Jonathan S. Jeffress
Partner
[email protected] | P (202) 640-4430

“He is a real trial lawyer who really connects with jurors and does a fantastic job.” – Chambers USA
Jonathan Jeffress is a “name to note with regular success in criminal trials.” – The Legal 500
Jonathan S. Jeffress has represented clients in all phases of federal criminal cases and has won acquittals in over half a dozen federal criminal trials. He has led the representation of clients in multiple high-profile matters, including numerous clients involved in the Mueller investigation, a former high-ranking federal official facing charges of sexual harassment, and a high-profile political figure formerly under investigation – but ultimately cleared – in connection with the investigation into Maria Butina’s alleged espionage. Jon recently secured a mistrial in a high-profile federal trial based on a Brady violation for William Wilson, a former government contractor charged with fraud, bribery and false statements. Jon is co-counsel on the 2020 Legal 500 submission of a matter related to a former general counsel of a financial services company who was the subject of a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation.
Jon has successfully argued numerous appeals in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He lectures regularly on law enforcement sting operations to Federal Defender Offices across the country and members of the Criminal Justice Act Panels. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Rising for Justice (formerly Law Students in Court (LSIC), a non-profit corporation that assists over 6,000 litigants in the D.C. Courts every year. He also serves on the Judge Thomas Flannery Lecture Committee. Jon previously served as a Screening Committee Member on Clemency Project 2014, reviewing and making recommendations for executive clemency in the wake of significant changes in federal sentencing law.
Prior to joining the Federal Public Defender’s office, Jon was an associate at Williams & Connolly. Jon is a member of the Edward Bennett Williams American Inn of Court, an invitation-only professional organization devoted to white-collar criminal practice.
Education
- J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
- B.A., Williams College (cum laude)
Government Service
- Clerkship, United States District Court Judge, Thomas F. Hogan
- Assistant Federal Public Defender, District of Columbia
Jonathan S. Jeffress
Partner
[email protected] | P (202) 640-4430
Law 360 – “Handling Corporate Congressional Probes In The Trump Era” co-authored by Bill Pittard
January 17, 2019Matt Kaiser and Justin Dillon in The Washington Post: The Education Department wants to make campus sexual misconduct hearings fairer. It should go further.
September 6, 2018Justin Dillon Opinion Piece in The Washington Post – “The Common App will no longer require disclosure of criminal history. But what it still asks is more troubling.”
August 23, 2018Law360 – “The Latest On Sexual Harassment Reform On The Hill” by Bill Pittard
February 23, 2018Law 360 – “When Russia Investigations Collide” by Bill Pittard
June 7, 2017Justin Dillon and Matt Kaiser Publish Op-Ed: Minnesota’s Failed Football Boycott Was a Blow to Fairness in Campus Sexual Assault Hearings
December 20, 2016Justin Dillon and Matt Kaiser Publish Op-Ed in Los Angeles Times: Absurdity Reigns in Campus Sexual Assault Trials.
April 21, 2016Justin Dillon Publishes Op-Ed on Lawnews.com: Why We Are Suing the Government on Behalf of Students Accused of Sexual Misconduct
April 13, 2016Matt Kaiser Guest Blogs on Washington Legal Foundation The Legal Pulse: Overcriminalization Timeline: Mens Rea, Public Welfare Offenses and Responsible Corporate Officer Doctrine
November 16, 2015Matt Kaiser and Justin Dillon Publish an Editorial in the Los Angeles Times: How to Punish Campus Sexual Assault
November 14, 2015Matt Kaiser Publishes an Editorial in The Washington Times: Being an Executive is not a Crime
November 11, 2015Matt Kaiser and Justin Dillon Publish Editorial in LA Times: Why It’s Unfair for Colleges to Use Outside Investigators in Rape Cases.
September 16, 2015Justin Dillon and Matt Kaiser Publish Op-Ed in the National Law Journal: The DOJ’s Crackdown on White-Collar Crime Creates ‘Cruel Alternative’
September 14, 2015Matt Kaiser and Justin Dillon Publish Op-ed in The Weekly Standard: The Campus Sex Scene: How Congress Can Make It Worse
August 6, 2015Justin Dillon and Matt Kaiser Publish Op-ed in The Washington Post: We’ve defended lots of campus sexual assault cases, so we know just how unfair they are
July 24, 2015Matt Kaiser Publishes Editorial in Baltimore Sun: A Minimum of Reform
November 14, 2014Justin Dillon and Matt Kaiser Publish Op-Ed in San Diego Union-Tribune: California Bill Won’t Solve Sexual Assault Problem on Campus
September 3, 2014Justin Dillon and Matt Kaiser Publish Op-Ed in Boston Herald: College Courts Flunks Fairness Test
August 16, 2014Matt Kaiser Publishes an Article for Time Magazine: Some Rules about Consent are “Unfair” to Male Students”
May 15, 2014Matt Kaiser and Justin Dillon Publish an Editorial in the Wall Street Journal: The White House Flunks a Test on Sexual Assault
May 5, 2014Matt Kaiser and Justin Dillon Publish a Letter to the Editor in the New York Times: The Rights of the Accused
April 28, 2014Jennifer Short authors “The False Claims Act,” and “Settling With The Government,” in The Corporate Compliance Answer Book 2010 by the Practicing Law Institute in June 2010.
June 8, 2010Publication by Jennifer Short appears in the Holland & Knight Health Law and Life Science Alert, titled “Health Care Reform: While Debate Rages, Enforcement Proposals Take Shape.” This article was published August 2009.
August 8, 2009In May 2009, Jennifer Short pens and publishes an article titled “President Obama Signs Landmark Anti-Fraud Bill Into Law,” in the Holland & Knight Government Contracts Alert.
May 8, 2009Jonathan S. Jeffress
Partner
[email protected] | P (202) 640-4430
KaiserDillon Attorneys Jon Jeffress and Bill Zapf Win Release of Client Sentenced to Life in Prison
KaiserDillon Attorneys Recognized in 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers® Peer Review Guide
KaiserDillon Receives Firm and Individual Lawyer Recognitions in the 2021 Chambers USA Guide
Washingtonian Magazine Recognizes Matt Kaiser and Jon Jeffress as Washington D.C. Top Lawyers in 2020
KaiserDillon PLLC Recognized Again by The Legal 500 for White-Collar Criminal Defense
KaiserDillon Partners Matt Kaiser, Justin Dillon, and Jon Jeffress Recognized by Chambers USA
Jon Jeffress Recognized by Chambers USA
KaiserDillon, Defense Team Wins Preliminary Injunction in Lethal Injection Cases
KaiserDillon Teams with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee to Fight Unjust Virginia Prosecution
Jonathan Jeffress, Defense Team, Win Mistrial in Fraud and Bribery Case Due to Prosecutors’ Brady Error
Jonathan Jeffress Interviewed about Jessie Liu’s Nomination to Lead D.C.’s U.S. Attorney’s Office
Jonathan S. Jeffress
Partner
[email protected] | P (202) 640-4430
Federal agents have come to my door – what should I do? – Jonathan Jeffress
PlayTell me about pre-trial diversion of criminal charges. – Jonathan Jeffress
PlayFederal agents have executed a search warrant for my home or business. What should I do next? – Jonathan Jeffress
PlayA loved one has been arrested on federal charges. What will happen next? – Jonathan Jeffress
PlayI received a letter from a US Attorney’s office saying I am a target of a criminal investigation. What should I do? – Jonathan Jeffress
PlayJonathan S. Jeffress
Partner
[email protected] | P (202) 640-4430