1.202.879.5417
(F) +1.202.626.1700

Education

  • University of Virginia (J.D. 2002; Order of the Coif; James C. Slaughter Honor Award to an outstanding graduating student; Roger and Madeleine Traynor Prize for writing); University of Notre Dame (B.A. in History with high honors 1993; Phi Beta Kappa)

Bar Admissions

  • Maryland and District of Columbia

Clerkships

  • Law Clerk: to the Honorable José A. Cabranes, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit (2003-2004) and to the Honorable Paul V. Niemeyer, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit (2002-2003)

Jennifer Swize represents clients in complex litigation matters, with particular focus on trial court motions and appeals. In her appellate practice, she has filed numerous briefs in the federal appellate courts and the U.S. Supreme Court, and she has presented oral argument before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First, Fourth, Sixth, and District of Columbia Circuits.

Representative matters include successful dismissal of a complaint alleging constitutional violations arising out of a client's receipt of federal funding (for General Motors LLC); successful defense of summary judgment of invalidity of patent claims (for The DIRECTV Group, Inc.); successful opposition to a Commerce Clause challenge to economic development incentives at various levels of state court (for Dell Inc.); successful opposition to charges of contempt of a patent infringement injunction, both in the district court and on appeal (for The MathWorks, Inc.); and successful reinstatement of a dismissed complaint (for Mariner Health Care, Inc.).

In her pro bono work, Jennifer currently represents a family from El Salvador seeking asylum in the United States after being persecuted by a gang that had killed a family member who was not associated with the gang. The Fourth Circuit recently agreed that the Board of Immigration Appeals had erroneously ruled against the family on two issues, and the court remanded for further consideration on two additional issues.

Jennifer is a member of the Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court and has been a guest speaker on appellate practice at area law schools.


Jennifer Swize