Courtney Forrest defends clients in white collar criminal cases, campus disciplinary matters, and complex civil litigation. She is keenly adept at breaking down highly complex factual and legal issues into clear and compelling case theories that are persuasive to judges and juries alike.
Courtney’s eight years of experience as a litigator at Covington & Burling LLP has armed her with a broad range of skills that are highly valuable to the needs of KaiserDillon’s clients. She has prepared countless witnesses for depositions and interviews with administrative bodies, and skillfully counsels clients about these processes, enabling them to navigate these unpleasant experiences with confidence and grace.
After honing her litigation skills in Intellectual Property law (for which she was recognized as a Washington, DC Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in 2017 and 2018), Courtney has now shifted her focus to white collar criminal defense. Criminal defense was her original passion, sparked by her two years as a paralegal at Boston’s Federal Defender Office immediately after her graduation from Harvard. She maintained close ties with the criminal defense community in law school, where she was a member of the Juvenile Justice Clinic representing minors charged in delinquency proceedings, as well as while clerking in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, where she worked on a high-profile capital murder trial.
Prior to joining KaiserDillon, Courtney represented corporate clients in high stakes intellectual property, white collar, antitrust, and insurance matters. She has a wealth of experience in all aspects of civil litigation including drafting dispositive motions and post-trial briefs; preparing discovery requests and responses; and coordinating preparation of expert witness reports. Courtney has taken and defended a multitude of depositions and is well-versed in counseling and preparing witnesses. At her previous firm she also maintained an active pro bono caseload, handling criminal, immigration, and family law matters. Most notably, she first-chaired a jury trial and secured an acquittal for a client charged with first degree assault.
When she is not working on client matters, Courtney has three young children that keep her on her toes. For the past three years, she has served on the Executive Board of her children’s cooperative preschool, first as the Admissions Chair and then as Participation Coordinator. She also volunteers as an assistant tee ball coach, enjoys decorating birthday cakes, and is an avid Buffalo Bills fan.
Courtney is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia.
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
