Areas of Practice
Dwight Holton is a highly experienced trial lawyer and investigator whose practice focuses on internal investigations, compliance and management of complex government enforcement matters and litigation for leading businesses and nonprofit organizations and their representatives.
Prior to joining Lane Powell in 2012, Dwight served as United States Attorney for Oregon, where he managed the U.S. Department of Justice offices throughout Oregon. Dwight worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for nearly 13 years, serving first in the Eastern District of New York and later in the District of Oregon. During his career with DOJ, Dwight led complex white collar investigations on matters including securities fraud, Foreign Export Control Act violations, mail and wire fraud, and a full range of environmental investigations. Dwight also led complex RICO investigations.
As U.S. Attorney, Dwight worked closely with the senior DOJ officials on issues ranging from national security to environmental protection:
- In 2010, Dwight led a coordinated effort that included DOJ, the State Department, the Treasury Department, the FBI and others to obtain documents from a leading bank in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for use in a criminal trial in Oregon; Dwight also led the prosecution of numerous high profile national security cases, including the man who attempted to detonate a bomb at the Portland Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in 2010.
- Dwight led DOJ efforts to work with the health care industry and others to address the epidemic of prescription drug abuse, holding a Summit with the Governor and other regional leaders to work to reduce abuse. This effort has been replicated by U.S. Attorneys throughout the nation.
- Working closely with the White House National Security Council and state and local agencies, Dwight became a national leader on efforts to counter violent extremism through effective outreach and cooperation with Muslim community leaders.
- At the request of Attorney General Holder, Dwight co-hosted the first ever U.S. Attorney’s Conference on Environmental Enforcement, attended by all 94 United States Attorneys, Secretary Ken Salazar, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Nancy Sutley, the Chair of the President’s Council on Environmental Quality.
Dwight worked closely with the Assistant Attorneys General for the Criminal Division, National Security Division, Civil Rights Division and Environment and Natural Resources Division, as well the Offices of the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General. Through a variety of policy initiatives, Dwight collaborated in depth with dozens of U.S. Attorneys throughout the nation. Dwight served with colleagues on various subcommittees of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys, including:
- Terrorism and National Security Subcommittee
- White Collar Fraud Subcommittee
- Environmental Crimes Working Group
- Native American Issues Subcommittee
While serving as an AUSA, Dwight prosecuted hundreds of cases, specializing in complex white collar investigations from 2004-2010, and violent crime from 1997-2003.
Professional Experience
- U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney for District of Oregon (2010-2011)
- U.S. Department of Justice, Assistant U.S. Attorney
- Oregon (2004-2011)
- New York (1997-2004)
- Lewis and Clark Northwestern School of Law, Adjunct Professor (2002-Present)
- U.S. District Court, Law Clerk for U.S. District Judge John Gleeson (1996-1997)
- The White House, Special Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (1992-1993)
Admitted to Practice
- Oregon
Academics
- University of Virginia School of Law (J.D., 1996)
- Articles Review Board, Virginia Law Review (1995-1996)
- Editorial Board, Virginia Law Review (1994-1996)
- Robert E. Goldstein Award, Order of the Coif
- Brown University (B.A., History, with honors, 1987)
Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships
- Litigation
- White Collar Criminal Defense, Regulatory Compliance and Special Investigations
- Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Bribery and International Anti-Corruption
- Education
- Securities Litigation
TV/Radio Interviews
- Interviewed by Portland KATU News Channel 2 in a segment titled, “‘Your Voice, Your Vote:’ NSA Spying and the Right to Privacy,” about the NSA’s secret surveillance programs and the debate over privacy rights and security (June 17, 2013)
- Interviewed by Portland KGW News Channel 8 in a segment titled, “Boston Bomber Investigation,” about the case against the surviving suspect of the Boston Marathon Bombing (April 23, 2013)
- Interviewed on Paul Linmann’s radio program “The Morning Update” on Portland School Bond, Measure 26-144, KEX 1190 AM (November 2, 2012)
- Interviewed by numerous media outlets in print, newscasts and radio for his Oregon Attorney General campaign.
Awards and Honors
- Honorable James M. Burns Federal Practice Award (2012)
- Oregon Health and Science University Pain Awareness and Investigation Network Award (2011)
Professional and Community Activities
- Oregon Convocation on Equality (2010-2011)
- Founder, Lewis and Clark Law School Environmental Crimes Prosecution Clinic
- Member, Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, appointed by Governor Ted Kulongoski (2004-2008)
- Oregon Governor’s Fund for the Environment (2005-Present)
- Oregon Endangered Species Justice Fund (2007-Present)