Carlton Forbes

Carlton is an experienced appellate advocate and former senior US government lawyer. He has represented clients in high-stakes disputes in state and federal courts and before international arbitral tribunals. Carlton’s government service spans multiple agencies, including the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the US Department of the Treasury and the US Department of State, giving him a comprehensive understanding of federal regulatory and enforcement mechanisms. Drawing on his diverse experience, he offers clients creative solutions to help them navigate rapidly changing legal and regulatory environments.

Before joining Cooley, Carlton served in key roles in the federal government, most recently as senior counsel to the deputy attorney general at the DOJ. In this capacity, he regularly advised department leadership on some of the highest-profile civil litigation facing the federal government, as well as other legal, policy and operational issues arising from the DOJ’s Civil Division, National Security Division, Tax Division, Environmental and Natural Resources Division, and Office of the Solicitor General. Among other areas, Carlton advised the deputy attorney general on various foreign investment issues, including transactions reviewed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Before his time at the DOJ, Carlton served as senior adviser to the general counsel at the Department of the Treasury, where he focused on sanctions, international trade, international arbitration and national security litigation.

Carlton clerked for US Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer, Judge Cornelia T.L. Pillard of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, and Judge Raymond J. Lohier Jr. of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.