Steptoe & Johnson LLP announced today that NAFUSA member Paul Charlton, has joined the firm as a partner. He will be based in the Phoenix office and will practice in Steptoe’s Commercial Litigation and White-Collar Criminal Defense Groups.

Charlton concentrates his practice on high-profile and complex litigation, internal investigations and white-collar criminal defense. He has represented corporations and public officials, as well as provided special assistance to those who were subjects of a state or federal investigation. Over the course of his career, Charlton has also developed an outstanding track record in the representation of Native American governments and tribal leaders.

Charlton was nominated by President George W. Bush as U.S. Attorney for Arizona in 2001 after serving as an assistant US attorney for ten years. During his six years of service as the U.S. Attorney, he established the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC), a program that improved communication and coordination between law enforcement agencies. He also established a national security division within the U.S. Attorney’s Office to actively work with law enforcement agencies on terrorism related criminal cases, and expanded the victim advocate staff in his office to better serve crime victims. In 2002, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Program was awarded the Federal Service Award. In 2007, USA Today published an article that ranked Charlton number one among the nation’s 93 US attorneys for prosecutions and convictions.

With Charlton’s arrival, Steptoe’s white-collar practice, which was named a Law360 “White Collar Group of the Year” in 2011 and 2012, includes nine former federal prosecutors (including Reid Weingarten, who spoke at NAFUSA’s recent conference in Washington) with extensive trial experience and a host of lawyers with substantial experience in other government positions.

“I am honored to be joining such a well-renowned firm with its talented roster of lawyers,” said Charlton. “I am truly looking forward to working with my new colleagues, as well as using the national platform that Steptoe offers to expand my practice beyond Arizona.”

Fluent in Spanish, Charlton has been deployed by the DOJ on numerous occasions to provide instruction to Latin American prosecutors and judges on the American criminal justice system. An adjunct professor at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Charlton was named “Prosecutor of the Year” by the Arizona State Bar a year after leaving the US Attorney’s Office. He has been recommended by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, and Southwest Super Lawyers, among other accolades.

Charlton received his B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Arizona.

Steptoe & Johnson LLP is an international law firm widely recognized for vigorous advocacy in complex litigation and arbitration, successful representation of clients before governmental agencies, and creative and practical advice in guiding business transactions. The firm has more than 500 lawyers and other professionals in offices in Beijing, Brussels, Century City, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com