John K. Villa is a partner at Williams & Connolly who served on the firm’s Executive Committee from 2002 through 2017.   John is Co-Chair of the firm’s Financial Services and Banking Practice Group.  He focuses on corporate, securities and financial services-related litigation (both civil and criminal) and legal malpractice defense.  

In June 2024-2025, Chambers named John a “Star Individual,” the publication’s highest honor, in its first-ever USA rankings in the category Law Firm Defense citing client reports that “John is the ultimate lawyers’ lawyer.”  The Financial Times writes, “John Villa, of Williams & Connolly in Washington, has a reputation for being the lawyer that law firms turn to when in a spot of bother.”  The American Lawyer has called him “perhaps the premier [legal] malpractice defense lawyer in the nation.”  The Washington Post reports “John Villa of . . . Williams & Connolly [is] the lawyer and firm that lawyers and law firms turn to when they’re in trouble,” and describes him as “a litigator who has gained national prominence with a somewhat rare specialty: defending top-flight law firms in trouble.”  John was named to The National Law Journal's list of "100 Most Influential Lawyers in America" as "the first lawyer that other attorneys and law firms turn to when caught up in the S&L and banking scandals."  In its 2014 list of "6 Firms to Have on Speed Dial if Malpractice Trouble Hits," Law360 puts Williams & Connolly and John Villa first.  John was named Washington D.C.’s Banking and Finance “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America in 2017, 2020, and 2023.  He has represented a substantial number of the largest law firms in the United States, but does not disclose his clients.

John was listed as one of the top 100 trial lawyers in America by Benchmark Litigation.  He has argued before every federal court of appeals and the highest courts of three states and appeared in the federal or state courts of more than twenty states. 

The PLC Global Counsel’s Handbook calls him “an exceptional banking, financial and corporate governance litigator.”  In 2012-22, Chambers identified him in Tier 1 nationally for Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Enforcement and Investigations), among the leading lawyers nationally in Securities Litigation (2012-17) and Tier 1 in the District of Columbia for General Commercial Litigation and Securities Litigation (2012-18).  Chambers says “John Villa is the ‘first name to come to mind for financial services litigation matters’” and identified him as lawyer who "deserves special recognition" for his prowess in the financial services area and his "excellent reputation" in the DC litigation Bar.

Education

Recognitions

"100 Most Influential Lawyers in America," The National Law Journal

"Star Individual (Nationwide) in Law Firm Defense," Chambers USA, 2024-2025

"National and Local Litigation Star," Benchmark Litigation, 2012-2025

“Financial Services: Regulatory Enforcement & Investigations (Nationwide),” Chambers USA, 2007-2025

“Washington, D.C. Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year,” The Best Lawyers in America ®, 2017, 2020, 2023

“Litigation: General Commercial (D.C.),” Chambers USA, 2004-2018

“Securities (D.C.),” Chambers USA, 2013-2018

“Washington, D.C. Corporate Governance Lawyer of the Year,” The Best Lawyers in America ®, 2018

Recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America ®, 2006-2021

“Securities: Litigation (Nationwide),” Chambers USA, 2007-2017

“Washington, D.C. Ethics and Professional Responsibility Lawyer of the Year,” The Best Lawyers in America ®, 2016

“Top 100 trial lawyers in America,” Benchmark Litigation, 2014

"Washington’s Best Lawyers," Washingtonian magazine, 2004, 2007, 2011, and 2013

“Litigator of the Week,” American Lawyer, 2010

“Litigator in the Spotlight,” American Lawyer, 2009

"Leading Dispute Resolution Counsel" in Washington, D.C., PLC Global Counsel Dispute Resolution Handbook, 2004-2005

Admissions

Other Government Service

Trial Attorney, United States Department of Justice, 1973-1977

Special Assistant United States Attorney, District of Columbia, 1975-1976

Recipient, Attorney General's Special Commendation Award for Outstanding Service, 1975

back to top