MADISON, Wis. and WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 9, 2015) – Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Charles G. Curtis, Jr. has joined the firm as a partner in the Commercial Litigation practice. He will divide his time between the Madison, WI and Washington, D.C. offices, and will focus his efforts on complex litigation issues at the agency, trial and appellate levels.

“Chuck is an exceptional lawyer with a wealth of experience in constitutional, appellate, administrative, political, antitrust, IP, environmental and general commercial law,” said Joe Mais, firmwide Chair of the Commercial Litigation practice. “His ability to master the most complex factual and legal issues adds real value to our Commercial Litigation practice.”

Chuck has advocated for clients before administrative agencies and in federal and state courts at both the trial and appellate levels, including the U.S. Supreme Court. His commercial litigation clients have included global leaders in technology, manufacturing, mining, sports, finance and consumer products.

Chuck has focused a large part of his practice on Native American legal issues. He has represented private and public clients in litigation, agency proceedings, and business negotiations involving Native American tribes and tribal members throughout the country. His work in this field has spanned treaty rights, environmental, energy, tax, IP, attorney liability, finance and gaming law. Much of his work in recent years has involved efforts to combat the illicit distribution of contraband and counterfeit goods through Indian country into off-reservation commerce.

“Perkins Coie has an outstanding Native American law practice,” Chuck emphasized. “It has real depth in this complex area throughout the lower 48 states and in Alaska. I am very excited to be joining this outstanding Chambers-ranked practice.”

Perkins Coie’s Native American Law and Policy practice is focused on critical matters involving Native American lands and tribes. We represent Native American and non-tribal entities, government agencies, state governors, Indian tribes, commercial enterprises, financial institutions, trade associations and nonprofit organizations. Perkins Coie is particularly well-known for providing comprehensive strategies for addressing complex Indian law issues, from early in the regulatory process through litigation.

Chuck also has notable political law experience, most recently in helping to lead federal litigation challenging Wisconsin’s harsh “voter ID” law. The case resulted in the first federal court decision to strike down a voter ID law under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Although that decision was overturned on appeal, the litigation has served as a model for other voter ID challenges throughout the country.

“Chuck is highly regarded by his peers and has a substantial reputation among clients and judges as a first-rate litigator,” said Michelle Umberger, managing partner of the Madison office. “He is known for his astute counsel on sophisticated issues at the agency, trial and appellate levels. We are thrilled to welcome Chuck to Perkins Coie.”

Chuck served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. and to Senior Judge David L. Bazelon on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and in Chambers USA; America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (in both the Wisconsin Litigation and Nationwide Native American Law categories). He earned his J.D. from The University of Chicago Law School and received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Harvard University. Chuck was previously a partner at Arnold & Porter LLP.

Perkins Coie has more than 400 litigation attorneys in offices across the country with extensive jury and bench trial experience in major state and federal jurisdictions and at every appellate level through the U.S. Supreme Court. We also regularly represent clients in proceedings before a wide range of federal and state administrative agencies such as state utilities and regulatory agencies and commissions, the Federal Trade Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Internal Revenue Service and, in collaboration with foreign counsel, before administrative and judicial bodies in numerous other countries.

Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high-value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to our clients’ success. With more than 1,200 lawyers in offices across the United States and Asia, we provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients, including many of the world’s most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.

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