Justin D. deBettencourt

In his regulatory practice, Justin has counseled corporations on regulatory matters and compliance, and he has defended corporations in enforcement actions and investigations. He has advised major airlines, ride-share companies, global technology companies, electronics manufacturers, travel aggregators, and shipowners.

Justin is also a litigator with first- and second-chair trial experience and substantial experience briefing and arguing motions in federal and state courts. He handles matters through all stages of litigation, from the initial complaint or answer and preliminary motions, through discovery, dispositive motions, trial, post-trial motions, and appeal. He has experience with high-stakes disputes relating to contracts, torts, product liability, shipping, manufacturing, the Fair Housing Act, international treaties, and aviation. As part of his transportation practice, Justin represents major airlines, manufacturers, automakers, and ocean common carriers, among others, in federal and state courts as well as arbitrations. He also has experience at the appellate level, having briefed appeals in state and federal appellate courts. He has significant litigation experience in the Eastern District of Virginia, known as the “Rocket Docket,” where Justin clerked for a federal judge prior to joining Reed Smith.

Justin has an active pro bono practice where he counsels nonprofit organizations and represents victims of family abuse in protective order proceedings. In addition, Justin is part of the Pro Bono Counsel Program with the Office of the Federal Public Defender in the Eastern District of Virginia, which provides assistance to indigent clients in federal court criminal proceedings.

Before joining Reed Smith, Justin served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Theresa Carroll Buchanan in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the George Washington University Law School, where he was a recipient of the J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Public Service Fellowship.