Judge, United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
On March 20, 2018, Judge Elizabeth L. Branch (Lisa) was sworn in as a United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit.
Judge Branch attended and graduated from Davidson College in North Carolina (B.A., cum laude, 1990), and Emory University School of Law (J.D., with distinction, 1994).
After graduating from law school, Judge Branch served as a federal law clerk to The Honorable J. Owen Forrester of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia from 1994 to 1996. Following her clerkship, Judge Branch joined the litigation department of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP in Atlanta as an associate and then a partner.
From 2004 to 2008, Judge Branch was a senior official in the Administration of President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C. She served first as the Associate General Counsel for Rules and Legislation at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and then as the Counselor to the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the U. S. Office of Management and Budget.
She returned to Smith Gambrell in 2008 as a litigation partner. Judge Branch then was appointed to the Court of Appeals of Georgia by Governor Nathan Deal, taking office on September 4, 2012, where she served until March 19, 2018.
Judge Branch is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Atlanta Lawyers Chapter for the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies.
Deputy Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency
David Fotouhi was sworn in as Deputy Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency on June 16, 2025.
Fotouhi is an experienced environmental attorney who previously served in senior roles at EPA. During the first term of the Trump Administration, Fotouhi served as EPA’s Acting General Counsel and Principal Deputy General Counsel. Prior to rejoining the agency, Fotouhi was a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP practicing environmental law.
Fotouhi grew up in Oklahoma and holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Before entering private legal practice, Fotouhi served as a law clerk to the Honorable Raymond W. Gruender of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Lyle T. Alverson Professor of Law, George Washington University Law School
Professor Pierce is author of over twenty books and 130 articles on administrative law, government regulation, and the effects of various forms of government intervention on the performance of markets. His books and articles have been cited in hundreds of judicial opinions, including over a dozen opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Deputy Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency
David Fotouhi was sworn in as Deputy Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency on June 16, 2025.
Fotouhi is an experienced environmental attorney who previously served in senior roles at EPA. During the first term of the Trump Administration, Fotouhi served as EPA’s Acting General Counsel and Principal Deputy General Counsel. Prior to rejoining the agency, Fotouhi was a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP practicing environmental law.
Fotouhi grew up in Oklahoma and holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Before entering private legal practice, Fotouhi served as a law clerk to the Honorable Raymond W. Gruender of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Lyle T. Alverson Professor of Law, George Washington University Law School
Professor Pierce is author of over twenty books and 130 articles on administrative law, government regulation, and the effects of various forms of government intervention on the performance of markets. His books and articles have been cited in hundreds of judicial opinions, including over a dozen opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Judge, United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
On March 20, 2018, Judge Elizabeth L. Branch (Lisa) was sworn in as a United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit.
Judge Branch attended and graduated from Davidson College in North Carolina (B.A., cum laude, 1990), and Emory University School of Law (J.D., with distinction, 1994).
After graduating from law school, Judge Branch served as a federal law clerk to The Honorable J. Owen Forrester of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia from 1994 to 1996. Following her clerkship, Judge Branch joined the litigation department of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP in Atlanta as an associate and then a partner.
From 2004 to 2008, Judge Branch was a senior official in the Administration of President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C. She served first as the Associate General Counsel for Rules and Legislation at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and then as the Counselor to the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the U. S. Office of Management and Budget.
She returned to Smith Gambrell in 2008 as a litigation partner. Judge Branch then was appointed to the Court of Appeals of Georgia by Governor Nathan Deal, taking office on September 4, 2012, where she served until March 19, 2018.
Judge Branch is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Atlanta Lawyers Chapter for the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies.
Judge, United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
On March 20, 2018, Judge Elizabeth L. Branch (Lisa) was sworn in as a United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit.
Judge Branch attended and graduated from Davidson College in North Carolina (B.A., cum laude, 1990), and Emory University School of Law (J.D., with distinction, 1994).
After graduating from law school, Judge Branch served as a federal law clerk to The Honorable J. Owen Forrester of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia from 1994 to 1996. Following her clerkship, Judge Branch joined the litigation department of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP in Atlanta as an associate and then a partner.
From 2004 to 2008, Judge Branch was a senior official in the Administration of President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C. She served first as the Associate General Counsel for Rules and Legislation at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and then as the Counselor to the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the U. S. Office of Management and Budget.
She returned to Smith Gambrell in 2008 as a litigation partner. Judge Branch then was appointed to the Court of Appeals of Georgia by Governor Nathan Deal, taking office on September 4, 2012, where she served until March 19, 2018.
Judge Branch is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Atlanta Lawyers Chapter for the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies.
Deputy Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency
David Fotouhi was sworn in as Deputy Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency on June 16, 2025.
Fotouhi is an experienced environmental attorney who previously served in senior roles at EPA. During the first term of the Trump Administration, Fotouhi served as EPA’s Acting General Counsel and Principal Deputy General Counsel. Prior to rejoining the agency, Fotouhi was a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP practicing environmental law.
Fotouhi grew up in Oklahoma and holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Before entering private legal practice, Fotouhi served as a law clerk to the Honorable Raymond W. Gruender of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Lyle T. Alverson Professor of Law, George Washington University Law School
Professor Pierce is author of over twenty books and 130 articles on administrative law, government regulation, and the effects of various forms of government intervention on the performance of markets. His books and articles have been cited in hundreds of judicial opinions, including over a dozen opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Plenary Session 1: Executive Power in Action– A View of Presidential Priorities from Trump 45 & 47
Featuring: Hon. Jonathan Berry, Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor Hon. David Fotouhi, Deputy Administrator, U.S....
Panel 2: New Frontiers for Traditional Fuels: Deregulation or Lawfare?
Coal, oil, and natural gas remain the backbone of the U.S. energy supply. What executive...
Deep Dive Episode 247 - Creatures of Statute II: Administrative Agencies and Policymaking
Lisa Branch, David Fotouhi, Richard J. Pierce
The Federalist Society’s Regulatory Transparency Project and Capitol Hill Chapter hosted the second in a...
Necessary & Proper Episode 80: Creatures of Statute II: Administrative Agencies and Policymaking
David Fotouhi, Richard J. Pierce, Lisa Branch
This second event of a co-sponsored series on the Administrative State focused on the role...
Creatures of Statute II: Administrative Agencies and Policymaking
Lisa Branch, David Fotouhi, Richard J. Pierce
Join the Federalist Society’s Regulatory Transparency Project and Capitol Hill Chapter for the second in...