A. Scott Bolden

Washington, D.C.
T: +1 202 414 9266

Home Professionals A. Scott Bolden

A. Scott Bolden is a prominent trial and white collar defense lawyer whom companies and individuals turn to for representation in their most significant concerns. Scott has handled some of the most high-profile matters for elected officials, business leaders, athletes, and entertainers in and outside the nation’s capital. He is also very comfortable handling such matters on the national stage. Scott is particularly adept at assisting clients in navigating crises that present significant legal, business, and reputational risks. Scott previously served as managing partner of the Washington, D.C., office and as an at-large member on the firm's executive committee.

As part of his multifaceted litigation practice, Scott has defended clients in local and federal courts in connection with civil RICO claims; fraud, including health care fraud, and breach of contract; False Claims Act violations; education matters; government contract claims and disputes; tort claims; and other commercial and regulatory litigation issues.

With respect to his white collar criminal defense practice, Scott has defended individuals and corporate clients in state and federal trials and grand jury proceedings in connection with money laundering, federal and state tax fraud, bank fraud, financial structuring, and other white collar criminal issues. He has also defended witnesses in depositions before House and Senate investigation committees. Additionally Scott has conducted internal investigations for major public and private corporations and has conducted SEC investigations and prosecutions, as well as corporate compliance with the federal sentencing guidelines and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

For his work in defending his clients, Scott was recognized by his alma mater, Howard University, with the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award in the Field of Law. Scott has also been inducted into the Washington Bar Association Hall of Fame, been named one of the 100 most influential lawyers in law and business by Savoy magazine and the American Business Journals, as well as Rainmaker of Year by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association. He is also a former recipient of the Washington Business Journal's Top Lawyer in the White Collar Crime category.

Credentials

Howard University School of Law, 1987, J.D., received a number of awards and scholarships
Morehouse College, 1984, B.A., received a number of awards and scholarships

District of Columbia
New York
Illinois

Supreme Court - United States
U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court - District of Columbia
U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Michigan

National Bar Association Political Action Committee – Chairman, Board of Directors (2017)
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies – Member, Board of Governors (2013 - present)
Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia – Member, Board of Directors (2012 - 2015)
Economic Club of Washington, D.C. – Member (1998 - present)
Harvard Law School – Trial Adjunct Professor (2019 - present)
Howard University School of Law – Member, Board of Visitors (2011 - present)
Federal City Council - Member, Executive Board (2008 - 2013)
Candidate for D.C. Council, At Large (2006)
Individual Development Corporation – Board of Directors (1999 - 2013)
D.C. Chamber of Commerce – Former Member, Board of Directors (1998 - 2013)
D.C. Chamber of Commerce – Former Chairman (1998)
District of Columbia Bar – Board of Governors (1999 - 2003)
D.C. Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee – Chairman (2000-2002)
D.C. Democratic State Committee – Former Chair (2002 - 2004)
D.C. Water and Sewer Authority – Former Board Member (1998 - 2002)
District Court of the District of Columbia's Committee on Grievances – Member (1998 - 2003)
Sequoia National Bank – Former Director (1998 - 2004)
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (Life Member)

Judge Luke Moore, Superior Court - District of Columbia

Awards & Recognition

2022 President Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree
2021 recipient of the Ollie May Cooper Award from the Washington Bar Association
2020 member of The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100
2020 recipient of the Equal Justice Award from the National Bar Association;
ScholarCHIPS Children of Incarcerated Parents Community Hero Philanthropy Award (2019)
The National Bar Association’s Cora T. Walker Award for corporate leadership, promoting diversity and the development of young lawyers in corporate America (2018)
American Business Journal’s 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America (2018)
Savoy’s 100 Best Diverse Lawyers in America (2018)
Boy Scouts of America National Capital Area Council Attorney of the Year Award (2018)
Minority Corporate Counsel Association Rainmaker Award (2018)
Washington Bar Association Hall of Fame (2018)
UNCF Masked Ball Leadership Award (2016)
Greater Washington Urban League Presidents Award for Service (2016)
Howard University School of Law Alumni Association Leadership Award (2016)
Selected to the Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers list for Criminal Defense: White Collar, 2013-2020
2014 Presidential Star Award, The National Bar Association
2014 Champion of Law & Public Service Award, Morehouse College Alumni Association D.C. Chapter
Howard University's Distinguished Alumni Award in the Field of Law (2013)
Recreation Wish List Committee’s Chairman’s Award, and naming and dedication of the Bolden Room at the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center in Washington, D.C.(2012)
D.C. Chamber of Commerce, Chamber’s Choice Business Leadership Award (2012)

Public Appearances

Regularly appears on every major cable network to discuss race, politics, and the law, including: CNN’s “Newsroom,” “New Day,” “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” and the “Situation Room”; MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show,” “The Beat with Ari Melber,” “Up With David Gura,” and MSNBC Live”; Fox News’s "Happening Now,” “The Ingraham Angle,” “Fox News at Night with Shannon Bream,” and “Tucker Carlson Tonight”; TV ONE’s “NewsOne Now”; and Fox Business Network’s “Trish Regan PrimeTime,” “Cavuto: Coast to Coast,” and “Lou Dobbs Tonight.” He has also appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” “20/20,” ESPN, "Roland Martin Unfiltered," and multiple local networks. Additionally, he offers commentary on social media: @asbthelaw.
Regularly provides political and legal analysis on CNN, Fox National News, and MSNBC relating to Republican and Democratic politics, as well as, commentary on civil and criminal cases pending in local and federal courts across the country.

Notable Quotes

26 February 2021 "BigLaw Eyes HBCUs, But Rankings Mindset Still Prevails" Law360
23 May 2020 "From the NLJ Magazine: Black Firm Leaders on George Floyd and the Way Forward" The National Law Journal
22 May 2019 "Getting Into College Is a Lot Easier if Your Parents Went There. Here’s Why." Teen Vogue
24 April 2019 "Georgian Businessman Offers More Texts With Cohen to Rebut Mueller Footnote" BNN Bloomberg
5 April 2019 "DC Council Member Calls for Investigation into Homeless Shelter Food Provider" NBC Washington
11 July 2018 "A. Scott Bolden: The Hardest Working Man in Big Law" Savoy Magazine
Summer 2018 "The Rainmakers" Diversity and The Bar Magazine
10 May 2018 "Meet the Familiar Face Leading D.C.'s Reed Smith Once Again" Washington Business Journal
10 January 2018 "Bolden Takes Helm at Large D.C. Firm" The Afro-American
30 October 2017 "In Debate over National Anthem, Black Wealth Becomes a Target" Washington Post

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Credentials

Awards & Recognition

Public Appearances

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Education

Professional Admissions & Qualifications

Court Admissions

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