Courtney Forrest
Partner

cforrest@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 640-2850

Courtney Forrest is a versatile litigator who helps clients navigate high-stakes problems in civil, white collar, and congressional matters.

Courtney leads Kaiser’s defamation and First Amendment litigation practice. When lies or misinformation threaten devastating reputational, financial, or emotional harm, clients turn to Courtney for help. She understands just how much truth matters.  She has vindicated the reputations of, and recovered significant damages for, clients falsely accused of sexual misconduct, criminal activity, racial discrimination, and unethical business practices. She has fiercely defended her clients’ First Amendment rights to express political opinions, associate freely, and advocate on issues of public concern. Courtney also represents clients in business disputes, reputational torts, and legal malpractice matters.

Additionally, Courtney has an active white collar practice representing defendants and witnesses in federal criminal matters in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Her clients have included the subject of a cryptocurrency fraud investigation; an executive at a technology company under investigation for embezzlement; a nonprofit organization in connection with possible receipt of straw donor contributions from Sam Bankman-Fried; an individual charged with federal criminal offenses following his cooperation with the Mueller investigation; and a key witness in a high-profile tax fraud trial.  Courtney has successfully handled criminal appeals in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth and District of Columbia Circuits, including getting a client’s convictions for naturalization fraud overturned.

Courtney also helps individuals and businesses respond to congressional inquiries and investigations. She has represented clients who have testified in connection with the impeachment inquiry of President Biden and in connection with the congressional and Inspector General scrutiny of the Trump International Hotel in Washington during the first Trump administration.

Prior to joining Kaiser, Courtney practiced at Covington & Burling LLP. While there, she litigated a wide range of white collar and patent cases from inception through trial and was twice recognized by Washington DC Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” in Intellectual Property Law. She also maintained an active pro bono caseload of criminal and family law matters. Most notably, she secured an acquittal for a client charged with first-degree assault in Maryland state court after a multi-day jury trial.

Courtney is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia. She holds a Top Secret/ SCI security clearance.

When she is not working, Courtney has three young children who keep her on her toes. She is a past parent liaison for the Special Education PTA in Arlington, Virginia, and previously served on the Executive Board of her children’s cooperative preschool. She enjoys decorating birthday cakes and is an avid Buffalo Bills fan.

Memberships and Organizations

• Edward Bennett Williams Inn of Court, Member
• Women’s White Collar Defense Association, Member
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member

Education

• J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, magna cum laude
• A.B., Harvard University, magna cum laude

Government Service

• Clerkship. The Honorable Roger W. Titus, United States District Court for the District of Maryland