Professional Experience

  • January, 2012 to Present

    RICHARD J. DAVIS

    Attorney At Law

    Individual practice focusing on advising in difficult situations, including in the investigative context; arbitration; mediation; crisis counseling; Board of Directors representations; serving as court-appointed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Examiner and Trustee; and special assignments.

  • April 1, 1981 to January, 2012

    WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP

    Partner, Litigation Department

    General practice relating to litigation, investigations, counseling, regulatory issues and international financial problems, including extensive experience in complex negotiations.  Principal activities have included representing companies, Boards of Directors and individuals in internal investigations, and in grand jury, regulatory and other government investigations of all types; participating in litigation involving a wide range of commercial, bankruptcy- related and other disputes; serving as an arbitrator; serving as counsel to the Government of Argentina during the 1980’s in negotiating with the international financial community over the refinancing of its debt and related litigation; and providing advice to various clients on regulatory issues.  Also served as Weil’s General Counsel with varying management responsibilities until December 31, 2010.

  • September, 1977 to January 23, 1981

    ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY (Enforcement and Operations)

    Responsibilities included supervision of the U.S. Customs Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the U.S. Secret Service; the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center; the Office of Foreign Assets Control; and representing the Treasury Department in law enforcement, terrorism and related issues.  In this capacity among the matters responsible for were the freeze on Iranian assets and other sanctions imposed as a result of the seizure of American hostages; participation in the development of the U.S.-Iran Hostage Release Agreements of January, 1981; implementation of various U.S. embargoes and financial freezes involving Cuba, Vietnam, and others; regulation of the alcoholic beverage industry; administration of the Bank Secrecy Act and Currency Reporting Regulations; firearms regulation; criminal justice policy; intelligence and terrorism issues; the protection of public officials; and application of the Customs laws.

  • January, 1976 to August, 1977

    WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP

    General Litigation Practice

    Principal matters included representation of the City of New York and its officials in an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission; and of companies and individuals in internal investigations and in grand jury and other government investigations.

  • July, 1973 to August, 1975

    WATERGATE SPECIAL PROSECUTION FORCE

    Responsibilities as an Assistant Special Prosecutor included serving as Chief Trial Counsel in the trials of Dwight Chapin and Edward Reinecke; as Chief of the Political Espionage and ITT Task Forces; and being responsible for coordinating issues relating to securing documentary evidence and testimony from former President Nixon.

  • September, 1970 to July, 1973

    UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

    Southern District of New York

    Member of the Criminal Division and for varying periods served in the Corruption Unit and as Assistant Chief Appellate Attorney.

  • September, 1969 to August, 1970

    LAW CLERK TO UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE JACK B. WEINSTEIN

    Eastern District of New York

Education

    • Columbia University School of Law – J.D. 1969
      Notes and Comments Editor of the Law Review
      Graduated magna cum laude
    • University of Rochester – B.A. 1966
      Graduated with high honors in history

Honors & Awards

    • May 1999
      Recipient of the Curtis J. Berger Award given by The Bridge, Inc. in recognition of public service activities in the tradition of Curtis Berger, deceased Professor of Law, Columbia Law School.
    • March 2000
      Recipient of the Whitney North Seymour Award given by the Federal Bar Council in recognition of contributions to public service by a lawyer in private practice.
    • September 2000
      Recipient of the Ari Halberstam Award given by the Jewish Children’s Museum in recognition of commitment to justice and the needs of New York and its children.
    • November 2000
      Recipient of the J. Edward Lumbard Award given by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York in recognition of outstanding public service.
    • March 2004
      Recipient of the Law & Society Award  given by New York Lawyers for the Public Interest in recognition of public service.
    • October 2009
      Recipient of the Robert Wagner, Jr. Award given by Citizens Union for long-term participation in civic affairs of New York City.
    • November 2010
      Recipient of the Champion for Childrens Award given by the Randall’s Island Sport Foundation.

Civic and other activities

    Good Government

    • Chair, Citizens Untion (2004-January 2008) and member of the Board of Directors (1991-1997 and 1998-2009).  A hundred-year old civic organization in New York City.
    • New York City Campaign Finance Board (July 1, 2009-present).  A five-person Board that oversees and enforces the New York City Campaign Finance Law.

    Criminal Justice System

    • Chair, The Legal Aid Society (December, 2010–2021) and member of the Board of Directors (1986–1992 and 2000–date).
    • Chair, Mayor’s Commission to Combat Police Corruption (1996–2002), a commission appointed to monitor anti-corruption activities of the New York City Police Department.  The Commission published over twenty reports during this period.
    • Member, Task Force on Police-Community Relations (1997), appointed by the Mayor following an incident of severe police brutality in Brooklyn.
    • Chair, Criminal Justice Council of the City Bar Association (2000–2003).
    • Departments of Justice and Treasury: Member of panel of experts to provide advice on future hostage/barricade situations in the aftermath of the Waco siege (1993).
    • Member, Citizen Task Force on Use and Security of Central Park (1989–1990) and Co-Chair of the Citizens Advisory Process (1990–1993) to monitor implementation of the Task Force recommendations and to deal with ongoing security issues relating to the northern portion of the park and surrounding neighborhoods.
    • Member of Commission that reviewed the operations of the Philadelphia Police Department (1987).

    Parks and Recreation

    • Chair, Randall’s Island Sports Foundation (1995–2010), a non-profit organization working with the City to help renew park and recreational facilities on Randall’s Island.
    • Chair, Pier Park and Playground Association (1999–2005), a non-profit organization created to promote the development of open space and playing fields in Greenwich Village and other parts of lower Manhattan.
    • Member, Partnership for Pier 40 (2007–2009), a non-profit organization created to work towards a positive community supported plan for Pier 40 in the Hudson River Park.
    • Parks Council, member of the Board of Directors (1994–2001).

    Other

    • American Red Cross of Greater New York, member of the Chairman’s Council (2006–2010), a group created to work with the Red Cross to assist in enhancing resources and preparedness for catastrophic events.
    • Vice Chair of group convened by Mayor’s Office regarding controlling construction costs (2007).
    • Member, Commission on the Capital Plan (2002), a commission appointed by the Schools’ Chancellor to review issues related to school construction costs.
    • The Harbor for Boys and Girls, member of the Board of Directors (1992–December, 2011), a non-profit organization working with young people in East and Central Harlem.
    • Jewish Childrens’ Museum, member of the Board of Directors (January, 2007–date)
    • Pro Bono Special Master for Investment Policy for the Agent Orange Settlement Fund (1984–1996).
    • Member of study group on the Iranian Hostage Crisis at Council on Foreign Relations (1981–1982) and co-author of book chapters, American Hostages in Iran, published by Yale University Press.
    • Taught Trial Advocacy in special intensive course at Harvard Law School (September 1975; September 1976)

Expert Witness

  • Testified at the request of President Clinton’s Counsel as an expert on standards of prosecution before the House Judiciary Committee considering the impeachment of the President (December 9, 1998).