Stephen Gilson
Counsel
sgilson@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 624-3288
Stephen Gilson focuses his practice on assisting clients with high-stakes investigations and litigation matters.
As a former federal prosecutor and experienced trial attorney, Stephen has the ability to help clients navigate even the most challenging legal terrain. He has guided clients through internal, congressional, and government investigations, as well as related criminal, civil, and administrative litigation, and arbitration. Stephen has represented a wide range of clientele, from Fortune 500 companies to individual defendants, and he understands that each case is unique, as are the needs of each client.
Stephen’s practice focuses on investigations and complex litigation, but he has also developed specific expertise in both higher education law and legal ethics. Along with litigating in these areas, Stephen also provides outside general counsel services to schools and law firms to help clients mitigate legal and regulatory risks and avoid disputes in the first instance.
Stephen’s passion for the law goes beyond the courtroom and into the classroom. Stephen has taught several law school courses on federal investigations and litigation, and he is currently an Adjunct Professor of Law teaching legal ethics at Georgetown University Law Center.
When he is neither practicing nor teaching the law, Stephen enjoys spending time with his husband and dog, and volunteering in the community. Stephen serves on the board of the Capital Tennis Association, one of DC’s oldest LGBTQI+ sports organizations, which raises funds for various charitable causes.
Education
J.D., University of Michigan Law School, cum laude
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- National Champion, Navy JAG Moot Court Competition
- Semifinalist, Henry M. Campbell Moot Court Competition
- Managing Editor, Michigan Journal of Environmental and Administrative Law
- Irving J. Stenn, Jr. Award (for contributions to the law school community)
B.A., Philosophy & Political Science, University of Michigan, cum laude
Government Service
Assistant United States Attorney, Western District of Pennsylvania
Admissions
Washington, D.C.
New York
Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the District of D.C.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Supreme Court of the United States
Stephen Gilson
Counsel
sgilson@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 624-3288
Law 360 – “Handling Corporate Congressional Probes In The Trump Era” co-authored by Bill Pittard
January 17, 2019Matt Kaiser in The Washington Post: The Education Department wants to make campus sexual misconduct hearings fairer. It should go further.
September 6, 2018Law360 – “The Latest On Sexual Harassment Reform On The Hill” by Bill Pittard
February 23, 2018Matt Kaiser Publishes Op-Ed for The Washington Post: Lawyers: DeVos is bringing due process to campus sexual assault cases
September 11, 2017Law 360 – “When Russia Investigations Collide” by Bill Pittard
June 7, 2017Matt Kaiser Publishes Op-Ed: Minnesota’s Failed Football Boycott Was a Blow to Fairness in Campus Sexual Assault Hearings
December 20, 2016Matt Kaiser Co-Authors Op-Ed in Los Angeles Times: Absurdity Reigns in Campus Sexual Assault Trials.
April 21, 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 Co-Authors 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 Publishes Editorial in LA Times: Why It’s Unfair for Colleges to Use Outside Investigators in Rape Cases.
September 16, 2015Matt Kaiser Co-Authors Op-Ed in the National Law Journal: The DOJ’s Crackdown on White-Collar Crime Creates ‘Cruel Alternative’
September 14, 2015Matt Kaiser Publishes Op-ed in The Weekly Standard: The Campus Sex Scene: How Congress Can Make It Worse
August 6, 2015Matt Kaiser Co-Authors 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, 2014Matt Kaiser Co-Authors Op-Ed in San Diego Union-Tribune: California Bill Won’t Solve Sexual Assault Problem on Campus
September 3, 2014Matt Kaiser Publishes 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 Publishes an Editorial in the Wall Street Journal: The White House Flunks a Test on Sexual Assault
May 5, 2014Matt Kaiser Co-Authors Opinion for The Wall Street Journal: The White House Flunks a Test on Sexual Assault
May 5, 2014Matt Kaiser Co-Authors a Letter to the Editor in the New York Times: The Rights of the Accused
April 28, 2014Stephen Gilson
Counsel
sgilson@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 624-3288
NBC4 Washington Covers Kaiser Client Grace Lourenco’s Extradition Case
Matt Kaiser and Stephen Gilson Teach Legal Ethics Course at Georgetown Law School
Matt Kaiser and Stephen Gilson Contribute to New Book, The Legal Privilege (Un)covered
Kaiser PLLC Litigates One of Law360’s “Biggest Legal Ethics Cases of 2023”
Stephen Gilson
Counsel
sgilson@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 624-3288
Stephen Gilson
Counsel
sgilson@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 624-3288
Investigations and White Collar Defense
- Represented large university in successful response to federal executive branch investigation, resulting in no findings of non-compliance.
- Defended C-suite corporate client under federal investigation for healthcare fraud, resulting in prosecutors dropping the case entirely and declining to bring an indictment.
- Assisted in the representation of a nationwide telecom provider in responding to government inquiries related to a corporate merger and resulting antitrust concerns.
Higher Education Law
- Provided large institution with compliance counseling regarding policies related to discrimination, including under Title VI, Title VII, and Title IX.
- Coordinated internal investigation of university’s research policies and procedures.
- Defended institution in response to multiple complaints filed with the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.
Legal Ethics
- Represented a major retail pharmacy chain in federal and state litigation regarding a multi-million dollar dispute against its former law firm for breach of fiduciary duty.
- Represented attorney under investigation for legal ethics violations, resulting in no discipline.
- Currently serving as outside in-house counsel to various nonprofit legal organizations regarding legal ethics matters.
* Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
