Henry Su
Program Director and Faculty
National Institute for Trial Advocacy
Henry Su
Program Director and Faculty
National Institute for Trial Advocacy
Henry Su is a seasoned trial lawyer, teacher, and thought leader whose legal work has focused on what he calls the “three A’s”—Antitrust, Advocacy, and Access to Justice.
Antitrust
Based in Washington, DC, he has spent the bulk of his career practicing in the fields of antitrust, consumer protection, intellectual property, and technology law, which are critical to ensuring that we all continue to enjoy the benefits of competition and innovation. He provides a unique combination of experience and expertise in (1) law enforcement, regulation, legislation, and policymaking—as a former senior official with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for nearly seven years, and (2) technology, innovation, business strategy, and startup activity—as a Silicon Valley-based senior litigator for nearly ten years.
His government service at the FTC included two stints as a senior trial lawyer in the agency’s Bureau of Competition (January 2013 to February 2015, February 2017 to August 2017), litigating merger and conduct cases (e.g., St. Luke’s/Saltzer, 1-800 Contacts) and participating in the investigation of several others. Additionally, he served as an attorney advisor to Commissioner J. Thomas Rosch (January 2011 to January 2013) and Chairwoman Edith Ramirez (February 2015 to February 2017), providing advice and counsel to each Commissioner on a wide range of antitrust and competition matters, topics, and issues.
A veteran member of the American Bar Association (ABA) Antitrust Law Section’s leadership, he currently serves as a member of the governing Council and as co-chair of the Antitrust Fall Forum. He is also a member of the U.S. Advisory Board of the Institute for Consumer Antitrust Studies at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Advocacy
He is a longtime program director and faculty member with the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), a nonprofit organization that has been dedicated since 1971 to the training and development of effective and ethical courtroom advocates, who are essential to preserving and improving our adversarial system of justice. His teaching runs the gamut of NITA’s programming—from trainings on trial, motion, and deposition practice to webcasts and podcasts on topics like evidentiary foundations and lawyer well-being. In 2021 he was recognized by NITA for his outstanding service as faculty with the 2020 Hon. Robert E. Keeton Award. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.
When it comes to trial and appellate work, he deeply appreciates the value of “learning by doing.” Some skills cannot be effectively acquired or developed except through practice, as he found out when he cut his teeth handling criminal and civil cases pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia—the original “Rocket Docket.” He wishes he had known some of the NITA techniques and drills when he was a junior lawyer. That is a big reason why nowadays he does his part to make NITA training widely available to upcoming generations of lawyers through programs, including public service courses, offered around the country.
Access to Justice
Last but not least, he chairs the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, whose mission is to ensure access to justice through the expansion and enhancement of the delivery of legal and other law-related services to the underserved through volunteer efforts of legal professionals nationwide. He strives to lead by example, participating for instance as a volunteer attorney with ABA Free Legal Answers. In 2021 he was recognized as an ABA Free Legal Answers 2020 Pro Bono Leader for his pro bono service. He also serves on the Virginia State Bar’s Access to Legal Services Committee, and he is a Patron Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Other
He graduated cum laude from Yale University with a B.S. degree in Biology, and then attended the University of Virginia School of Law, where he earned a J.D. degree and received the John M. Olin Prize in Law and Economics. He is a member of the California, District of Columbia, and Virginia bars.
A person listed as a contributor has spoken or otherwise participated in Regulatory Transparency Project events, publications, or multimedia presentations. A person's appearance on the website does not imply an endorsement or relationship between the person and the Regulatory Transparency Project. The Regulatory Transparency Project takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues. All expressions of opinion by a contributor are those of the contributor.
Contributions
Navigating the Axon Decision: Understanding its Implications for Federal Agencies and Administrative Law
In a highly anticipated decision, the Supreme Court held in Axon Enterprise, Inc. v. FTC (consolidated with Cochran v. SEC) that federal district courts have jurisdiction to resolve challenges to the structure and existence of federal agencies whose decisions are subject to review in a court of appeals.
Watch this videoDeep Dive Episode 261 – Navigating the Axon Decision: Understanding its Implications for Federal Agencies and Administrative Law
In a highly anticipated decision, the Supreme Court held in Axon Enterprise, Inc. v. FTC (consolidated with Cochran v. SEC) that federal district courts have jurisdiction to resolve challenges to the structure and existence of federal agencies whose decisions are subject to review in a court of appeals.
Listen to this podcastDeep Dive Episode 245 – Courthouse Steps Oral Argument: Axon v. Federal Trade Commission
Experts discuss key take-aways from the Axon v. FTC oral argument and implications for administrative litigation at the Federal Trade Commission and other agencies.
Listen to this podcastCourthouse Steps Oral Argument: Axon v. Federal Trade Commission
Experts discuss key take-aways from the Axon v. FTC oral argument and implications for administrative litigation at the Federal Trade Commission and other agencies.
Watch this video