David W. Bowker

David W. Bowker is the chair of the firm’s International Litigation/Controversy Working Group. He has a wealth of trial and appellate experience, representing US and foreign companies, multi-nationals, foreign states and nonprofit organizations before international arbitration tribunals, state and federal trial courts, courts of appeal and the US Supreme Court. He joined the firm in 2002 after serving as an attorney-adviser in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the US Department of State.

Mr. Bowker recently argued and won a landmark First Amendment case in the US Supreme Court in the matter of USAID v. Alliance for Open Society International, No. 12-10 (decided June 20, 2013), in what one prominent US Congressman called "a victory both for protecting our constitutional right to free speech and advancing the public's health." A copy of that decision is available here, and news coverage of the case can be found here.

Mr. Bowker also argued and won an important act of state decision in the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in the matter of Konowaloff v. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 702 F.3d 140, which affirmed the district court's rejection of a claim to a valuable Cezanne painting in the Museum's permanent collection.

He has particular experience handling complex commercial disputes, class action litigations, international and multi-jurisdictional matters, post-war reparations and restitution programs, art and antiquities claims, constitutional challenges to state and federal statutes, investor-state disputes and other sovereign-related matters.

Good to know

Areas of Practice 1) Government and Regulatory Litigation, 2) International Arbitration and 3) International Litigation
Law School The University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, J.D., 1998
Education University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., 1993
Bar Member / Association District of Columbia Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, California State Bar Association
Most recent firm WilmerHale
Relevant Jobs
Attorney - Assistant Attorney General
USA-IL-Chicago

The General Law Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office is seeking attorneys with sound judgment and excellent research and writing skills. A strong candidate will have a demonstrated inter...

Apply now

Attorney - Assistant Attorney General
USA-IL-Springfield

Title:   Assistant Attorney General Division: Government Representation Bureau: General Law The General Law Bureau represents the interests of the State of Illinois and its people in ...

Apply now

+ View more jobs
A. Harrison Barnes
A. Harrison Barnes

Due to his extensive activities in the legal market, A. Harrison Barnes is a well-known attorney throughout the United States. As a member of the Malibu community, Harrison is committed to serving the needs of Malibu residents and businesses in legal

Benjamin P. Smith
Benjamin P. Smith

Benjamin P. Smith is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Litigation Practice. He is a trial lawyer with a particular focus on high-stakes disputes in the biotechnology, medical device, and internet industries.

Brian M. Jazaeri
Brian M. Jazaeri

Brian M. Jazaeri is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Litigation Practice. Mr. Jazaeri represents clients in complex commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on class action matters and financial services, healthcare and technology litigation.