Photo of Loretta E. Lynch

Loretta E. Lynch

Partner, Paul Weiss

212-373-3000

1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019

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Former Attorney General of the United States, Loretta Lynch advises clients on complex government and internal investigations and high-stakes litigation matters, including those that implicate significant regulatory enforcement issues, that involve substantial reputational concerns, and that are international in scope. Lynch chairs the Civil Rights and Racial Equity Audits practice. Clients note that Lynch “is flawless in presentations and brings gravitas and experience to any situation” adding “people go to her for her extraordinarily broad experience and truly unique service - she is phenomenal.”

Since her return to private practice in 2019, Lynch has helped lead several of the most sensitive investigations and reputation-threatening litigation and regulatory enforcement matters in recent years. BlackRock retained Lynch to help lead an internal investigation into former staffers’ allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination. She has also recently co-led representations of Syracuse University in an independent review of its Department of Public Safety’s handling of bias-related incidents raised by students during the 2019/2020 academic year; North Carolina State University in an NCAA investigation concerning money and other benefits allegedly offered to a former student-athlete in violation of NCAA regulations; and a Fortune 50 energy company in an internal investigation regarding discrimination and retaliation claims. Lynch is currently representing the McDonald’s Corporation in three high-profile racial discrimination lawsuits. She also counsels a number of prominent companies on ESG-related matters.

Lawdragon Honors

Honor Year Practice
The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America 2026 Complex Government Investigations, White Collar, Civil Rights
The Lawdragon 500 Global Leaders in Crisis Management 2025 Litigation, White Collar, Investigations
The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Entertainment, Sports & Media Lawyers 2025 Litigation, Investigations - Sports
The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America 2025 Complex Government Investigations, White Collar, Civil Rights
The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America 2025 Litigation, esp. White Collar
The 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America 2024 Complex Government Investigations, White Collar, Civil Rights
The 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America 2024 Litigation, esp. White Collar
The 2023 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America 2023 Litigation, esp. White Collar
Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America 2022 Complex Government Investigations, White Collar, Civil Rights
The 2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America 2022 Litigation, esp. White Collar
The 2021 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America 2021 Litigation, esp. White Collar
The 2016 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America 2016 U.S. Attorney General
The 2014-15 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers 2014-2015 U.S. Attorney General

Lynch is also frequently retained for high-profile public advisory roles. She was appointed as a Special Advisor to the N.Y. Attorney General’s Office as part of its investigation into issues arising out of the conduct of New York City police officers during protests related to the death of George Floyd; and by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to mediate a dispute between the Federal Defenders of New York and the Federal Bureau of Prisons concerning issues of attorney access to their incarcerated clients during the COVID-19-related suspension of in-person visits at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

Government Service

Lynch served as U.S. Attorney General from 2015 to 2017, becoming the first African-American woman to hold this office. In that role, she oversaw more than 100,000 employees across numerous agencies and offices, including the 93 U.S. Attorneys; major investigative agencies, including the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Bureau of Prisons; the National Security Division; and the Office of the Solicitor General, among others. She also supervised the DOJ’s major litigating divisions, including Antitrust, Civil, Civil Rights, Criminal, Environment and Natural Resources, and Tax.

Lynch served under Presidents Obama and Clinton in a number of senior roles for over 15 years, including three Senate-confirmed roles.

  • Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice (2015-2017)
  • U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of New York (1999-2002, 2010-2015)
  • Chief Assistant to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York (1998–99)
  • Chief, Long Island Division, United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York (1994-1998)
  • Deputy Chief, General Crimes Section, United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York (1992-1993)
  • Assistant U.S. Attorney, United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York (1990-1992)