David B. Salmons is chair of the firm's appellate practice and focuses on complex appellate, constitutional, and regulatory matters across a range of legal subject matters. David has argued 15 cases before the US Supreme Court and numerous other cases before other federal appellate courts, federal district courts, and State appellate courts. David’s litigated cases involve cutting-edge issues in the areas of environmental, tax, bankruptcy, commercial, administrative, civil rights, and constitutional law.
David’s clients trust him with bet-the-company litigation. Regarded as a top appellate advocate by Chambers USA and Best Lawyers, David offers his clients a full-service appellate practice: applying appellate-level strategy, briefing, and argument from the earliest stages of litigation through appeal. While not in the office, David volunteers his time to the Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project (DV LEAP), where he serves as Chairman of the Board.
Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, David was a partner in the litigation practice of another international law firm, where he was chair of the appellate practice, co-chair of the firm’s practice committee, and managing partner of the firm’s DC office. David previously served six years as an assistant to the Solicitor General of the United States. During this time, he received several awards for his work on important appellate matters, including the Department of Justice’s John Marshall Award for Excellence in Handling Appeals in 2006, the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of US National Security in 2003, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence in 2005. David also is a former law clerk to Judge W. Eugene Davis of the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice, Washington, DC (2011–2020, 2022–2025)
Ranked, Appellate Law, Nationwide, Chambers USA (2014–2024)
Recommended, Dispute resolution, Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal), The Legal 500 US (2022–2024)
Recommended, Dispute Resolution, Appellate - Supreme Court (federal and state), The Legal 500 US (2017–2021)
Recommended, Dispute Resolution, Financial Services Litigation, The Legal 500 US (2013)
Recognized, Washington, DC Super Lawyers (2014)
Recipient, Department of Justice, John Marshall Award for Excellence in Handling Appeals (2006)
Recipient, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Award for Excellence (2005)
Recipient, Attorney General’s Office, Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of US National Security (2003)
Editor-in-chief, University of Chicago Law Review (1996)