John Devaney Of Counsel

In his practice, John Devaney focuses on commercial litigation, political law litigation, regulatory law, and pro bono litigation. He has represented clients in dozens of proceedings before federal courts, state courts, and administrative agencies throughout the country. Most recently, John served as litigation counsel for then President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris in election recount and election contest proceedings in Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin. John also represented the Biden-Harris Campaign and the Democratic National Committee in preelection litigation in Nevada and Wisconsin involving challenges to the procedures governing absentee voting.   

In the area of regulatory law, John has represented public utility clients in dozens of regulatory proceedings and in more than 20 appeals, including appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeals and the U.S. District Courts. He is currently lead counsel for a Midwest energy company in multiple litigation matters that have a regulatory overlay.

John began his practicing career as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, after a judicial clerkship with the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. He currently serves as a member of the board of trustees of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs and as a guardian ad litem for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.  

A long-time leader and manager at Perkins Coie, John served as the firmwide managing partner from 2015-2019. John also served for more than a decade in other leadership positions, including as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, a member of the Management Committee, and as managing partner of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. In his current role as managing partner emeritus, John manages an active litigation practice and serves on the firm’s Strategic Diversity & Inclusion Committee.